Family Issues 6

Jack woke up to find a blanket draped over him and his father talking on the phone to someone in french. He grinned, thinking about that time when his mom said that he'd inherited his language skills from his father.

He hadn't expected his father to really go back to the hotel, so that was a surprise too.

The memory of Megan's face when he asked what was going on flashed through his mind, and erased all traces of the smile. He started to get ready for the other shoe to drop. Better get ready, since experience said that was the next thing just waiting to happen

His father put down the cell phone. "You should have at least gone to bed and watched the tv there," he said, giving him an annoyed look. "I can no longer carry you to your bed. You are almost as tall as Megan now."

Jack got up. Room service had already brought breakfast. "She's gonna be huge," he said, and sat down to get himself a huge stack of pancakes. He hadn't realized it but he was starving.

"No, Jack, she's already huge. And so are you," said his father, eyeing him critically. Jack looked up, his mouth full of pancakes. He had forgotten that his father was, in fact, two meters tall.

Another incoming call saved them the awkward moment of having to face the fact that they hadn't really seen each other in way too long. If you didn't count video calls, letters, or phone calls, it could easily have been years. A couple at least. It was no surprise they had forgotten how the other looked.

His father hung up.

"Did you, uhm...have fun?" asked his father. The word 'fun' sounded awkward coming from him. Jack was starting to realize how completely absurd this all was. If his father had suddenly gotten some silly guilt attack over not seeing him and tried to overcompensate. Frankly, Jack would have much preferred it if he had just sent him more expensive gifts; instead of taking him out to play like some kind of pet. He felt really stupid right now.

"Yes. A lot," he said, hiding the sarcarm behind a mouthful of pancakes.

"Megan said that the professor looked really interested in you."

"Megan was so nice yesterday," said Jack between gritted teeth.

His father scoffed out a laugh. "Yes, the fountain. The staff told me about it. Will you two ever grow up?"

"She used all her energy in growing, she didn't have any left for maturing!" Yelled Jack. The look his father gave him froze him on the spot. He was suddenly twelve again, and shouting about how Megan had stolen his piece of cake and thrown him to the pool.

"Well, one of you will have to start being the adult at some point. I hope it's you."

"Ugh, next time warn me ahead to expect her. She surprised me at the worst moment. I agreed to visit the professor's university,"

"What?"

"Well, he liked my experiments and said that he would like me to work with him at Leipzig University. He said that I should go and take a look."

"Really? That...that sounds great. Why didn't you want to go? You said you really liked his research."

"I do! It's just...I mean...I'm not good at school, and...stuff…"

His father's brow furrowed, and Jack steeled himself for a lecture on how much of a disappointment he was. Again. It was easier to just delete the lectures by email.

"Jacob. I think you should go," said his father, and paused. Jack clenched his fists so hard, he could feel the skin breaking under his nails. "I know it was better for you at the time, but I never agreed with your mother on taking you out of school."

"But I'm much more inteligent than anyone my age! I didn't need it!"

"Not to learn. But to live. Jacob, I have to say, I'm worried about you. You are almost a man and...I just want to know you will be alright."

Jack felt his face heating. This man at the other side of the world, through a screen, had seen him change. Had seen time pass.

"And going to university is going to help how?" he lashed out tiredly, knowing he had already lost.

"You will see what others are doing. The title doesn't matter, but the experience will be good for you. Try it for a while. At least go and take a look, if you have already agreed to that."

"Fine. Fine, I'll go. But this is useless. I'm fine. I could just as well start working there already, no need for any stupid study course."

"You could do that too."

Jack blinked, realizing too late he had fallen into another trap. How did his father even do that? Evil was supposed to come from his mom's side!