Book Two: Adaptation

•33•

•Callum•

Toronto
November 2010

Just getting home from work, I close the front door locking it behind me. Hanging my coat up in the hallway closet, I make my way to the kitchen for something to eat.

There, I found Jamie at the kitchen table doing her homework.

"Hi, Callum" she acknowledged me as I walked over to the refrigerator to see what we had to eat.

"Hey. Where's dad?"

"He and Nadine went out to some Thanksgiving party. You going out tonight too?" She looked up at me after I took out a container of leftovers.

"Yeah, but I won't be out long"

"You said that last time"

Placing the container in the microwave to heat the food, I joined Jamie at the table while I waited.

"What are you doing?"

"Studying for this test I have tomorrow. It's supposed to be really hard"

"Want me to quiz you before I go?"

"No, I got it, thanks" she tapped her pencil on the table.

"I'm not going to be that long," I told her again as I watched her work through a problem.

"You said that already"

"Didn't seem like you believed me"

With a deep sigh, she looked up at me, "I don't want to wake up to you and dad arguing again because you were off doing god knows what. I don't want him to kick you out, where would you go?"

"He's not going to kick me out" I reached out to ruffle her hair making her smile. "We just don't agree all the time, it happens"

"This is your last year of high school before you go and leave me for America. I'd like you guys to get along for once"

"That's really on him, Jamie. He'll understand one day he can't control me, or you, forever"

"He's not trying to control you, Callum. He just worries. You have no friends and the people you hang out with are dropout delinquents with no future"

"I thought you liked Abel" I smirked.

"I mean yeah but he's still a dropout who sells." She hid a smile which told me she didn't mean a word she said.

It's then the microwave went off catching my attention.

"Try not to worry about me so much. Keep your head in the books so you can go to a good school too and get a good job" I told her standing to my feet.

"The only thing you and Dad agree on" she shook her head at me.

Taking my food out, I started for my room down in the basement.