Page 40 of The Commons

“Sometimes I think about my mom, and I think the biggest mistake she made was marrying my dad.”

“It can’t be that bad?”

“It’s worse. My mom died because of him.”

“What? That’s horrible!”

“I mean…” His voice cracks. “She killed herself.”

“Oh my goodness.” I stare at him, grief-stricken.

“She was like a best friend, you know, and I lost her just like that. It’s infuriating, losing someone and having no power to bring them back.”

“Yeah. I know the feeling…”

“We did everything together, we even had the same birthday, July 1st, and then one day she was gone, just like that.”

I shift myself toward him, drawing closer. “How old were you when it happened?”

“I was ten. Twelve years ago. You know it’s his fault for not loving her the way she deserved. Now I regret facing the day that I was born, wondering maybe if it was… my fault.”

“It wasn’t your fault!” I say passionately.

He turns and looks at me with glimmering eyes.

“I think you should confront your dad on how he treats you.”

“I plan on it. Do you?” he says, tilting his head toward me.

“Even if I could, I don’t have my cell phone so…” I respond, fiddling with my fingers.

“You can get a free pass from the Patron who initiated the demerit, if you have been in good standing with him since then.”

“Seriously?”

“Come on, let’s go. The freshmen student phone station is in the O Library. You get ten minutes.” He stands up, helps me up and starts walking toward the library.

We arrive at a dimly lit private phone locker space. Pesh hands me my phone from its assigned phone locker, and I enter the calling booth—a small, dark room like a Catholic confessional. He stands at the corner, waiting. My fingers race, one after the other, dialing my mom’s phone number in nervous anticipation. I wait. But it goes to voicemail.

I dial my dad’s this time, and the same thing happens. “They didn’t pick up.”

“Call again.”

I call again. My mom picks up this time.

“Hey, hon, I’m about to have a meeting with the president, can I call you back?”

“No.” I close my eyes and tighten my fist.

“Excuse me?”

“No. No, you can’t call me back. You literally cannot! It’s like you can’t bring yourself to. Why am I never good enough for you? Am I a mistake to you? Is that why you ignore Levon and me? Because we hinder you from rising in society and being successful? Is that the reason, Mom? So you act like we don’t exist? Are your children a burden, then why the heck did you have us?”

“Honey, I don’t know where this is coming from.”

“From my heart. For the first time, I’m giving you my heart. And I really hope you don’t crush it.”

Blandly, she responds, “It came out today in the news that your recommendation for The Commons was Governor Solodia. How could you ask my political rival? Do you realize how much damage you’ve caused my campaign?”