Ben came back from university for the weekend. We're all out for Sushi tonight to celebrate his return. I ordered a Salmon Bento Box, which annoyed him because he liked to order for the whole table, for us to have a variety of things to share. He was catching my parents up on his classes, how this one professor had recommended that he work as his assistant next semester—the position had something to do with environmental science, I think. I didn't really understand what it was he'd be doing but refrained from asking any questions about it because I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of being able to educate me on yet another thing he understood and I didn't.
My parents loved hearing about how well he was doing. It made them proud, but it also turned them into these dorky fans—like they were looking up to him and wanted to make him feel even more awesome about himself than he already did.
Once we put in our ice cream orders, Ben turns to me and asks what I'm going to study if I get into university.
"I don't know," I say. "Focusing on getting in first."
"But do you have any idea what you want to do with your life?"
Mom looks down when he says this, like she's embarrassed for me or something. I hate that look. I decide I'm going to come up with something that sounds smart and respectable.
"I think I want to be a lawyer," I say.
A smile forms on his face.
"A lawyer?"
"Yeah."
He starts chuckling. The waiter comes by with green tea ice cream for us. Dad starts eating his while Mom looks over at Ben, silently letting him know that this isn't appropriate.
"What kind of lawyer?" he asks.
"I don't know. Criminal maybe?"
He continues to chuckle.
Mom gives him a stern look: "Ben."
"What?" he replies, "I just don't think it's a very realistic career goal for him."
"Enough," she replies.
I feel like I could explode but don't want to deal with the consequences of making a scene at a restaurant, all of the scolding and disappointed looks that go along with it.
Oh dear, an emotional response!!! Put a muzzle on this thing!
So instead, I get up and tell them I'm not feeling well. (Dad doesn't notice). I grab my jacket and move to leave.
Mom puts her hand on mine. "Tim, he was just kidding. If you want to be a lawyer, you can do that. You're just going to have to—"
"It's fine," I say, freeing myself from the table. "See you guys at home."
I race out the door, suddenly remembering my green tea ice cream, which Ben was no doubt gleefully finishing for me.
YOU ARE READING
Alternative
Teen FictionTim's public high school experience thus far has been characterized by bad grades and the total absence of a social life; he's listless and needs a change. So, after grade eleven ends, his mom decides to enrol him in a bizarre, little alternative sc...
