Maria stared down the carpeted hallway as she contemplated the conversation she had with her son, Chad Jr.
Words. Hurtful words. Words that wedge a dagger inside the victim’s heart had been spoken.
They were, no doubt, the kind which never should have been said. And their meaning, undoubtedly, could not, would not reflect the real feelings of the person who spoke them.
Yet, the words had been spoken and now with the conversation over, her oldest resided in his bedroom.
Soon after Chad entered there, Jose Jr. followed him. Yet, in only a matter of minutes, the younger boy rapidly left – obviously upset about something.
I wonder what happened? Maria silently asked as she watched. Did the two have another one of their rifts, or was there something more?
“Jose Jr. dear,” she called in his direction, toward the end of the hallway. “Could you drop by the living room for a moment? I’d like to talk.”
For nearly a full thirty seconds, Maria’s pseudo-cheerful request only met dead silence.
Then, “No. Let’s not, Mom,” a distant voice eventually said. “At least not now. There’s something I need to reconsider.”
Reconsider? The word caused one of Maria’s eyebrows to rise. “What do you need to reconsider, son?”
Jose Jr. hesitated before answering.
“Oh. I don’t know,” he finally said in a sarcastic tone. “Maybe the realization that Chad is nothing more than a gigantic, self-centered, moronic asshole.”
The fathers of the two boys, who were currently relaxing in the living room, sipping a glass of wine, instantly shared a surprised look.
“And considering what the five-eleven, eighteen-year-old, puta (bitch) just said to me,” Jose Jr. loudly continued. “I now really don’t give a damn if the cabrón (bastard) attends Florida International University with me or not. In fact, it probably would be a lot better if he didn’t.”
“Wow,” Chad Sr. muttered in Jose Sr.’s direction.
Denmark
Sitting outside a bright yellow cafe about a stone’s throw from Valby Park, near Copenhagen’s infamous Rose Garden, both Alexander and his one-year-younger sister, Josefina, sat enjoying an ice-cold soda while watching numerous puffy cumulus clouds sail across crystal blue skies as if they were huge white colored Viking ships making their way through the never-ending seas of eternity.
“It’s hard to believe we’re actually going to be leaving Denmark this fall,” Josefina said smiling as she turned towards her brother. “I’ve never been to the United States.”
Alexander returned her smile and chuckled. “And do you think I have? Like you, I’ve heard about it, read about it, and probably have seen more TV shows and news stories from there more than I care to remember. But it’s still not like being there if you know what I mean.”
“I do,” Josefina said, giving him a short nod.
She then paused.
“Florida International University. Wow. Even the name sounds fantastic. I wonder how father managed to get us enrolled?”
“I’m sure it probably wasn’t too hard,” Alexander jovially replied. “With our dad working for Denmark’s consulate, most likely, it didn’t take more than a two-minute talk during lunch with the American ambassador.”
Josefina instinctively blushed at her brother’s answer and looked downward.
“You’re right of course, Alex, just like you usually are. How did you ever get to be so smart? After all, you’re only a year older.”
Alexander shrugged his shoulders in a way which silently reflected his unspoken superiority. “I’m not sure. But I do know we might even get a chance to run into Chad and Jose while on campus. Dad told me Chad’s father mentioned both of his kids will be attending there this Fall.”
Josefina’s eyes immediately widened and her lips parted, revealing an expression as if she had suddenly been whisked away in a Cinderella-like dream. “They will?”
“Yes,” Alexander answered.
“Wow. You’ve got to be kidding? I’ll get to see Jose Jr. again and you can be with Chad!”
Soon afterward, however, the sparkle in Josefina’s eyes dimmed as the conversation continued.
“What in the world are you talking about, Alex? I’m sure Jose still loves me the way he did the day we meet.”
Alexander smiled and shook his head, before taking the last swig of his Coke. “I seriously doubt it, Sis. After all, over four years have passed. You need to realize the here and now.”
Josefina deliberately decided to ignore him and began to gaze at a nearby rose bed.
“Sis,” Alexander continued after not receiving a response. “I know you cannot help but recall the great time the four of us had. But, you’ve got to face the fact things most likely have changed. Either Chad or Jose, or perhaps even both of them may be going out with someone. You know, kind of steady like.”
Josefina glanced at her brother and indicated her disagreement. “No. I’m sure you’re wrong, Alex. My dearest Jose would never do anything like that. Especially after ...”
Alexander, once again, shook his head, and in an aggressive but compassionate way, took his sister’s hand before she could finish. “I’m sorry, Sis, but I’m afraid it’s time to leave your fantasy behind. After all, like you and Jose, Chad and I also really hit it off ... and the time we did spend together was nothing short of fantastic. But times have changed and I’ve had to accept the fact he has his own life now.
I’m sure he’s no longer the person I knew and loved.”
Josefina stared at her brother as if her sibling had suddenly become a stranger. “Alex. I think we better go home now. Mom and Dad should be arriving soon and I really don’t want to discuss this anymore.”
Alex frowned as he grabbed his empty bottle, he then carelessly tossed it into a nearby trash barrel.