The Love that Touched Deep

Chapter 5 - The boy

It was at 8 am, when Jacob’s alarm started buzzing. Jacob woke up in his pants from the night before; his shirt was lying crumpled on a table, and then he recalled his sneaking struggle after coming from the party. 

He was late last night, already past curfew. He really didn’t want a lecture from his mom, so he sneaked in from the corridor window and proceeded to his room.

Jacob had a tough childhood, as he was raised by his mother alone. Mr. Scott left them when Jacob was only three years old. He always despised his father, even without knowing him.

His mother, Heidi Scott was a primary school teacher. She was a tall woman, physically strong and even pretended to be emotionally strong in front of her son, so as to make him feel safe and loved. She did everything that she could do, to provide a better life for her son and herself. They just did average; they were making the ends meet by God’s grace. They were a pretty middle class family and were happy to make a living out of it.

Jacob never wanted to let his mom down, for all she’s done for him. He always wanted his mom to be happy and reciprocate her with the same love and care that she had for him.

He knew that his mother wanted something conventional and mainstream for him. She just wanted her son to be an educated person with a nice job, who can live his life contently and happily without any regret. But he had his mind on something else. He was an artistic person, very creative and original. 

Jacob picked up his shirt and put it in the washing machine, because he didn’t want his mom to know about his drinking and partying. Soon enough his mom came to the laundry.

“What are you doing here honey, half naked?” she asked.

“Ughm... mom I was just putting my clothes in the wash, I was about to change anyway” 

“Oh, I would’ve done that. Anyway, please change, we have to go to the grocery store for some supplies”

“Sure mom” he said.

They then went to the grocery store, in their old but useable car.

“So how is school going?” his mom asked.

“School is fine, I’m doing just fine” he said, continuing “not into drugs and definitely not in love, right now”.

“No? Well, that’s great. It’s a distraction anyway, you know love and all. Anyway, how is basketball? You know that sports could land you a good seat in university, right?”

“Yes, I know that. I’m doing fine” he said irritably.

“Can’t we talk about something else mom?”

“Like what”?

“Like photography, tattoo art and sculpturing”

“That’s good honey, but I don’t think it will get you anywhere. I mean, we don’t have the means to afford for courses of these kinds of things”

“But that’s what interests me. That is what I like”

“I understand Jacob, but these are more of hobbies, you can’t possibly make a career out of them, and even if you do you won’t be able to sustain”

“I knew mom that you wouldn’t understand”

“Jacob, I always want the best for you. I don’t want you to suffer the same way I did. I want you to have everything that you want”.

“Yeah, sure. Whatever” he muttered while looking out the window. But inside he was actually thinking “really mom? Do you?”

Jacob has always been like this, always hiding his inner thoughts like this, for he never meant to hurt anyone in any possible way but actually ended up getting wounded himself in a way.

It was how he was, always lived a simple mediocre life and wanting nothing more from life than a simple fulfilment of his dreams and passion.

He constantly looked out of the window while the car travelled the long straight road, until a beautiful girl struck his eyes. It was Claire with her friends, sitting outside a roadside cafe and giggling and laughing in the most beautiful way, like she had no worries in her life to stress about and totally free and unbound. Somehow, it was liberating to Jacob, and a little smile just grew on his face.