Was It Bad Luck Or Good Fortune??

Wait till then

Friday morning Todd woke with a really bad headache, he had had a fitful night’s sleep, in fact he felt as though he had not slept at all. He grudgingly got out of bed and after looking at his reflection disparagingly he busied himself with his usual morning routine. 

The last couple of days had gone by in a sort of fog and he had changed his mind so many times about whether or not to meet with Anika. He was however glad that she had not agreed to meet with him on the Saturday, that was NOT a good day for him, but he had been so caught up with Anika that he never gave his CHANGE a second thought.

It was now, however a heavy burden on his mind.  Why did he have to be a.... well a thing?  Since he had not thought about it for a bit he had begun to imagine getting friendlier with Anika, but now he knew he couldn’t EVER and why. He used to ask himself why life was so unfair, but he knew the answer to that one.

Once he was ready he went downstairs and was shocked to see Anika’s father standing in his living room.  Her father just nodded at Todd and carried on speaking to his father.  Todd sidled past them and into the kitchen where his mother was sat in silence.

“What is he doing here?” he enquired

“Who dear?” asked his mother who had obviously not noticed him come in. “Oh Mr Kingston, he had come around to ask your father for some help.  I didn’t know that you knew him”

“Not really, he is the father of that new girl from school, the ones who had moved into Sanderson’s old place.” Kingston he thought so her name is Anika Kingston

He looked at his mother as he spoke but did not really see her as he was trying to listen to what was being said in the other room.  If he had been watching he would have seen all of the blood drain from her face and seen her turn grey.

It wasn’t long before they heard the front door open then close and his father came through to the kitchen.  “Well I must say that was unexpected!” “What did he want dear?” enquired Todd’s mother, now Todd was aware of the colour and stilted breath of his mother.

“He heard that I was looking for work and that I used to be a builder so he came to ask if I would take down an old building for him.  At first I jumped at it but then when he told me what building.... I told him I would think about it.”

“Why? ....  Where is it?” Todd heard his voice ask the question but didn’t think that he had said them out loud.

Todd’s father just looked at him.  In that instance he knew exactly where and what building but he waited for his father to say it.  “The Sanderson’s, the Sanderson’s barn!” his father swallowed loudly then added “I told him that I would think about it as I wanted to speak with you first”

Todd’s head felt as though it was spinning and he put his hands up to it to steady it.  He too had lost his entire colour and he felt a chill run up his spine.  He knew that one day the barn would go but why had Anika’s father asked his father, there are plenty of builders in the town.  This puzzled him, but he could not concentrate on that just now.

“What do you want me to do boy?” asked his father as he sat down next to his wife and placed an arm around her comforting her.

“I... I... I don’t know” stammered Todd.  “I suppose that if it was gone then.... oh I just don’t know”

His mother looked between her two men and then speaking in a very motherly voice said “Well I think that it would be good if it went, then it can’t happen again” with that she got up and put the kettle on.

“Yes well there is that” agreed his father “But then again as we don’t know what did happen...”

Todd’s father went quiet again and stared out of the kitchen window.  Todd looked at his mother, then his father and then back down to his feet and added “We never will. I think that you should do it dad, at least then we will know that it is gone and we can deal with it together”

“Wise words” his father replied as he walked past and patted Todd on the shoulder then left the room.  His mother stood smiling at him with a really weak smile and all he could do was return it.  “Well I had better finish getting ready for school” and with that he too left the kitchen.

As he was heading out of the front door his mother caught up with him.  “Todd we are not going to be able to go out tonight so if you want to meet your mates or your lady friend that is fine” Todd grinned “Ok mum thanks”

For the first time in days he felt happy, it was short lived as he remembered that he was going to use Sunday to tell Anika that he can’t see her.  Well that was for Sunday perhaps today they could just meet.

When he got to the corner of his street he sent her a text message in the hope that she would get it but only signed it T just in case someone else got it first.

It wasn’t until the end of lunch that he heard anything back.  He was away to join his class mates of the trudge to their next class when Julie came up to him and gave him an envelope then walked off.  The note inside read Sorry can’t do tonight, dad has called a meeting.  But I am still coming on Sunday see you then A. xx Todd looked up from the note and looked around for Julie, finding he was alone in the corridor he slipped the note into his pocket and quickly went to class.  He gave Julie a quizzical look as he walked past her to his seat but she just shrugged and faced forward.

As soon as class was done he called Julie who stilled and waited for him.  “Before you start” she said “I have no idea what the letter is about, all I know is that Anika was in the girls loo when I went in and she asked me to give you the envelope then she walked out and left”  “Ok thanks” was all Todd could think of saying and he flashed her a quick smile and walked away.

There was something really mysterious about Anika and the more it showed the more he wanted to know.  Well he would find out on Sunday then he would tell her he can’t see her. Simple!