What Matters

“Ugh! I can’t find the letter for Sam’s summer camp.” Brent brings his fist down abruptly on the small desk, making the keyboard hop.

“Why do you need it?” Rob asks from the couch across the small living room. “He’s gone to this camp for the past three years. What has changed?”

Brent turns his chair to face the room. “I am giving Sam more responsibility for camp preparations, so I want to provide him with the packing list from the camp.”

Rob nods as he sets his book down on the table beside the couch. “I may have moved it to the “Sam” folder. Did you look there?”

“Yes. I am sure I have searched the whole computer! It likely would have been faster to create it from memory.”

As Rob crosses the room to stand next to his husband, he muses, “Too bad you can’t connect your brain to the computer - that would make your eidetic memory really useful! Would you like me to look for it?”

“Please. I will go make lunch.” Brent stands and pats Rob on the arm. “You do get along with the computer better than me. I think it deliberately hides things from me.”

Rob chuckles as he settles into the chair. Brent makes his way to the kitchen, calling down the hall as he passes, “Sam, I am making lunch now.”

A moment later, a mop of unruly blonde curls above bright blue eyes appears from a doorway, along with the gangly ten year old boy they belong to. “What’s for lunch?”

Rob responds, “Papa’s already in the kitchen. Why don’t you go help him decide?”

Sam hurries down the hall and into the kitchen. Rob works for a few minutes at the computer, then joins his family in the kitchen.

“Dad, did you find the packing list? I want to get everything ready today. I’m so excited to go to camp. I know Jack and Molly are going, but I don’t know about Clair and Collin. Do you know if they’ll be there?” As Sam pauses to take a breath, Rob holds up a hand, palm out.

“I can see that you are excited by how fast you are talking. I sent the packing list to your tablet. I do not know if Clair and Collin will be there.”

Brent looks up from the sandwiches he is constructing and asks, “Where was the letter?”

“It was in the “Home” folder,” Rob answers, “but the name of the file was just a space, which explains why your search failed. I must have accidentally changed the name.”

Rob fills glasses with water and places them on the table. “Sam, help Papa bring the sandwiches over while I get some veggies to go with them.”

They sit at the small table in the kitchen, eating quietly for a few moments. Rob swallows a bite and looks across the table at Brent. “I saw a message about a Rights Rally in front of the courthouse tomorrow. Do you want to go?”

Brent chews slowly, swallows carefully, and gives a small shrug. “I know we should go, but it is so frustrating. This fight has been going on for decades, and it feels as though nothing will ever change.”

“I share your frustration, but I think it is important for us to be there for our community. We are a good example of the need for parenting equality for android/human couples,” Rob says calmly.

Brent pushes his plate away. “I don’t want to be an example. I just want to be a family with my husband and our son, even if only one of us can legally be his father.” He is near tears as he finishes, and his shoulders sag. Rob reaches across the table to take Brent’s hand. Sam also reaches out, placing his hand over his fathers’ hands.

“I know you are both my father. Isn’t that all that matters? We are a family,” Sam insists.

Rob reaches to pat Sam on the shoulder with his free hand. “Yes, that is the most important. But if something were to happen to one of us, or fates forbid, both of us, we want to be sure that you are taken care of. And there are other families fighting for the same rights. We must not give up.”

The three finish lunch in silence, then Brent stands and begins collecting empty plates from the table, methodically placing them in the dishwasher. Sam carries his tumbler over to put in the dishwasher, then wraps his arms around Brent’s waist.

“I love you, Papa.”

“I love you, too, Sam,” Brent replies quietly, giving his son a squeeze.

Rob is brushing his teeth that evening when Brent finishes tucking in Sam. Brent stands in the doorway for a moment before saying, “Yes.”

Rob spits and rinses his toothbrush, then asks, “Yes, what?”

“Yes, I want to go to the rally. I apologize for my outburst earlier, and for not answering your question.”

“I would not call that an outburst.” Rob smiles gently as he moves closer to Brent, reaching up to softly caress Brent’s shoulders. “You showed emotion. Emotions are what make you, you. There’s no need to apologize for that.”

Brent wraps his arms around Rob, holding him close so they are almost nose to nose. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Today, no. Ever? Innumerable times. I love you, too.” Rob cups Brent’s face with one hand and kisses him softly. “I know it’s exhausting to keep up with what seems to be a hopeless pursuit, but I will keep fighting right alongside you.”

The couple separates, Brent going into the bathroom to clean his face and teeth while Rob gets into bed. As Brent finishes changing into pajamas, he tells Rob, “I work the early shift tomorrow, so I will be off at 2:00.”

