Bridges Of Time

Chapter 2

                                                                                                                                                       2004
                                                                                                                                               Cooperstown

Magnus takes a fearful step inside his house after school, hoping to find his father asleep in his shop. Or just somewhere where he doesn’t notice his son. Asmodeus Bane, Magnus’ immigrant father, owns a small mechanic’s shop in downtown Cooperstown, and his house is all but an extension of the workshop. The exterior of the house that shares a wall with Asmodeus’ workplace is constructed of weathered bricks that have faded over time. The paint on the walls and the doors is chipped and peeling, revealing layers of different colors painted over the years.

Magnus kicks the door close as he steps inside and settles his backpack on an old wooden chair on his left. There is a calming silence in his house, making him believe that his father is probably running errands in the town. He toes his socks off and puts them in the washer, and then proceeds to get a glass of water for himself. It has been yet another horrible day at school, with his class receiving their first set of grades for their biology assignment. He has scored the second-best scores in the class, losing to Alec Lightwood by 2 marks.

That intelligent fucker, Magnus groans. He changes into a fresh pair of t-shirt and lose pants after washing his face with a bar of soap.

He grabs his books and notepads and walks into the shop on the front, taking his usual place next to the car lift. The old and rugged desktop that sits on his table fires up with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts webpage popping up first. That’s what Magnus had been looking at when he went to sleep last night. UNCSA has the best dance program in the world. He stares at the screen, reading through the entry requirements for their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in contemporary dance. Despite all that he knows about his life.

He could never go to UNCSA.

His father would never allow it.

For Asmodeus, the only acceptable aim in Magnus’ life was a degree in medicine. Ever since he realized that Magnus was academically gifted, all he’s ever wanted is to see Magnus as a successful cardiovascular surgeon.

He would never agree to Magnus becoming a dancer.

His chain of thoughts is interrupted by scuffling outside the shop, and Magnus hurriedly closes Internet Explorer before Asmodeus can figure out what he has been looking at in his absence. Asmodeus enters the shop and takes off his baseball cap, throwing it on one of the metal jars of automobile liquid. “Any customers?” He asks and Magnus shakes his head.

The old man hums and walks further into the shop, limping on his left leg per usual. And then he stops, “You were supposed to get back your biology assignment scores, right?” The man turns around and raises an interrogative brow at Magnus, putting down the huge bottles of brake fluid that he’s been carrying. Magnus nervously shifts in his chair and nods. “Did you?” He pries.

“I did,” Magnus clears his throat. “I scored 71 on 80.”

Asmodeus looks up as he is dusting his pants and shoots a glare at his son, which makes Magnus look sideways to avoid his father’s boring eyes, “Top of the class?”