Well, because today's a snow day for me, I actually get to update this week after all. Also next week is Christmas Break, so expect tons of updates and maybe even the conclusion.
In late 2001, Ulrich Stern ran home from school to his home in Germany. There he found his father, Johannes, sitting on the couch reading a small book. Ulrich then went up to him.
"Hey Dad." He said. Johannes looked up at him. "You remember that science competition a few days back. Well we got the results back and look."
Ulrich then handed him a small ribbon. Johannes read what it said and immediately Ulrich saw a small look of disappointment in his eyes.
"Second place?" He asked.
"I know that it wasn't what you expected but the important thing is I tried my best, right? After all, only one person was better than me."
"Ulrich." Johannes said putting the book down and facing his son. "If second place is your best, than obviously you're not trying hard enough. Also, that person wasn't better than you, you were just worse than that person."
Ulrich didn't say anything; he knew that reasoning with his father was impossible. He just ran upstairs to his room and closed the door.
A few minutes later, Ulrich's mother, Ilsa, came into his room and found him lying on his bed.
"Hey, Ulrich?" She asked. "Are you feeling alright?" He didn't say anything.
"Your father tells me you have something to show me." She said. "May I see it?"
Ulrich just got up, walked to the trashcan by his door, picked up the second place ribbon and gave it to her.
"Wow, Ulrich." She said. "This is really impressive."
"Thanks." Ulrich said still dejected. "I really appreciate it."
"Please don't be too upset." She said. "The important thing is that you did your best. After all, winning isn't…"
"I'm not upset about losing the competition." Ulrich said. "I'm upset because Dad doesn't feel the same way you do."
"Oh dear." She said. "I should have guessed."
"Why doesn't Dad ever appreciate me no matter what I do?" Ulrich asked.
"He wants to, Ulrich. He even tries to." His mother said. "It's just difficult for him to say the least."
"Because he hates me." Ulrich said lying down.
"Sweetie, he doesn't hate you." Ilsa said.
"Then why does he act like it?" Ulrich said. "He never says he loves me."
"That's just the way he is sometimes; life kind of made him that way." She said. "You see, when he was younger, a little bit older than you, someone hurt him really badly, two people actually. It cost him his parents, and it almost cost him his friends, including me. Ever since then, he's been a really stoic person and still has a hard time of expressing his feelings."
"So he's not upset with me." Ulrich said. "He's just upset in general."
"Well, yeah." Ilsa said. "But I think he'd be less upset if you put a bit more effort into your schoolwork."
"What do you mean?"
"Just a little more." She said. "That way he'll have one less thing to berate you about."
"Alright, I'll try." Ulrich said. "Anything to get him off my back."
Later that evening, Johannes was lying down in bed hoping to get some well deserved rest when Ilsa came in.
"Johannes, we need to talk." She said.
"Whatever it is, can't it wait until tomorrow?" Johannes said. "I have a big meeting tomorrow and I can't sleep in."
"It's about Ulrich."
"Oh." Johannes said. "What has he done now?"
"That's exactly what I want to talk to you about." Ilsa said. "Ever since He started school, you've been on him about his grades and his performance."
"Are you saying I'm a bad father because I want what's best for my son?"
"I'm saying that you've badgered him so much about it that he doesn't think you love him like a father should."
"Well that's his problem, not mine!" Johannes said raising his voice. "Besides, isn't enough that I feed him and provide for him? You think I work 10 hours a day just to help you?"
"Johannes, that's not what…"
"But that's not enough? You want me to praise him for his second rate performance?"
"If that's what'll make him happy, than yes!" Ilsa shouted. "Just tell him that you love him no matter what and he won't feel as bad about himself!"
"Ilsa, he has to learn that pride only comes from hard work! Nothing less! Besides, you know how I was raised, what my grandfather was like." Johannes said. "'The Tsar cut my lung open; don't bitch to me with your problems!' You think it's easy putting up with that and being bullied on a daily basis and having no one help you because they think you're a liar? He has to learn that nothing in life is ever easy! But unlike him, I found that out the hard way!"
"That gives you no right to treat your son like his grades are the only thing that matters!" Ilsa shouted back. "He's not a mind-reader! He's not going to know that you love him just as he is unless you tell him! And if you don't, he'll grow up resenting you and leaving you and you'll have no son!" Johannes just sighed.
