Distractions

“Good morning, Charlie”, said Josie, who had by then become my closest friend at Northridge. “Hello”, I answered back whilst searching for the history room. “Did you finish your homework? What a bother, wasn’t it?” I smiled in silence for I couldn’t of a more different opinion. The homework Mr. Johnson assigned us yesterday was a 700-word newspaper report covering the events at the Munich Beer Hall Putsch, and hypothetical predictions of its impact in Weimar German politics. Of course I did have sentence-flow problems due to having to write in English, rather than French (or German, for that matter), but other than that it was good fun. As a matter of fact, I was beginning to find several fun aspects of living in this very orthodox, very prestigious University City. Without my mother’s daily parties I’m able to devote more time to my Romanov biographies collection and go boat sailing in the Thomeson River with Josie.

As I got home after eight long hours of school and briefly glanced at the small, deep brown coffee table in the entrance hall, I saw what I was now getting quite accustomed to: my father’s note. This note read: “I won’t be able to make it to dinner. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, Charlie”. I only had a biology handout and an economics data response for tomorrow. What else could I do today? I loved boat sailing, tennis, swimming, but it was snowing quite intensely. I thought I’d call Josie to go to the movies. However, when I was just about to dial Josie’s number I heard the distinctively loud ring of the phone. It was my mother. “Charlie, how are you, bijou?”, she said in a sad, dry voice. “Mum, is everything okay?”. “Well, honey, grandma’s murderer was found, at least we have extremely strong suspicions. But, dear, it's a group…”. And, as she finished the sentence, the phone fell out of my hand. I had promised that I would not think of this ever again, not for one second! I had to get out of here! It was too late: the tears were already streaming uncontrollably down by face. I reached for my cell phone to call Josie – I needed a distraction.

TO BE CONTINUED…