Fool’s Game

March 6 1948 Terrence

March 6 1948 Terrence

“Terrence?” his father called out to him from the front seat of the car. He was dozing off again looking up at the skyscrapers that covered the entire city. Bay City, although their estate is outside of Bay City, Terrence spends most of his time here during school days and when he hangs out with his friends from the city. Busy pedestrians walking briskly along the side to get to their destination. And cars that moved every 10 minutes due to the heavy traffic. 

“Yes papa?” he replied 

“Take a right here Ben.” His father instructed the driver and just like that, they were out of the congested traffic.

“When we arrive at our destination, I want you to stay by my side. Don’t talk to anyone, don’t look anyone in the eye.”

“Yes papa.” He had learned to obey his father when he was instructed to do something. His father was strict but fair to him and his older sister, Tatiana. She had left for college only last week and so his father’s full attention was now on him.

“Sir Caldwell, is it safe for you and the young sir to go to West Jacob without heavy security.” 

“Of course, Jorge and his men are friends of ours. And if ever danger shall arise I have my best man right here.”

“You flatter me too much, sir.” 

Benedict has always been around ever since Terrence can remember. He would always play with him and his sister when they were young. His father did not object, in fact he would encourage his children to interact with the people in the house. He said it develops leadership skills and you become a people person. Of course only his sister became a people person. The other guards and maids in their house adored her over him. His father too, but he would never say it outright. When he looked out the window again, tall skyscrapers were replaced by open fields. Busy pedestrians were replaced by farmers and cows were more frequently seen than cars.

And finally after 2 hours of driving, they stop in front of a small house. His father instructed them not to wear anything flashy or expensive. And so he wore a plain pink polo open all the way and a white shirt underneath with blue jeans, as soon as he stepped outside of the car he was greeted by mud. He was thanking himself for not wearing one of his expensive shoes, and chose to wear his old brown boots. His father stepped outside wearing his brown aviator sunglasses. He preferred his hair swept to the right and his full white beard was the first thing you would notice about him, then you’ll notice that for a man his age, he is quite fit. He wore a white shirt with sleeves rolled with faded jeans and black boots. Benedict had stayed inside the car keeping it running.

The house was at the edge of the village. It was near the gate and beside the guard house. Compared to the other houses there, it certainly looked luxurious. The door to the house suddenly opened and a beautiful lady stepped outside.

“Uncle Thomas!” the woman yelled. She had fair white skin and long black hair that was tied in a ponytail.

“Cecilia!” his father shouted. 

The two of them hugged when they reached one another. 

“You remember my son, Terrence.” 

“Hello Terrence!” she greeted him with a smile, her eyes captivating him. She looked like an actress from one of those films he would watch in the theater.

“Hello, madam.” He shyly responds.

“And you remember Benedict?”

“Oh! Of course.” She rushed to the car and Benedict rolled the window down and they exchanged pleasantries. She just seemed to be so full of energy.

“Cecilia is my god daughter, her father is Clarence Wagner.” His father said to him silently, a sudden wave of seriousness washed over his father when he said this. And he tried to remember who Clarence Wagner was, he had heard the name before but he did not know where.

“Come, uncle. I’ve prepared snacks.”

“Oh delightful.” He signals something at Benedict and then the car engine turns off. And all of a sudden he was walking behind them. Before entering, they brushed their shoe’s sole at the rug placed in the front door.

It was a small home. Smaller than what he was used to. A dining room on the left and a small couch on the right. The house was bland, only the color peach for the walls and a wooden floor. The furniture was all simple and plain. It was certainly different from their house.

“Take a seat!” she said with great enthusiasm. And as they took a seat at the table, his father placed his sunglasses inside his pocket and she placed a chiffon cake on the table and gave the three of them a plate and a fork.

“Oh! Magnificent!” his father exclaimed. She gave each of them a slice of the cake. And she sat down across him, beside Benedict, still with a smile on her face.

