An Innocent Mistake (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 5

As usual, our school bus drop us a street away from the house and from there we walk.

Julia is next to me and I have this urgency to ask a question. It ask for nothing much, but a permission from her to come over to my house. But I am worried at the same time that, what if she denies it, because her mother wouldn't let her come. Her mother is a personality that holds the importance of strictness over Julia's life. I know she never means to hurt Julia, but she cares a lot about her. If I ask her to come over, I am not putting Julia in danger. Even her mother would admit that I am her best friend and would never want anything bad for Julia.

After thinking all that, I dare to take a step and finally ask, "Julia, can you come over to my house today?" I gulp in my nervousness.

I watch her pace go slow and the sign of trouble pinches her skin.

"How can I? " Julia says. "My mom will be so mad if I came home late. Last time it was enough bad."

I intend to reduce her worry. "You can call your mom from my house and tell her that you are at my house. She knows I am your best friend."

But result from her is same. She is engaged in thinking about her mom's reaction, as I can see the color of her face draining out her typical complexion.

"But my mom is mom and she does what she does." Julia says. She is still unwilling to come.

"Okay you want me talk to her? Maybe it will change her mind." I give her a hope.

I force her to my house, pushing in through the gates and stab in through the front door.

Beside the sofa in the lounge, there is a phone holder and I pick the wireless receiver. I ask Julia for her phone number and as she passes down the number, I punch in the phone.

Few bells ring. Then somebody picks up. The voice of a young boy stumbles into my ear, following the background screaming of a woman, retorting in strict language.

I lose my confidence then. What if Julia's mother yells at me through the phone for calling Julia over suddenly like this.

The phone later is held by a responsible adult, than the boy who is underage. It must have been Sam, Julia's younger brother. He is six.

"Hello, who is speaking?" Mrs.Campbell, Julia's mother speak.

"Hi, Mrs.Campbell I am Bethany." I bring my words out carefully. My tone becomes low as if it is stuck in my throat, barely able to sound. I clear my throat and continue on the phone. "I wanted to ask if Julia can come over to my house."

"Bethany, sweetie." The lady that has allowed others to imagine her as harsh and bossy at first, has broken the notion and spoke in a genuinely friendly manner. "I don't let Julia to be out lately and especially when the sun goes down. The streets of the day become a danger in the night. I don't know if her father would be happy to see her coming home late."

"Mrs.Campbell," I pause and run my eyes to Julia standing near me. She gestures to the phone and starts asking by doing action. I gesture back, telling her to wait until I am done. "But can she stay until six and after that she can go home. For another two hours there is still daylight and she will be home before sunset?" I continue to persuading her.

Then there is a pause from Mrs.Campbell. She is hanging between two opinions. But I know my advice isn't that bad.

Her decision takes process lasting at least a couple of seconds, then Mrs.Campbell comes back one, "Okay, if you insist so then she can stay, but don't hold her longer. By the way can I have few words with Julia?"