A Birthday night…

Chapter 2
"Where are you?"

There a dead silence and the two boys looked at each other and looked at the nuns. Sister Josephine was also speechless…There must be a mistake.

- Terrence? She repeated.

- Yes? Said both boys at the same time.

- You have the same name? Said Sister Josephine

Both boys looked at each other. They had the same size, the same hair, the same eye color… They looked a lot alike…

- What's going on here? Who are you? Asked Sister Josephine to Junior

- I'm Terrence Grandchester, I'm new here…, answered Junior

- This is a joke, because I'm Terrence Grandchester! Said the other boy.

- How come you have the same name? Asked Sister Josephine,

- I don't know, said Junior, he's the imposter! Not me!

- Stop it, both of you! Said Sister Josephine, there must me a logical explanation. Let's go to the mother superior's office…

Both boys gave each other the look for a while and didn't move. Sister Josephine who was walking towards the door, she turned around and told both teens:

- Now gentlemen! Not tomorrow! She yelled.

The two boys followed the nuns. In the hallway, the other students were looking at them surprised. They were sulking, while walking and they arrived at the mother superior's office, who was reading some papers.

- Reverend Mother, said Sister Josephine.

- What's the matter, Sister Josephine? This back to school couldn't happen without a itch? She said

She looked up and took off her rond glasses she was wearing.

- Terrence Grandchester? She said looking at Junior, what have you done this time?

- Reverend mother? Said Junior surprised, I just got here, in this school, a few hours ago…

- What are you talking about? Asked the reverend mother.

- That's what I'm trying to tell you, said Sister Josephine, it's not him, it's this one…

She showed the other boy. The reverend mother opened her eyes wide.

- I beg your pardon? Terrence Granchester? She said, who's the other boy?

They all looked at Junior.

- My name is Terrence Grandchester, said Junior.

- WHAT?! Said everybody in the room.

- This is a very bad joke, said the other boy.

- I don't see why it would be a joke, said Junior, it was my father's name before mine, it's still his name in fact, and now it's also mine!

- It's my name! Said the other boy.

- What's going on? Asked the reverend mother, what is this circus?

- Well we have two Terrence Grandchester, reverend mother and they're in the same room!

- In the same room? How come? Asked the reverend mother, I thought we didn't take new students…

- The person who took the call, when they heard the name, thought it was just one Terrence Granchester, said Sister Josephine

- Oh my God! Said the reverend mother looking at Junior, you're the new student?

- Yes, said Junior.

- There was a mix up, said Sister Josephine.

- Did he already pay? Asked the reverend mother.

- Yes, reverend mother, said the novice who had just got in the room with two files from the two Terrence, she gave to the reverend mother.

The latter opened the filed and looked at t hem. She looked at both boys, the resemblance was uncanny! She couldn't understand it!

- Is there some space in the room in question ? She asked.

- Yes, said Sister Josephine, but reverend mother…

- Sister Josephine, we've cashed the cheques of those two students, we owe them shelter and education,that's what we're going to give them…

- What? Said the other boy, you mean I'll have to share my room with him?

- Yes, said the reverend mother.

- But I asked for a single room! Said Junior.

- Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you gentlemen, but you're going to have to share your room! Said the reverend mother.

- This is unacceptable! Said the other boy.

- Terrence, said the reverend mother, we are nuns, you wouldn't want us to throw this young boy, who looks like you like a brother, in the streets, just so you can have the pleasure of being alone in your room big enough for 5 people, just for yourself?

- No, reverend mother, said the boy sulking.

- You're going to share your room with …euh, the other Terrence…, said Sister Josephine.

- We are all brothers, said the reverend mother, I don't know how you have the same name, and that's none of my business, but you look enough alike to have the same blood…

The two boys gave each other the look.

- You're dismissed, gentlemen, said the reverend mother.

The two young men had no other choice but to get out of the office to go back to their room. In the hallway, the other students were teasing them.

- Hey Grandchester! They gave you a little brother?

- You were afraid to sleep alone in that big room?

- Cry baby!

The two boys arrived in the room and got in without a word. Junior went to take his phone and dialed a number.

- Dad? Where the bloody heck are you? I've got a problem! Call me back!

He hung up with rage. The other boy was looking at him. There had to be a reasonable explanation… that boy looked like him… what did it mean?

- Why are you looking at me? Asked Junior.

- I don't know, maybe because you have the same name as me?

- It's my father's name!

- And it's the name my mother gave me…

- I'm sure your mother is a fan of my father…

- She's so much a fan that she had a kid that looked like you?

- You don't look like me!

- Ok…

And he went to sit on his bed, he lay down and closed his eyes. Junior looked at them stunned.

- You've got nothing to say to me?

- I've got nothing to say to you…

- You have my father's name and you've got nothing to say to me?

- Can you leave me the heck alone? He said angry.

- I want to know why you have the same name as me!

- And I want to get some sleep, God damn it!

- You're not going to sleep as long as you don't talk to me!

- And I'm going to put my fist on your face, if you don't leave me alone!

- I'm not scared of you! Bring it on! I'm ready!

The boy stood up and gave him a punch. Junior gave one back to him… They started fighting. They had the same strength, the same resistance… they finally stopped, tired…

- All right…, said Junior out of breath, we look alike… you mother probably did my father…

- Hey careful when you talk about my mother! She's a saint!

- Well… she did have you without a father…

- Who told you I didn't have any father?!

- Look… we look alike… we have the same name…It's not rocket science… Your mother was probably a groupie…

- I told you my mother was a saint!

- Well, you saint mother had a child with my father, while he was married to my mother. Since we're the same age… when were you born?

- October 14th… what about you?

- December 15th…

They looked at each other…

- My parents got married in February of that same year…, said Junior

- Just a few days later… no! My mother is not that kind of woman! She didn't have a one night stand!

- Unless she had you and you looked like my father, by the biggest chance ever and she gave you his name because she's her biggest fan…

- Stop it! I don't want to think about it!

- Do you at least know your father?

- You know, with my mother, we spend most of our time in the jungle, in third world countries… I come to school and I don't look at the papers or social media, or movies…

- You've never heard about my father?

- I've heard a comment or two, but since I didn't care…

- You mean, you didn't want to think that your mother had you with a movie star…

- If you knew my mother, you'd understand…

- But we look alike…

They looked at each other. His mother had had him with someone…

- You can put your head in the sand, said Junior

- People look alike…

- What about the name?

- That's where I'm blocked…

- You can call your mother…

- She's in the Birman jungle where there's no way to reach her…

- And my father is shooting a movie in the Australian desert… He still hasn't called me back…

- My head is spinning… I really don't want to talk to my mother…

The two Terrence went to bed in the dark and didn't say anything else…

oOoOoOoOoOo

Terry was in his tent, in the middle of the desert thinking about Candy. He was remembering the last time he saw her…

"Oh Candy, why am I thinking about you all of a sudden? What's going on?" He asked himself.

He knew his world wasn't perfect, that something was missing, Candy was missing. Ever since he had dropped off his son at Saint Paul, he couldn't get rid of the bizarre feeling that got a hold of him… He had felt the presence of Candy….

"Where are you Freckles? Where are you my love? I miss you so much… Today more than ever… what's going on? Is everything fine with you Freckles? Where are you Freckles?"