TWISTED ANGLE

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A FIELD TRIP

PRESENT TIME

JEREMY'S POV

It has been two weeks that my parent died and i've not been the same ever since. The police theory was that my dad shot my mom and then shot himself afterward because he was holding the murder weapon and his DNA were on it. They formed up some outragieous and ridiculous story as the motive but ofcourse I knew otherwise.

I knew it was the two men I saw that murdered my parent and made it look like my dad. No one else saw those men execpt me and that isn't enough evidence or proof. It was my word against a damning finger print, there was no way l'll win. There wasn't any much investigation and there was little I could do myself. The case was concluded as murder and succide and I hated that there was nothing I could do apart from accepting the fact that my parent were gone forever.

Am not really an alcoholic person but desperate times calls for desperate measures. For the past two weeks, the bar has been my favourite place. If you asked me what today is or where I slept last night, I would have absolutely no idea what the answers are. Not that I don't know but I've had a little too many drink for me to remember.

I decided that today, I needed to go home. I've barely been there since the incident. I maybe drunk and my step a little unsteady but I think I should still be able to find my way home. Maybe I would see my dad in the lounge watching TV and my mum in the kitchen doing what she does best. But ofcourse deep down in me, I know that is impossible. The house will be as empty as my heart is right now.

On getting home, to my surprise, I saw someone , not my mom or dad obviously but my uncle who I have not seen for the past God knows when sitting on the couch. Every bit of drunkness that was still in me vanished immediately.

"What are you doing here ?" I demanded clearly not pleased with his august visit and getting angry slowly.

"Am sorry about your parent" the older man said simpathetically.

"Thats not an answer" I shouted angrily. He looked at me like a master would look at an inexperienced servant, stood up and made a friendly smile.

"Common Jeremy. Is this how you will wellcome your uncle who you've not seen for years ?"

I calmed down a bit though still angry enough to scare a ghost.

"I asked a question" I shouted again not knowing exactly why.

He seemed to be fed up with my attitude, he spoke out his mind.

"My sister and her husband just died and the least I can do is pay their only son a visit"

"Is that why you are here ?"

"Not entirely"

"Am sorry am a bit rude. You can understand why am like this" I apologised.

"I know how you feel but you're overeacting. You're not the only one who lost them. I lost them too, you know"

"Like I said, am sorry. So if we can start this all over again" offering an apologetic smile and walking towards the fridge "what would you like to drink ?"

My uncle busted out laughing.

"Already checked the fridge, it empty" and landed back on the couch.

"My bad" I stopped and sit opposite him "How did you get in anyways ?"

"The door was opened when I came"

"That also my fault" I confessed. "So, how is LA and you ?" I asked now totally relaxed and enjoying the conversation.

"Well, LA is fine, so am I but I wish I can say the same about you" raising his eyebrows, "you look tattered and you've been drinking. I can smell the alcohol from here"

"Um…yes i've been drinking" I admitted.

"Now I know why the fridge is empty " he said and we both shared a laugh. There is silence for some second till he breaks it. "You've really grown big. The last time I saw you, you were like ten or eleven or there about"

"Ten, I guess" I pointed out.

"Well, ten and you've grown into man now"

"You have no idea how how that feels like"

"I've been there"

"I've missed you uncle Dave" I admitted "it good to see you again even though its not under the best circumstance" I added pulling out a small bottle of whiskey out of my pocket.

Dave smirked giving me a 'I don't buy it' look. "Are you saying that because am the only family you have left or because you really missed me ?" The older man asked looking suspicious.

I looked at him and grinned. "Can't it be both ?" We both laugh again louder than the previous one followed by another period of silence. This time , I broke it. "So, I heard your wife died. Am sorry about that" I said sympathetically.

"Yeah, she died a year after the last time I came to visit"

"It must have been hard for you"

"Yeah, one of the worst times of my life"

"Well, I guess I now know how it feels loosing people you care about" I said tears almost falling from my eyes.

"Am sorry kid, but you gatta move on"

"It not that easy"

"I know…… which brings me to why am here"

"Mmn"

"You're all alone now" Dave said raising his eyebrows "and I don't think you'll be able to live here all by yourself"

"I guess not. It will just bring back a painfull memory"

"Right. So, Jeremy!" Dave called out "how would you like a field trip ?"

I was taken aback by the question. What a field trip gat to do with all that has happened ?. I asked myself silently. 'A field trip ? Thats why you came ? To ask me for a field trip ? Really ?”

Dave facial expression went blank for a momment and then he burst into a loud laugh. "Ofcourse not Jeremy" gaining composure "I was just checking if your sense of humour is still intant but by the look of things, it seems you've lost it"

"Who wouldn't. I just lost my parent, remember ?"

"Well, I felt you needed cheering up"

"It not working"

"Obviously" Dave said and now getting in a more serious state "what I wanted to ask is if you would like to come live with me in LA ?"

"Sure, why not ? I would really like that"

"Well then, you better start packing" Dave said standing up "LA won't come to meet us.