What History Doesn't Know

I Learn About My Past

"Move it over there." mom said.

I TRIED to take 40 winks but my apparently doesn't like it if people sleep on the job even it is her own son. I shifted the bags of animal food to another shelf. Damn, these things were heavy. I need to work out more. I really wish I was Therus right now. I was really buff then.

"Is something troubling you, Casper?" mom spoke to me causing to turn my head to her.

"No, nothing. I'm okay." I replied with a smile.

My mom smiled but it was a sad smile. My life is not like other kids. While everybody was hanging out with their friends on weekends at the mall, I was helping my mom at her shop. I know, I know, I'm a loser, you might think. Truth is, it's been really hard for my mom and I. We have to support ourselves.

My mom was always smiling but it was a sad smile. By now, people who just knew us, would ask, 'Where is your father, Casper?' and I would keep quiet. I didn't say anything. I didn't now what to say. Mom hardly talks about my father. The strangest thing was that I have NEVER seen ANY pictures of him. However, my mom tells me I look just like him when dad was young. I have never asked much about dad. The last time I did, which was nine years ago, mom started crying. All I knew was, I would never see my dad in person. But after so long, I decided that I have to try one last time. If I screw up, I will never ask again.

"Mom?" I asked her.

"Yes, Casper?" my mom smiled as she spoke.

I sighed. "I want to ask you this question. I will ask you one last time. You don't have to answer if don't want to. Okay, I figured I am old now and..."

"Stop. I know what you want to ask. It's about him, isn't it?" I nodded.

My mom sighed and rubbed her arms.

"Look if everything is bad, let's just forget I asked."

"No, no, Casper. You are right. It must be said. You must know what happened. Come follow me." she said as she headed to the counter of her shop. "Sit down. Mama will tell you everything." she said as she gestured to a chair.

I mom stared at the floor for a while and was silent. I decided to remain quiet to give her time to find the right words. I'm not going to screw up when I'm so close to finding out about my dad. Finally, she spoke up. "Casper, your dad was taken one night."

I immediately sat up. "Taken? Taken by who?"

"I don't know. They came one dark night, sometime after you were born. Your dad always whispered to me about them at night."

"Who came?"

"I don't know, mi querida. All dad knew was that they were men of extraordinary abilities with the money that could buy planets. I remember that dark night all to well. It was raining, heavily than usually in fact. Yet, you were sleeping soundly. You looked so adorable in your cot. The rain was the heaviest downpour that I have seen my entire life. Somewhere in my heart, I knew something terrible was about to happen to someone, somewhere. I never knew it turned out to be us. They came in the dark of the night without a sound. Fortunately, your dad somehow managed to detect their presence. He always said he had this 'sixth sense' of some sort. I just thought he was joking."

"Sixth sense? I think I've read about it, mom. Some people call it instinct." I said.

My mom rubbed her chin. "Possibly. Anyway, your dad told me to take you far. Far away as my legs could carry you and me. Unfortunately, I was too stubborn to run far. I stayed a safe distance from the house and watched. I wished I hadn't. The scene repeats in my head every night like a curse."

"What happened to dad?"

"Dad kept part of his life a secret to everyone. I only found out about everything when you were born. He was a brave man." My mom suddenly stopped talking. "Casper,...I'm sorry but that is all I can say here."

"Huh? But mom..."

"You will find out later, Casper. For now, we never had this conversation." she said as she walked off.

I felt instantly sad. I don't know what to say but at least the truth will reveal itself eventually. Now, I would just pretend nothing happened. Still questions, haunted my mind the whole day. What happened to dad? Who are 'they'? Ugh, I'll just worry later. These questions were giving me a headache.

After working at mom's store, she told me I could leave early, so I did. I bought the food I wanted to buy early today and headed home. I finished my food but I was still hungry. Not hungry for food but hungry for the truth. Melanie would sleep at my place again. She had finished her assignment and was cleaning up her place. Eduardo, on the other hand was far away. Calling him would be rather pricey. I wonder how his little expedition was going.

Melanie arrived later in the evening with her hair in a mess. I decided to keep my thoughts FAR away from my mouth if I wanted to live. She dumped her bag on the sofa and collapsed on the sofa. I mumbled under my breath, 'Please don't be on your period. Please don't be on your period.'

"God, you just don't believe my brother! Do know what he did? Well, I'll tell you what he did! He went on some guitar talent show, signed a record and is going on tour without telling my parents or me. He's bloody lucky he finished school. Otherwise, he would definitely be skipping and then dropping out of school. He's in god knows where. The company he is signed to is too busy too return my calls."

"And you now what else? Hayley, was so busy chatting with her boyfriend that she hardly helped with the assignment today. It was just blah, blah, blah. She may be my friend but she really forgets herself sometimes! What a b...argh! I just can't bring myself to say bad things about my own friends. It was a good thing Zoey was kind enough to take over her duties."

"What's more I was looking for parking during lunch for about 20 minutes. When I saw a car was about to leave, I waited for them to leave. When they left, I got my car ready for parking when someone a**hole comes out of nowhere and parks the spot I have been waiting for!"

I had to park far away from the restaurant. When I was queuing up to pay, some woman's Chihuahua was peeing all over my shoes. The owner didn't even say sorry. All she did was just grin!"

"After lunch, I went to buy some groceries. When I was walking back, the same a**hole passed and splashed water from a puddle all over me! Argh! What crappy day! First, my brother does something crazy. Next, I lose my parking to some jerk. Then, my favourite shoes get pissed on. Then, I get completely splashed on by the same prick. Not only that, my underwear wasn't matching today!"

I didn't say anything as she spoke on and on. I sat next to her on the sofa. I needed to calm her down before she directs her anger at me. I just rubbed her shoulders. As I massaged her shoulders, she began to speak more quietly. She turned around at me but continued grumbling away.

"Shhh...not another word." I said as I placed my index finger on her lips. That kept her quiet. I looked deep in her big brown eyes. The light from behind me was reflected in her eyes giving her a sparkle in her eyes that made my heart feel warm. "Everything okay now?" I asked her.

"There's still..." she began to speak up but I put my index finger back on her lips.

"Didn't I say not another word? I want you to take a deep breath and release all your stress of the day. After this, I don't want to see anything on your face that isn't a beautiful smile."

A smile grew on her lips. She held my arm and kissed my index finger that was still on her lips. "Okay." she responded. "No more stress."

"Sure?"

"Yes."

"Good. You sit here while I go make some hot chocolate for both of us."

"I want orange marshmallows in mine, pretty please?"

I chuckled. "Okay."