Watch, But Won't Touch

I had my last fancy waffle before we checked out and I had never seen so many berries and cherries on one breakfast plate before. I loved it.

My phone was fully charged by the time we left our room so I was sure that it would last the whole ride back. I found myself catching up on Facebook posts, e-mails, and messages on the way home. I had a few texts from my friends and a colorful set from Cassy. I told her that she was more than welcome for the photo and that I was looking forward to seeing it in the frame she made to house it in. Her floating hearts kept me happy as I opened a game that I hadn't played since we left home.

"Want to get out and stretch your legs or use the bathroom?" Dad asked me. I looked up and saw as the car turned off the highway and drove towards a rest stop. The sign said that there was a gas station, a Wendy's, a subway, and a Taco Bell.

"Sure," I said as I fished around the seat for the power cord for my phone. I might as well charge it for the few minutes I wasn't using it. Fifteen minutes later I was walking back to the car with a pineapple slushie, a few bags of barbeque pop chips, and a trip to the bathroom under my belt.

Dad was right behind me with his own drink from the fountain and a box of something that was covered in chocolate.

"How much longer until we get home?" I asked between putting down my drink and opening one of the bags once we were back in the car, buckled in, and moving once again.

"An hour or so," Dad informed me after he navigated his way back onto the highway. With the music playing, the windows partially rolled down, and amidst food and drinks, we made our way home.

I was about to win a level on Candy Crush when I got a text. It was Kent.

Hey, he said.

Hey, I quickly answered back as I moved my game to the background and fully opened my messaging app.

Are you home yet? Kent asked.

Just about. We made a stop about an hour ago, I told him.

You didn't send me your address, he reminded me.

Sorry, I told him before typing up my address and sending it in the next bubble. Then he sent me his. I was reading it when he sent a follow-up message. But I didn't look at it as I read the address over again. I didn't believe it. Then I read his next message before I started to think of typing anything.

Can you swing by on your way home? Kent asked me. Swing by?

"Dad," I said before I looked up at him.

"Yeah," he answered as he slowed down at a stoplight.

"Kent wants me to come to his house," I told him.

"When?" Dad asked as he continued to look at the light.

"Now," I told him.

"Now?" he asked me with some confusion in his eyes as he looked in my direction. I was handing him my phone so he could see the text when the car behind us honked letting us know that the light had changed. Dad drove past the intersection and for about a block and a half before he pulled off to the curb. "Give me your phone," Dad told me as he extended his hand.

He took a while looking at it, so he must have been reading everything and not just Kent's last text. Dad gave me back my phone before he pulled his out of its holder on the dashboard. It took a while before he held it to his ear. I then watched in surprise as he unbuckled himself and got out of the car.

My eyes followed him as he walked to the back of the car while he talked to whoever he called. I'm sure it was Kent but I didn't hear a word of what was being said. The song that was playing when Dad got out of the car ended, and I was listening to the forecast for the next five days when he got back in.

"Do you want to go see Kent?" Dad asked as he buckled himself in.

"I think so," I started. "Yes," I answered again. Dad looked at me as if he was silently questioning my answer. "Did you know he lived in our neighborhood?" I asked him as I still worked through the shock.

"I didn't know where any of the guys lived," he confessed. "You still have projects to finish for school right?" was his next question for me a moment later.

"Yeah," I told him as I slumped down in my seat. "One is a research paper, but I already started it. I have a worksheet for Pre-Calculus and some required reading for world culture," I explained.

"Ok," Dad said while he was looking out the window. "You can go to see Kent now for about two hours, or you can go home, get some of that work done and then spend the night at Kent's and have him drop you off at home on his way in to work," Dad ended as he now turned to look at me again. I looked down at my phone that I was still holding on to.

I pressed my thumb to the button on the back to unlock the screen. I looked at my text window with Kent and made my decision.

I have to go home first. I need to do some school work, I told him in my first text. Is it ok if I come by later and spend the night? Dad said that it was ok. I then explained.

We both sat there as I waited for his answer, but it didn't take long.

Ok, the first bubble said. How about I pick you up around nine? Kent then asked.

"Is nine ok?" I asked Dad.

"It depends on how much you have done by then," he answered. I checked the time. It wasn't two yet, so I think I would have at least one if not two of them done by then.

Yeah, nine sounds good, I texted back. I'll let you know if I need more time. I added on.

Ok. See you tonight then, was his reply.

"So what did you decide?" Dad asked as I texted See you later, to Kent.

"Homework, then I'll spend the night at Kent's and he's going to come get me at nine," I answered him. "I should have one if not two of them done by then," I continued.

"Ok," Dad said as he started the car back up again and drove us home. I texted Cassy to let her know that I won't be able to see her today. She texted back that she was busy with her pre-cal work anyway.

* * *

I looked up at the clock and read seven forty-eight. I finished my research paper around six and I was now reading through the required pages for world culture class. I had two more assigned sets to read. I reached for my drink as I continued to read.

There are seven elements to every culture. Social organization, customs and traditions, religion, arts and literature, forms of government, and economic systems.

I checked the block of pages that I had to read and then read on for the next fifteen pages. I checked off that set and moved on to the next one.

Culture regions have changed as they have borrowed cultural traits from one another. They have also come to depend on each other economically. Advances in transportation and communication have increased this interdependence. When oil-producing nations in the Middle East raise the price of oil, for example, the price of gasoline at your local station is likely to rise. More and more, people of different countries are becoming part of one world.

I closed the book and checked off the last set of pages that were on my list. I couldn't guarantee that I would remember everything, but I did read it. Now all I had to-

"Fuck!" I shouted as I glanced at the clock again. It was nine-thirty-three. "Dad!" I shouted as I left my room. "I need my phone!" I shouted again as I hurried down the hall. He took it from me to make sure that I wouldn't get distracted. "I need to call Kent-t," I said as I stuttered to a stop in the living room. There was Kent. Sitting on the couch watching the news and drinking a beer next to my Dad. They both turned and looked at me as I just stared back.

"Are you finished?" Dad asked.

"Yeah," I said as I looked between the two of them. "I just have Pre-Calculus to do tomorrow," I admitted.

"Alright then," Dad said as he stood with Kent. "I was hoping that you would have finished before nine, so I ordered pizza," he told me as he walked towards the kitchen. "You can take this one with you," Dad said as he came back with a box. I tried to hide my grin. "What?" he asked.

"Kent's a pizza snob," I told him as I laughed at the Domino's pizza box. Dad looked from me to him.

"I can eat Domino's," Kent said with a shrug. "Besides, I don't think anyone else is open and I'm not that good of a cook," he told Dad as he reached out for the box.

"Ok then," Dad said as he handed over our dinner. "It doesn't matter what time you bring Richard home. He has a key and doesn't have school for another day," Dad told Kent as he leaned against the door frame that separated the dining room from the living room.

"Ok," Kent said.

"I'm going to get my keys and stuff," I told them as I turned to go back to my room. A few minutes later I had a bag over my shoulder with a change of clothes, a charger for my phone, my wallet, and keys. "Ready," I said as I came back out.

“Your phone is on the coffee table,” Dad said as he watched me enter the room again. Kent moved in the direction of the front door as I retrieved my phone.

“Got it,” I told my Dad as I pocketed my cell.

"See you Later," Dad said from the same spot in the doorway. He hadn't moved, but I wasn't gone that long. I waved at him as I followed Kent out the front door.