"No, Ilsa." He said. "I'm sticking with my beliefs and whether you like it or not, that's not going to change. So get used to it! Besides, I already found a way to help improve his education."
"Care to explain?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow." Johannes said as he shut of the light and lay back down.
The next morning, Johannes explained to Ilsa that he was planning to send Ulrich to a prestigious academy in France his steel mill had a branch in France, so his job wasn't a concern.
"But before then, he'll be sent to a small elementary school to help improve himself before he's old enough." Johannes said. "And he's lucky that I'm giving him this much time to prepare."
"What did you say it was called again?" Ilsa asked.
"Kadic Academy." He said. "You remember Anthony Schaeffer? Well when I went to that business trip in France like ten years ago, I ran into his older brother, Waldo, and he told me that he was teaching there and I thought it would be a great place to have Ulrich. Weird thing was he disappeared in '94 and even before then the school's database shows no one by the name of Waldo Schaeffer working there, but that's a different story."
"So have you told Ulrich about this yet?" Ilsa asked. "When do you plan on sending him?"
"In a week." He said.
"What?" Ilsa said.
"I already bought a house and got tickets." Johannes said. "All we have to do is get packed and move our stuff."
"You're telling me this now?" She asked. "And you haven't even consulted Ulrich about it?"
"What's to consult?" Johannes said. "I already know he's gonna love it, trust me."
"You're what?" Ulrich said after his father told him everything.
"Were moving to France next week." Johannes said. "In a few years, you'll be attending a very fancy school there."
"Isn't it great?" Ilsa asked.
"If it's in a few years, why are we going now?"
"To get you prepared, we decided to send you to an elementary school not to far from the academy."
"No, I won't do it!" Ulrich said.
"What do you mean?" Johannes said. "Don't you see what a wonderful opportunity this is for you?"
"I don't care!" Ulrich said. "I like my school and my friends. I don't want to leave those behind."
"Ulrich, I don't think we can send you to Germany everyday from France."
"Then let's not move!" Ulrich said.
"I told you it wasn't going to be a good idea." Ilsa said.
"Ulrich, listen to me! This is the best opportunity you're ever going to get and you're not…! Hey, get back here!" Johannes said as Ulrich ran upstairs to his room; Johannes just followed him. "Don't you go away when I'm talking to you!"
"Why not?"
"Because I'm your father and you'll do what I say!"
"Johannes, please." Ilsa said.
"So what?" Ulrich said. "That gives you know right to ruin my life!"
"Don't you talk back to me, Ulrich Johannes Stern!"
"I'll talk to you however I want!" Ulrich shouted. "And I'm not moving to stupid France!"
"We're going next week and you're gonna like it and that's final!"
"I hate you!" Ulrich shouted. "You never cared about me and you never will unless I'm perfect!"
"Ulrich!" Ilsa scolded.
"Well, I hate you back, you stupid boy! All I wanted was for you to make me proud and you can't even do that right!" Johannes shouted. Ulrich and Ilsa were shocked; he had never said anything like this before. Johannes, realizing what he said, looked down and saw that Ulrich on the verge of crying.
"Ulrich, please I…" Johannes said softly.
"Get away from me!" Ulrich said pushing his father back. He then ran to his room and slammed the door. Ilsa just turned to her husband and glared at him.
"I hope you're satisfied." She said. She then went into Ulrich's room to try to comfort him.
Johannes just went downstairs and sat on the couch. He then pulled out a small picture from his pocket and looked at it: It was a picture of him as his parents before they were killed; Johannes just buried his face in his hands.
"Why did you do this to me, Grandpa?" He whispered to himself.
The next week, the Stern family got in the car and departed to France, but not before all of Ulrich's friends showed up to say their last goodbyes. Throughout the entire trip neither Ulrich nor Johannes spoke to one another. When they arrived, Ulrich was enrolled in the elementary school and made plenty of new friends. Ulrich also joined the soccer team and was the star player, which also got him plenty of fangirls, including one Sissi Delmas, who Ulrich despised immediately.
A few years later, Ulrich officially entered Kadic Academy and you know the rest.
Well, that concludes The Stern Chronicles. However, I plan on making a small epilogue at the end of the story that shows the two reconciling, also because I want to create a buildup for a future oneshot involving Calvin and Johannes, I'm not saying what it'll be about, but hopefully it will be good. But for now, it'll be back to the original story.
Please Review.