"What are you doing, Theodore?" he asked, his pale eyes widening as he surveyed the boy from head to toe. His uncle was tall, thin and bald. He had a scruff of mustache right below his nose, the only hair on his face, apart from the tiny bits that rarely sprouted above his pointed ears. He was wearing a crisp white shirt, the sleeves neatly folded up to his elbows. A computer bag was hanging from his shoulder.
"We are running short of time," he muttered, tearing his eyes away from Theo to have a glance at his watch. "Hurry up, Jenny, the boy needn't change."
Theo definitely needed to change. His ragged t-shirt hung a foot below his waist. His messy brown hair fell right down to his eyebrows, and the freckles on his cheek were currently a mixture of pink and yellow.
"Could I have a second to chan-"
"We are short on time." Repeated his uncle, still staring at his watch, as though he expected the dial to break out of its place and walk about the room. "You needn't change."
"But-"
"You," growled Mr. Burke, his voice raising at every word. "Needn't change."
"Any problem?" shrieked Aunt Jenny, seeing the stung look on Theo's face.
"No."
"Good."
He was dropped off at the doorstep of the dormitory at 10 in the morning, andhis aunt and uncle zoomed away, muttering something about how the boy hadcaused them to be late. Theo trudged over to the counter, rising to be thelaughing stock of the gathered community, what if the baggy ragged t-shirtwasn't enough, he looked as if he just poked his head out of a bucket of paint.
"Hi," he said drowsily to the lady at the reception, taking an effort to stovehis tattered rucksack onto the luggage counter.
YOU ARE READING
Being Theo Fernandes
Teen FictionAs he walks back home down the path he had so often despised, Theo thinks again, not about what awaits him, but what he is leaving behind.
