The Boys Who Cried Sasquatch

Chapter 10

I have decided to write my essay on Sasquatch. I figured mine would be different to the rest of the class, and I know I could make Mrs Cameron proud. Sasquatch is probably an endangered species, wouldn't he? He is one of a kind. I don't think anyone would think of him as an endangered species.

I sat on the couch in the living room, writing the first paragraph, scribbling down whatever came to mind. Before I could start on the second paragraph, Sally comes over to me, asking for help with her math work. I did the best I could, not even sure if I have gotten the answers right.

Dad comes home at five. The moment he walks through the door, carrying a paper bag, the smell of Chinese food fills my nostrils, instantly making me hungry.

Dad greets me before asking me if I had cooked dinner yet.

I get off the couch, shaking my head. "No, I haven't. I was doing some of my homework and helping Sally with hers."

"That's good. I brought Chinese for us." He shouts Sally's name up the stairs, telling her to come down. He then walks into the kitchen.

I follow him, holding the envelope in my hand that I had on the couch with me. Dad puts the bag down on the table and takes the cardboard boxes out one by one. He hands one of them to me. The smell of sweet and sour sauce fills my nostrils, making my mouth water.

"Here's sweet and sour pork for you," he says.

I thank him and take it, as well as the chopsticks he hands me.

"What's that in your hands?" he asks, eyeing the envelope.

Sally walks in and hands her the box with hokkein noodles. She sits down at the table, digging into her food.

I hand dad the letter. "It's a note from my English teacher."

Dad takes it, staring down at it. "You aren't in trouble, are you?"

I shake my head. "No."

I sit down beside Sally, opening the box and pick up a piece of pork, biting it.

Dad opens the letter. I watch him carefully as I chew my food, trying to read his mind. His expression is unreadable, and I get a horrible feeling in my stomach that once he puts the letter down, our conversation won't go so well.

He folds the paper and places it back inside the envelope. "Sally, could you please go to your room for a second? I need to talk to your brother."

Sally looks at me, giving me a sympathy look. By the tone of his voice we both knew he had rejected the letter. Now he was going to lecture me on why I shouldn't go up there.

"What did we talk about yesterday, David?" he asks me once my sister is out of the room.

I place the cardboard box on the table with the chopsticks inside. "Dad, what's the big deal about me going up the mountains? I always go up there."

"And I don't want you to go up there anymore after that stunt you and Julian pulled."

I get off the seat. "Look, Dad, could we just forget what happened on Saturday? I just thought I could go up there, hopefully get inspired for an essay that I'm meant to get done by Friday."

Dad walks over to the bin beside the fridge and drops the envelope in. He turns back to me. "You can get inspired without going out there."

"Mrs Cameron said I could go."

"Mrs Cameron may have given you permission, but I have the final say."

"Please let me go, Dad."