“I have an article to finish, then I can meet you at the shop.” Rob looks over at Brent. “Sam would like to go to the rally with us, if you think that is okay.”

Brent turns off his lamp and climbs into bed, laying on his back and pulling the covers neatly over himself. “Yes, he should go. He is old enough to be part of peaceful protest and the matter certainly affects him.”

“It does, possibly more even than you and I,” Rob turns off his own lamp, and lays on his side to face his husband, placing a hand on Brent’s chest. “I’m glad we are going as a family.”

Brent is up and off to work before 5:30 the following morning, to open the coffee shop by 6:00. He enjoys the quiet harmony with Jen, the other first shift barista, as they ready everything for the morning rush. That is his favorite part of the day - the long line of customers anxious to get their drinks and start their days. Brent knows all of the regular customers’ orders, but knows not to make their drinks before they order. Even creatures of habit will occasionally change their routine.

This morning, though it is Saturday, the first few people are the same as every other day. Their places in line shift from day to day, but they are always there, as dependable as the sunrise.

Today Emily is first, a young loan officer at the community bank. Her order is as reliable as her presence - on weekdays, a half-caf macchiato with oat milk, on the weekend, a chai latte with coconut milk and a dash of cinnamon. On his very first day at the shop, she was first in line then as well, and he was taking orders at the register. He knew right away that she was an android, though he couldn’t explain how he knew. Of course he would never ask, but his supposition was confirmed as he has since heard her speak at many town hall meetings and rallies, championing the rights of androids like herself. He admires how outspoken she is and how well she expresses her views.

Brent takes the coconut milk out of the cooler and as soon as he hears Emily ask for an iced chai latte, he sets to work making her drink. He likes working the register, and interacting with the customers, but he loves creating the drinks, with their prescribed steps punctuated by customers’ special requests - no foam, half-caf, add a shot of caramel, and so on.

As he works through this morning’s orders, his mind is on the rally. He considers the history of android rights. Just ten years ago, intersentient marriages were illegal. Fifty years before that, androids could not own property, and just over a century ago, they themselves were considered property. That he and Rob had met, fallen in love, and married was due in large part to the luck of timing, if you believed in such things.

Parental and adoption rights were still contested, though. As children could not be a product of these relationships, the only paths to parenthood for those couples are adoption, surrogacy, and genetic donors. Even then, if the child is human, only the human partner is recognized as the legal parent. If the child is an android, then either partner could be recorded as the legal parent, but not both. As Brent’s mind works through all of his thoughts and feelings on the issue, he continues deftly making drinks and serving customers.

Rob let Sam, and himself, sleep in, so when he got up to start the day, it was already after 8:00. He peeked into Sam’s room to see him still sleeping soundly. On the chair in the corner, Sam’s blue duffel bag is overflowing with clothes and other items for camp. Rob makes a mental note to help Sam finish packing later today.

From there, Rob continues down the hall, stopping to turn on the computer and then heading into the kitchen. He does not require much for breakfast, but makes a slice of toast with seedless raspberry jam and a single cup of strong coffee. The aroma of the coffee alone wakes his senses, and he savors the first few sips before sitting down to work.

Earlier in the week, he was assigned an article on the research being done on the reproductive possibilities for human/android couples. He knows he got the article because of his personal circumstances, but has enjoyed the research and writing process nonetheless. While he is familiar with the recent developments, it is satisfying to compile the facts in order to educate others.

Many geneticists hypothesize that there is a portion of the coded genetics of androids that is incompatible with the human genome, despite the fact that the first android codes were synthesized based on the framework of human DNA. As the android population grew, and they began to reproduce within their species, it is believed that a mutation arose. The recent studies Rob cites in his article have focused on confirming there is such a sequence, by comparing present-day samples to the earliest records of coding in fully-sentient androids, and determining what leads to the failure of android and human genetics to successfully combine.

Of course, there is controversy surrounding these studies and the possible treatments they could lead to, with many Humans First activists arguing that reproduction between humans and androids is “not meant to be”, that the evolution of a non-compatible android genetic code is proof of the fates’ intent to keep the species separate. That is a gravity well that Rob cannot get pulled into and he focuses on the scientific facts, leaving out any hint of opinion, as any good science writer would.

Rob gives his article a final scan, then submits it to his editor. Now he can help Sam better organize his things for camp before they head downtown for the rally.

The coffee shop is relatively quiet when Rob and Sam walk in - just a few patrons scattered amongst the tables, and no one in line. Brent looks up from cleaning the counter to smile at his family.

