Strange Tides

5.

"Dude, guess where I'm going next year?" called Jake. He was in the kitchen of my father's house. He rarely came around since he got his girlfriend, but after a week of making out she decided that she wanted more from and a relationship and well, now there he was eating my food and talking too much.

Just like old times.

"Where man, you applied everywhere?" I snorted. Jake had some of the worst marks I'd ever seen. "Just because you got onto the waiting list doesn't mean they'll take you, I mean there are grade 10s more qualified." I teased him, but he didn't mind. He never did.

"Hey bru, not the point it's Rhodes." I was shocked.

"Rhodes? Huh, that's a good school. Don't screw this up."

"Nah bru, I'm serious about this one. I've always wanted to branch off into journalism and just English in general. It's my passion." Said Jake, he then started babbled about pronouns or something, but I couldn't listen. I hated English.

"Anyways, what do you want to do man?"

"You know I'm going to Stellies with Jazz, bru. We talked about this. I actually do want to go there. It's such a nice school. I been researching it and-"

"Yeah you've lost me. You're going there with Jasmine? Is it because she said so?"

"No, I actually like the school and they happen to have a beyond decent medical program." Jasmine had had no say in where I wanted to study. I'd always wanted to go to Stellenbosch. It was where both my parents had gone. We'd been planning since before I'd even met Jasmine. It was a complete coincidence that she'd wanted to attend that school as well.

But I guess that's what happens when you go to one of the better schools in the area, or continent really.

"Whatever, I still say she has you whipped."

"It's called loyalty, and trust and love and contentment. I think that's what you're looking for."

"No, what I'm looking for is the word bit-" and my dad waltzed in.

My dad was old fashioned in the sense that he didn't enjoy listening to swear word so no one swore around him.

I kicked Jake under the chair to remind him, but he had already caught on.

"Good afternoon boys, how are you?"

"Oh I'm good, Mr. G and yourself." my dad had asked Jake to call him 'Mr G'. I figured it was some sort of 'perk' of having a midlife crisis. He was becoming more lenient.

"Never better, Jake, never better." said my dad.

"What's got you in such a good mood, dad?" I asked genuinely curious. It wasn't often that I saw my dad this happy.

"It was approved. You're going away to university next year!" He exclaimed. He had really been worried that I wouldn't be going away next year. He was worried I'd have to take a forced gap year, which would then turn me mysteriously into a bum. He'd been stressing his nose hairs grey over it.

"Oh my goodness; I'm so happy for you, dad."

"Thanks son. I knew my administrative skills would help me find the right aid. You see, it's a rugby scholarship. You've been first team since first year. You were bound to get it and now you have. And they're knocking off 70%. Can you imagine? Seventy percent! Where else would we have found such a good deal?"

"No where dad, and that's why you're the man."

"You're damn right I'm the man."

"Mr. G, you're swearing like a sailor." said Jake with feigned astonishment.

"Well I'm so happy and I don't even realize what I'm saying, sorry about that." He said coming down from his high. He then went over to the fridge, to go and get his 'fine wine' as he called it. It was really just a bottle from the top isle of a Woolworths store, but no one ever chastised him about it. He brought down a glass for all of us, even though none of us were legal, but he didn't care. He drank wine moderately.

He poured us all a glass and then signaled to us that we should pick up our glasses, as if he was making a grand announcement or toast.

"I'd like to make this toast to me, my awesome admin skills and for Terence's schooling career and the University of Witwatersand!"

I'd started sipping as he spoke and nearly choked when he finished.

"I know son, it's a good school. I can't believe it either. They accepted you, they want you and they're damn well going to have you too, son." He boomed while hitting his hand against the counter.

"But dad, I'm going to UCT." I said in a small voice. I was going, I was accepted, I was excited, what nonsense was this? I'd nothing against Wits, but it's kind of hard to change your mind when you've already dug the foundations.

"Yeah, I knew I was forgetting something," he said and he downed his wine, and then the bottle. "The company has close ties with that University. They trust it, fund it. The university is like their baby, and it's a well respected company as well Terence."

"But Stellies. I was going to be a Matie next year."

"Bru," started Jake, "That's what they call the students at Stellenborsch."

"Well now you're going to be whatever it is they call themselves up there."

"A  Witz-y?" said Jake.

"Yeah, that's it exactly. You'll love it there, trust me. It's where my cousins went. It's where I probably would have gone; it's not a bad school." He paused for a minute in thought. "Are you sure that's what they call it?"

"Nobody down here knows what they call it, sir. Everyone around here stays around here."

"But UCT." There was nothing more I wanted to say that could actively cement my desire to stay down here. I was at a loss for words at the complete and utter shock of this news.

"Good god son? I didn't go through all these troubles for you to nit pick your way into it." He raised his voice startling Jake, but I was too numb to take notice. "You know if I could afford to I'd send you to any school in the world and I'd pay everything because you're worth it to me, but I simply cannot afford it. We may never see an opportunity like this ever again, Terence. Look at your sister, Janet. She had to wait a whole year before we could send her anywhere. I know it's not ideal, but it's the only way I can send you to school."

It was a little awkward to be having such a serious conversation with my dad while Jake present. He was a funny man, but even he understood occasionally. I was never there during those occasions, I'd always just heard about it. I looked over to him for encouragement, but he was looking down, like he didn't want to meet my gaze, like he was trying to evade it all. He was siding with my dad, I could tell, but he didn't want me to know, but I knew no matter what he thought he could do.

"Jake?" I questioned weakly.

"I think you should do it. Your dad obviously went through a lot of trouble getting this done and university isn't cheap. Do it while they're still offering."

"Oh, I've already accepted." said my dad and I just looked at him.

I had nothing to say.

"Okay." I stated and I saw the stress leave my body and I felt the air get light again.

Jake and 'Mr. G' started conversing again about rugby, like this entire conversation hadn't happened, like we'd been talking about a meal. I couldn't bring myself to join the conversation no matter how hard I tried because something kept bugging me.

How was I going to tell Jasmine?

For those who don't know "bru" is the South African equivalent of "bro".