Thanks, Mouserocks.
With the prompt of "summertime blues," I figured the story would have to be rather depressing, but I did try to use the timing of it to provide some hope to the reader, if not to Clark. I'm not sure I am capable of writing a story that holds out no hope whatsoever; I don't even want to try my hand at such a story, at least not in the L&C-verse.
Joy,
Lynn
