September 2005: The Martian Summary

LaFarge and his wife, Anna, have been living on Mars for a few years, enjoying their retirement and the new experiences. On Earth, their son Tom was killed many years ago, and the couple has agreed to try and forget the past. Waking in the night, LaFarge goes to the door and looks out into the rain to see someone who looks like Tom. He leaves the door unlocked, and invites the figure in the yard to come inside. In the morning, Tom is there. When LaFarge begins to question his existence, Tom tells him to accept it, and reassures him that Anna will also accept him, due to a song Tom has sung during the night. When Anna awakes, LaFarge finds this to be true.

During a picnic, LaFarge again begins to question Tom, knowing he cannot really...