𝓢𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝓢𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓭𝓮

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑

My room door slammed open, jolting me wake in the early morning before my alarm had a chance to ring. I was certain it was because I had set alarm for 11 am, and it seemed my mom had different plans.

"What's going on, mom?" I ask from the comfort of my bed. It was unusual for her to wake me up like this, especially during the semester break when I had no obligations.

"Go greet your dad's friend," she entered my room, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. I let out a deep sigh, not particularly thrilled about the idea.

"Why? I don't think he wants to meet me," I grumbled, reluctantly rising from my bed.

"Just go, before your dad comes upstairs," she insisted, her words hinting at the ingrained cultural norm of Asian root from my dad sides. I shook my head, contemplating the purpose of meeting my father's friend. What was even the point?

I dragged myself to the bathroom, splashing water on my face and hastily brushing my teeth. Still half-asleep, I trudged downstairs in my pyjamas to greet my dad's friend. Upon entering the kitchen, I spotted a man sitting at the table, engrossed in conversation with my father.

"Good morning, Dad," I announced my presence. As I turned to greet the man, I was taken aback to realize that it was none other than my new neighbour.

"Oh, Skye! This is Dad's old friend. Please say hello," I composed myself before extending a warm greeting, but before I could utter a word, he interjected.

"Yes, I had the pleasure of meeting Skye yesterday. She graciously shared her delicious carrot cake with us," the man spoke to my father, but his eyes were locked onto mine, a glimmer of recognition dancing within them.

"Oh, really? I am glad then," my father remarked, carrying on the conversation with Alec. "You see, Skye wasn't even born yet when you decide to left the town."

I couldn't help but feel taken aback by my father's words. The realization hit me that Alec must have known my family from long ago, but I found myself trying to gauge his age. He didn't appear to be as old as my father, at least not by outward appearances.

Contrasting with my father's usual attire of a striped collared t-shirt and cargo shorts, Alec sported a casual ensemble. He wore a grey hoodie, jeans, and a pair of black boots. The disparity in their clothing choices only deepened my curiosity about Alec's age. I couldn't help but wonder once again about the mysterious puzzle of his true age.

I approached my mother, who was busy flipping pancakes away from the prying eyes of our guest. Leaning in close, I whispered, seeking more information about Alec.

"Mom, how old is Alec? He doesn't seem to be the same age as Dad, at least not from what I can tell. Are they really a friend?" I inquired, lending a hand in flipping pancakes alongside her.

My mother paused for a moment, her brow furrowing in thought. "Well, to the best of my recollection, Alec is way younger than your father. However, they did grow up together, so I suppose they've been friends for quite some time," she replied with a casual shrug, resuming her cooking.

"Ah, I see," I murmured to myself, nodding as I processed the information. The intrigue surrounding Alec's age only deepened, leaving me with more questions than answer.

The morning unfolded without any notable events as my mother and I casually watched TV together. Suddenly, my father's voice pierced through the tranquility, calling me from the yard.

"Skye, come here for a moment!" he shouted, drawing my attention.

As I approached, I noticed my father busily repairing an old radio that had long been destined for the trash. I couldn't help but feel uninterested in the task at hand.

"What's going on, Dad?" I asked, my lack of enthusiasm apparent.

"Help me out, Skye. I promised Alec that I would show him around the town, but I need to finish fixing this thing first. I think I can have it done by today," he explained, oblivious to the absurdity of his words.

Firstly, Alec was an adult and perfectly capable of exploring our small town on his own.

Secondly, there was no way my father would complete the radio repairs by the end of the day. I was willing to bet my life on it.

"But he was born here, so he should already know the layout of the town," I countered, stating what I believed to be a logical fact.

"I understand that, but he left the town 24 years ago, so things might have changed since then. Besides, you don't have any plans for the day either, so please help me out," my father pleaded once more, hoping to persuade me.

I sighed, realizing that my father had a point. While Alec may have grown up in this town the passage of time has brought about significant changes. Even the once-beloved ice cream store that used to be my favourite three years ago was nowhere to be found. Reluctantly, I agreed to assist my father, setting aside my own reservations, and accepting the task at hand.

In the end, it was a chance for me to make a new friend, which was something I loved the most. The idea of friendship made me smile with delight.