Chapter Three
Chapter Three
As Stan approached the front porch, his mum arrived from the grocery shop to restock the house. As she unpacked from the vehicle with her back to the house, she didn't realize Stan was just standing there, looking at her with a mocking face and a hint of an evil genius charm concocting a plan to arrive at an epiphany… he didn't realize he was at a daze, fixated at one point…
His mother after unpacking, then turning and seeing Stan at an awkward position, recognized the often absent mindedness mad genius she has, as a son…she allowed him to wander in himself for a while, and then called
"Stanley! Could you help me with the groceries, please?"
Stan moved quickly at his mother's call, swiping one of the grocery bags under his arm with his school bag on his back. They looked at each other, with his mum giving him a questioning face… this prompted Stan to say…
"Sorry, Mum… how was your day?"….. His mum gave a proud smile and responded
"It was cool... is that not what you would say"…after which she laughed, partly because of what she said at the end of her response. Stan laughed back, amazed at his mother's effort to keep up with the times.
She, unlike Dad, made an effort to use the new funk jargons, like "Yeah, Got it, and bud" occasionally. His dad preferred a more formal vocabulary, especially in conversations between him and Stan... He assumed it was a form of discipline and the impartation of good values.
When they finally got the bags into the kitchen, his Mum, Adelaide, asked how school was and if he was bringing someone home soon…it's been like forever, since a friendly friend visited. Stan responded in the affirmative saying school was the same as every day, and that he was not ready for a friendly friend yet.
Stan observed his mother for many moments waiting for her to say something witty. Adelaide just shook her head, gave a satisfactory exclamation… with her hands up in exasperation, but of a triumphant kind
"…at least you are making your father and me proud... It's enough, for now….
Now, off you go…dinner would be ready in two hours…hope your brain doesn't get overloaded with the stuff you learn every day…" she added.
Stan was relieved at his mother's response and made a start to the kitchen door, then turned quickly to face his mother half-squarely and said as a matter of fact…
"I want to be a Lutanist, Mum…. Any ideas..."
His mother looked up smiling and sighed as the only answer to his daunting question…
Stan understood the gesture… the same expression she makes every time he came up with a new fantasy…
And he was pleased.
He darted through the stairs for his room, singing in the imaginary rain, with pride.