Alien Boy

Father of the Year

The peace in the air was something only out of nostalgic memories and old movies. A million words could be said but none of them ever came in fear of the dream to be gone. Sadly, there was another world to return to.

A rasp at the door woke Ferris and left him feeling drowsy. Slowly and stiffly, He returned his glasses to their familiar place and made his way to the door grumbling to himself. His shirt was all crumpled due to his tossing and turning, but he tried to make himself look presentable, throwing on a zip-up hoodie to hide his wrinkled button-up.

Another knock, this time seemed more urgent than the last. He opened the door to be met face-to-face with two police officers. Ferris knew Officer Davy, but the other one seemed new, he fidgeted with his clipboard.

"Mr. Beckett, how are you?" Officer Davy had a mustache that was always waxed to be the perfect handlebar shape. He always seemed so cheerful, but a solemn tone in his voice and his mouth barely twitched at a smile.

"I'm alright, how are you?" Ferris opened the door a bit more, allowing himself to be comfortable, "You don't seem like yourself." He took notice of the way Davy seemed to be fighting with himself.

"I'm alright," He looked over at the other officer. "And this is Officer Anderson; he's new, only his fourth day."

The boy smiled stiffly at Ferris, and his hands tightened around the clipboard, "Are you going to tell him?"

Davy sighed and ran a hand over his head.

"This isn't going to be easy to say," Davy gained his composer and looked to the younger man, "Mr. Beckett, your father has passed away."

It took a moment for Ferris to even process the words he heard. His father was an awful man, the word "dad" was never used to describe him. He remembered the grubby clothing and rough leathery hands. The fresh night air smelt revolting at the sudden flashes of repressed memories. Nothing could mask the stench of his childhood.

"I'll take care of things as much as I can, but the rest is up to you." Davy reached forward and hugged Ferris tightly, "Good luck."

Anderson stood back and reported on his clipboard before returning to the car. Davy eventually did the same and Ferris stood on his porch with the setting sun being devoured by the night. Eventually, he closed the door and grabbed his phone. Mars was only a tap away, relief was only one click away, but nothing could make Ferris call his friend, especially with news like this. He went to tuck his phone away, but something else was already in his jacket pocket.

An old brown envelope with the letters SB on it. Steven Beckett, Ferris's father. He sat there in silence with the envelope left on the kitchen table. The arguments, the begging, the sounds that muddied his thoughts and made it impossible to think clearly. He thought about calling Mars again, but what would he even say.

He took a breath, his chest felt tight and he forced himself to breathe slower. He made up his mind, to call into work and then for Mars. The shifts should have changed. Ferris picked up his phone and gathered whatever courage he had left.

First ring

Second

Third

No one was picking up.

Fourth ring

Fifth

"Hello, you've reached George Wilson's psychiatric, Mellie speaking how may I help you?" A voice answered from the other side of the line.

"Hello, it's Ferris, Dr. Beckett." He straightened I'm up in his chair.

"Hey Ferris, what can I do for you?"