“How is it?” She asked him, smiling at him “Good?” she added, he could only nod as he tried to swallow the cake. She let out a chuckle before standing up again and giving them a glass of water.

“You’re not going to eat?” his father asked her.

“I’ll eat later, when my son gets home.” She sits down again, her red plain dress only magnifies her beauty. 

“How is Tatiana?” she asked, he felt a slight sense of jealousy. It was still about his sister.

“She went off to college last week.” His father replied after taking a drink of water.

“Oh dear, I did not get to say goodbye.” 

“Just send a letter. I’ll give you her mailing address later.” 

 “Would you really? That would be delightful, uncle.” She gave out another smile. “You probably don’t remember me, the last time we met you were still a baby.”  She told Terrence directly.

Terrence quickly glanced at Benedict and saw that he had already finished his cake, he was looking at Madam Cecilia, silently asking for permission to get another slice. And with a smile, she responds signaling him to go ahead. With a smile the old man took another slice and began eating it. She was smiling and laughing almost all the time.

“You mentioned your son. How old is he now?” his father asked

“Mark’s 14 now. He’ll turn 16 next week.”

“Oh? Terrence here is two years older then. They should meet don’t you think?”

“Certainly, I’m sure you and my son will get along quite well.” 

“Where is he anyway?” his father added

“I sent him to run some errands, he should come home anytime soon.”

“And your husband?” he added with a stern look on his face

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” And suddenly her smile faded, her eyes suddenly had a hint of sadness about it.

“Privately, if that’s okay.” She added

“And that’s our cue, young sir.” Benedict said to him before rising up and saying “Excuse us, madam.” Before exiting the house. Terrence looked and bowed his head as sign of respect.

Before leaving he was able to hear her say something “A few days ago Jorge Pascual came to visit my husband in our home.” And after that he could no longer hear anything. What stuck to him though was the tone of her voice, the happy and joyful tone was replaced with fear and dread. And Jorge Pasucal, it was the 2nd name that he knows but can’t quite place it. They walked back to their car, a buick, and sat inside. After several minutes, a young man with long black hair wearing checkered short sleeved shirt tucked inside brown trousers walks past the car. The stranger looks at him, his blue eyes piercing Terrence and before looking away, he gave a warm smile which Terrence responds with an awkward smile. He noticed that the young man was carrying a brown box on his right hand.

“That’s got to be Cecilia’s son.” Benedict comments while leaning back on his seat

“You think?”

“Yep, looks just like his father.”

“You knew his father?”

“Yup.” 

“And you won’t tell me about it?”

“Nope.” Terrence always considered him like an uncle. He was one of those people who you could talk with for several hours and realize you still know nothing about him. That was observed by his sister and he started to notice it too after she told him that.

After a while his father came out of the house, he waved towards Terrence to exit the car and go to them.

Madam Cecilia and her son was standing there, he was just as tall as him he thought, maybe a few inches taller.

“Thank you again, uncle.” There was still fear in her voice but she tried to mask it with a smile

“Of course, I’ll make the proper arrangements as soon as I get home. Until then take care of your mother, Mark.”

“Yes, sir!” he smiled his eyes brimming with life and joy. Terrence had noticed that he was not wearing any shoes and that his white socks were touching the dirty ground, what a weird person be thought to himself.

“Goodbye, Cecilia.” His father leaned in to whisper something

“Goodbye, madam. Goodbye Mark.”

“Goodbye Terrence.” She smiled at him, still with sadness and fear. Her son smiled at him and nod his head. They walked back to their car, his father walking briskly. He noticed that his father was now carrying a brown box, could it be the same box that Mark was carrying earlier

“Benedict when we get home I want you to return here and bring them back at the house.” His father was furious.

“Certainly, sir.” Benedict obeyed without question. They drove away from the village and back into the busy city.

"Yeah, someone sees this car, anywhere near where I'm going, it links back to us. So go."

Benedict begins to walk.

"It's so hot, shouldn't have worn leather." he thinks aloud once again.