East Kids - Tessa & Elijah

Chapter 3

Tessa

I just heard the bell ring for the break and my cell phone vibrates in my pocket. I quickly scurry out of the classroom into the hallway and fish out my smartphone. My mother's name immediately appears on the display.

My eyes roll annoyed. Why is she calling me at school? She knows I never truant on mondays and she never remembers when I have a break anyway. But if I don't answer, she'll try again and again, whether it's important or not. So I stand in front of my locker, open it and take the call. I put the phone between my shoulder and my ear so I can put my books away and have a chance to take the new ones out.

"Hey Mom," I start to speak a little absently: "What's up?"

"Why didn't you tell me it was parents' day tonight at your school," she asks much too loud for my taste. I almost let my cell phone fall out of the tight grip in fright.

With a contemptuous look I answer: "That's exactly what I did. You just either didn't listen to me or forgot about it again."

For a few seconds there is complete silence in the line.

"Mom, are you still there?" I ask to interrupt the unpleasant mood.

"Yes, I am', my mother sounds thoughtful.

I swallow: "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to be mean, but it's really important for me that you come. Otherwise we'll really get into trouble with my school."

"Yes, darling. I'll be there", now her voice sounds soft. Apparently she noticed how important the whole thing is to me: "I already set myself an alarm clock.

"Thank you", now I'm also getting friendlier again.

"Have you already opened your father's gift?" she asks carefully. My father is a really sensitive subject for both of us.

I grind the pine trees firmly: "No, not yet."

"Please at least open it sometime and don't just throw it away," she asks me carefully: "He will surely call and ask for it."

"All right, I'll do it", I take a deep breath: "But now I have to hang up, otherwise the break is over before I have eaten."

"Okay, bye," she says and then hangs up before I can reply.

A little sobered, I almost throw my cell phone back into my pocket. It's good that she promised to come to school today, but my father's mention diminished my joy again. Everytime he becomes the subject, my mood sinks almost directly into the cellar.

But since I am in school at the moment, I put on something like an imaginary mask and act as if nothing had happened. I've become a real professional at it over the years.

I walk over the corridor towards the break hall, where the students are always romping around at this time. I open the double swing doors with a swing and walk over to the table of my friends on my black high heels. Surely at least one of them has a spicy story in store, which will make the rounds at school in the not too distant future. Not least because I contributed to it.