“Joel.” Your kid speaks up with curiosity, causing Joel to turn his head in his direction. “Hey, buddy.”

“What are those?” Your son points to something on the map splayed across Joel’s desk. “C’mere.” Joel’s hands place on your kids lap, pulling him up with a groan so he sits onto one of his thighs.

“Okay, we’re looking at maps. You see, this is where we live.” He points to a place on the map, an arm wrapped securely around your son.

He then points to a red outline, a diagram on the fence around this civilisation. “And what’s that?”

“The fence.”

“And what’s inside?”

“People!” Your son replies.

“And what’s outside?”

“Monsters.”

“That’s right, and how do we keep them out?”

“We shoot them.”

“What do you mean we?” Joel leans closer to your son’s ear with a question. “Are you shooting monsters?” It’s clear Joel’s joking around..

“No..” Your son says cheekily.

Joel pulls back, furrowing his brows with a playful tone. “Are you shooting monsters?”

However, a light chuckle comes from you, causing Joel to look over at you, his expression shifting. “What?” He asks, never loosening his grip on your son.