“Do you have time to make your special iced Americano for me before you are off shift?” Rob asks as he steps up to the counter. “And what would you like, Sam?”

“Can I have a caramel latte macchiato?” Sam looks back and forth between his dads.

“One iced Americano and one decaf caramel latte macchiato, coming right up.” Brent starts to make the drinks, saying as he does, “You know there is nothing different between my Americano and any other barista’s.”

“Oh, I know. But somehow it just tastes better when you make it. Illogical, yes, but it does.” Rob smiles as he pays for the drinks.

Brent finishes and hands the drinks across the counter. “I don’t know how you can drink coffee this late in the day. My system cannot process the caffeine quickly enough, and then I am unable to fall asleep at night.”

Rob grins. “Well, my system cannot function without it!”

“Perhaps,” Brent replies skeptically.

The trio walks the few blocks from the coffee shop to the courthouse. The sidewalks are busy, and the crowd grows as they near the rally site. Gathered on the lawn in front of the courthouse are several hundred people - humans and androids - many holding signs. On an elevated platform are several individuals including Emily, Brent notices, along with a city councilperson, a state representative, and others he does not recognize.

As they pass through the crowd to get a bit nearer to the stage, they are greeted by many friends and acquaintances, shaking hands and thanking them for being there.

From between Brent and Rob, Sam calls out, “Dad, Papa! I see Collin and Clair! Can I go talk to them?”

Rob looks around and spots the twins alongside their parents, Dominic and Alexa. “Yes, go ahead. Meet us by the statue after the speeches.”

Sam throws an “Okay” over his shoulder as he hurries over to his friends.

“It is nice of Alexa and Dominic to be here, showing their support,” Brent remarks. “Even if it does not directly affect them.”

“No, as human adoptive parents, it does not. But it will have a direct impact on Clair and Collin when they reach adulthood.” Rob watches as Sam reaches the other family, and feels the joy of seeing his son’s wide smile. He turns back to see a pensive expression on Brent’s face.

“As a human couple, they had no hurdles to adopting, even adopting android twins. I certainly feel the inequity of a system that does not allow both of us to be recognized as Sam’s parents.” Brent shakes his head and looks at Rob. “And that is why we are here,” he says as he takes Rob’s hand.

Sunshine and clear skies greet the family of three as Sam places his now neatly packed bag in their car and they set off on the two-hour drive to Camp Nexus. As they pull into the parking area, Sam’s excitement is palpable. As soon as the motor is quiet, he leaps out and retrieves his pack from the back. Sam is all but bouncing as Rob and Brent get out of the vehicle. The two parents look at each other over the top of the car, with matching expressions of equal parts happiness and sadness.

“Come here, Sam,” Rob says as he steps to the rear of the vehicle. He gently takes Sam by the shoulders and says, “Have fun, be safe. I love you.” He then hugs Sam tightly.

Sam returns the hug, then turns to be enveloped in Brent’s arms.

“I love you, Sam, and will miss you. You will have fun, and we will see you next Sunday.”

“I love you, too, Papa. I love you, Dad.”

“Now off you go and we’ll get you checked in,” Rob says as he puts an arm around Brent’s waist. Together they watch Sam run off to find his friends.

“Is it unusual that as this separation gets easier for him, it gets harder for us?” Rob muses.

“I suspect that is the natural order of things,” Brent replies. “Let’s get Sam checked in, and then we can stop for lunch at that little cafe we love before going home.”

Sam’s dads join the line of parents waiting to check in their children. Most have already said goodbye, and their children have also run off to reconnect with friends. There are a few younger children lingering with their parents, probably first time campers, Rob thinks.

When they reach the table, a young camp counselor greets them with a big smile. Rob gives him Sam’s name, and he pulls up the information on his tablet. “Let me just make sure we have the completed contact form, and you’ll be all set.” He scrolls, reviewing the information on the screen. “Oh, I see here that only one of you is marked as a legal guardian. Probably a typo, but I can fix it.”

“No,” Brent says. “That is correct. On record, Sam has one parent, despite the fact that he has two dads.”

“But other couples like you list both as parents,” the man says, confused. Then he looks up and says, “Oh, one of you is a, um, an,” he hesitates, unsure of what is appropriate to say.

“An android, yes,” supplies Rob.

The young man looks back and forth between the two men, clearly trying to discern which is android and which is human. Brent and Rob just smile and nod as the man catches himself and says, “Um, you’re all set. Have a good week!”

As the couple walk back to their vehicle, Rob asks, “Is it odd that I take pleasure in others being unable to tell which of us is android and which is human?”

Not at all,” Brent replies. “Not. At. All.”