Chapter One
As Frank ran his hand through his long curls and wiped the tears from his eyes, he remembered where he was this time two years ago. It was the end of his last year in college and of course he was sitting in the library reading up on the latest news. Frank Gord, was nearing his last two weeks of classes, and as his father promised he was paying for a trip to London for him. He rose from his green chair and packed the articles away where they were found, as he put his glasses carefully back in his shirt pocket. Frank was rather short for his age but his afro of curly locks really made up for it. He had a tendency to not shave when he was on an article and, of course, this was his second to last of the year so he had grown almost a full beard.
Once he was outside he screamed inside his hoodie, and leaned against a brick wall near his dorm. His life was always one of stress, since his famous father always seemed to know what was best for him. Now of course Frank wanted to write, but he wanted to just write what he felt, not write about the evening news. It was all death and drama, he thought, when was there ever any happy news. He wanted to make his last two stories stick, and happy news would be the best way but this damn city had nothing exciting or happy ever happen in it.
He slupmed his way to his dorm room and knocked four times, as the door opened to see his father standing pround and tall with a beer in his hand and a freshly sown suit on. He had a well groomed black beard and a nice new hair cut. Wilfred, his father, put his hand on Franks's shoulder and smiled and then he took a large gulp of his beer.
"So, how is my boy doing?" He smiled as he whisked his hand across his beard to get the extra beer out of it.
"Look…Dad, I have a big story to write and it's due in a few days. I can't really have a father-son moment with you. Maybe a beer or two, but I have to actually get stuff done." He said as he grabbed a beer from his fridge and sat down on his old couch. It was moth eaten and a dark blue color.
His father looked really surprised. Frank was usually one to mouth off, but never to get work done.
"Okay, well all I came here to do was celebrate!" Wilfred said with a fake smile, if there ever was one.
Frank sipped his beer, and gave his father a rather confused look.
"For?" Frank got up from his couch and sat his beer down on the counter as to give a hint that he was maybe interested.
"You are now the newest reported for The London Sound." Wilfred set down his beer and made a fake clap, as he fixed his tie and got read to exit the small dorm.
"Excuse me? You came here to tell me you got me a job? Well thanks Dad, I kinda think I could have done it on my own, but whatever floats your boat. I will take it. No complaints here, but who did you have to fuck to get me this job?" Frank really hated when his father did things for him.
"I know the Editor, his name is Todd Wollworth, and he and I go way back. I was there when his wife died, and I helped get him back on his feet. He owes me big time, so I figure this makes us even. Now do you want the job, or do I walk away?" He grabbed a cigar from his coat pocket and held it out in his hand.
Frank gave a half hearted smile and ran his hands through his hair.
"As if I didn't have enough to worry about. Okay, I will take it, but I won't take the cigar. You know I don't smoke. I hate the smell. Also, does this make my trip to London permenant?"
His father put the cigar back and began to walk away.
"Yes, now get these two weeks done so I don't ever have to see your face again." He smiled to show he was kidding. He loved his son dearly but really tried to hard to impress him. Frank did not want his father's approval all he wanted was his own life.
Frank finished his beer and sat on his couch with his laptop, on his lap.
"And now for the happy story..." He spoke out loud once to many times, and led to him living alone in his dorm.
His roomates all could not stand the way he was, and how he left everything for the last minute.
He grabbed his glasses, put them on, and began to finish what would be his last happy article ever.