seventeen

May 2040 - Peter Ottomas is 57, Samantha Ottomas is 56, Matt is 17 (Theo Centowski is 17).

When your mother is a teacher at your school, it's impossible to skip school.

"Are you almost ready to go, Matt?" Samantha asks.

"Not yet, Mom. I can walk."

"All right, but make sure you're not late. I'll see you at school."

"Okay Mom."

Since Samantha and Matt both leave early for school, Peter is home alone most of the day. He's a sports reporter, and he does most of his writing from home.

Of course he takes plenty of breaks to play with the dog. Dakota is very lonely now that most of the kids have left home.

No matter how much attention Peter gives him during the day, Dakota can't wait for Matt to get home from school. Every day Dakota runs into the street to meet the school bus.

"Hey buddy, did you miss me?"

But even after school Matt doesn't stick around the house for long. He works after school at the market owned by his sister Sharla. He doesn't have good enough grades to get a scholarship, and he isn't an athlete like some of his siblings, so he's been working to help pay for college.

Most nights Peter and Samantha eat dinner alone. "We better get used to it," Peter says. "In a few months he'll be in college."

"Don't remind me," she sighs.

When Matt gets home from work, Peter convinces him to play a little basketball. "Let's see if you can take your old man."

Samantha comes outside to watch. "How are you boys doing?"

"Dad's kicking my butt," Matt says.

Matt tries to be a good kid and spend lots of time with his parents, but with college just a few months away, he's getting antsy. So late at night, long after his parents have gone to bed, he goes out with Theo Centowski for a joyride. They're not bad, they're just seventeen.