Dead & Forgotten

Ch. 7

Time went on, and it practically felt like it was just yesterday that I had entered Marshall Academy for the very first time--the only difference was, things were a lot smoother for me now than they were before. I didn't know what it was, but somehow I became one of the most popular kids in school. Marvin and I were closer than usual, almost as if there was something sexual going on between us. Everyone else recognized me as the daughter of two famous parents working in Hollywood, which made me feel a little special. I felt like the big thing now, ever since the time I stood up to Jeanna Morton and showed her what an undesirable bitch she was. Speaking of which, it seemed like she was jealous of my new relationship with Marvin. Someone once told me she tended to be a little too controlling, and surprisingly, that was true.

Now it was the first week in October--time flew by pretty fast--and although it went by a little fast, somehow I felt like it was a little slow too, if you get my drift. I felt like it's been forever since I came here. Well, that's Father Time for you. And believe it or not, Mom and Dad were actually back in the state! They came back this past Saturday, the last day in September, and I've heard from them immediately when they got back. I talked to them on the telephone booth on Saturday. I said, "Mom, it's so great to have you back!"

She said, "I know. It's great to see you too! Your father and I are very sorry for not always being there. We decided that we're going to take a break from acting for the rest of the year."

I wondered if I heard that right. "Oh, Mom, you don't really have to," I said, even though I really wanted her to. At this point, I should be the main focus.

"Princess, I insist," she said. "Princess" had always been my family nickname when I was little. "Aristotle and I feel guilty just for not saying good-bye to you when you were going off to Marshall Academy. Anyway, you're enjoying yourself over there, aren't you?"

"I am, actually," I said. "I've made more friends with half the population of the school. Everyone here really likes me, Mom. I'm like a celebrity!" I couldn't help bragging about that.

"I'm sure they do," she said. "Your father and I have raised you to be a likable person. Use that to your advantage."

We talked for what seemed like a whole year, and it felt great just talking to her. We even talked about the letters we'd sent each other, and thanked each other for exchange of letters. Eventually, she said, "Well, it was really great talking to you, Cassandra."

"It was really great talking to you too," I said.

"Your father and I really mean it when we insist that we take the rest of the year off from work," she said. "That is my final choice, and I want you to be okay with that."

"I am okay with that," I said earnestly, and she could feel it in my voice.

"I'm glad that you are," she said. "I will call you tomorrow or any other time you are available. Have a good day, sweetheart."

"You too," I said. "Love you."

"Love you too," she said, and we both hung up.

That was the high point of my Saturday. I recorded that glorious moment in my diary: "Saturday, September 30, 1989: Formed a Long-Lost Relationship with Mother...." and picked it up from there. Now it was Monday, back to being the normal day as usual. I had recently discovered my feelings for Marvin, and it was quite mutual. In Creative Writing class, he recited the most beautiful poem I've ever heard in the form of Shakespearean words. I knew he was referring to me in the poem. "It's a love poem I made up, but I use Shakespeare's words to emphasize my emotions," he said.

"Excellent job, Mr. Garrett," said our teacher, Mr. Travers. I turned around and saw Jeanna glaring at me, shaking her head. Wow, was she a jealous one. "You see this, class? Your classmate here, Mr. Garrett, has demonstrated to us the whole point of what writing is all about. Writing is all about expressing your deepest, innermost thoughts and feelings and putting them into perspective whether on paper or not, and also to encourage an audience."