Pretend You're Someone Else (Chap.8) 2/5

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ID: 1727540   (Rated: 18+) Pretend You're Someone Else  A man hides a secret from his family and has no clue that his son has the same secret. by KAT26/Adrian--Published!

Chapter Eight is divided into five parts. This is part two.

Part One

Chapter Eight

April-1992

Avoy, Georgia

Part 2/5

"Karma: It's a Funny/Sad/Traumatic thing!"

         The month slowly passed before Peter got the chance to speak to his daughter. To be truthful, he plain forgot. Now that Joy was gone for good, Peter had been determined to change his life. On the same day he managed to speak to Georgina, he learned that an old classmate of his, Tim Harris, was bagging groceries at Wakefield's Country Store. Waves of guilt crashed over him when he saw that it was true. Mr. Harris recently passed away from a stroke and with it the produce stand that had been in business for years. Jim Harris received a job at a local department store after graduating high school, while Tim faithfully stayed with his father. After the passing, Jim had no choice but to let his brother come live with him. He knew Tim wouldn't survive ten minutes selling shoes on commission, so he got his brother a part-time job bagging groceries.

         Usually Peter bought groceries in Athens, but he was preparing pasta that night and realized there was no butter in the refrigerator. He told Erich he would return in fifteen minutes, and to continue without him. Ever since his son announced his decision to attend culinary school, Peter decided he was going to teach Erich every recipe he knew. The same family recipes he taught Frankie in high school. He never cooked for Joy, she seemed to enjoy fast food more than an elegant meal. The Italian pasta they were preparing tonight was actually a family recipe of Frankie's that the two of them cooked together on May fifteenth of every year during high school. They began dating on that day, which happened to be the last day of eighth grade.

         Peter never told Erich about Frankie, but he wanted his son to learn how to cook this dish, so he could prepare it for his own wife someday. He hoped his son would find a girl that he loved as much as he loved Frankie.

         Now, standing in the check-out lane, Peter handed his credit card to the cashier and wondered if he should approach Tim or wait for him to recognize his long-lost classmate? Cautiously, he watched the girl hand back the card and smirk as Tim tried in vain to pull open the a paper bag.

         With a sharp glare at the snotty teenager, Peter slipped his credit card back into his blazer pocket and turned his attention on Tim. He knew everyone in line behind him was watching and studying his every move. How Peter treated Tim would set an example for the others. It's a good thing he left his arrogant attitude behind in school.

         "Tim Harris, is that you?" he called out in a friendly manner. Tim's head snapped up in confusion. Peter knew this was due to the fact that nobody in town treated him with respect, not even his own brother.

         "Peter," he answered in surprise, his mouth opened a little in shock.

         "Hello Tim, I didn't know you worked here," Peter smiled, being sure to call him by his real name to show respect.

         "Ya! Yes! Ever since daddy died!"

         Peter could hear some lowered whispers behind him. Ignoring the gossipers he decided to give the town something good to talk about.

         "Erich and I are cooking pasta tonight and we would be honored to have you as our guest."

         Peter could hear a loud gasp behind him then the titter of several voices. He wanted Tim to join him at his house not out of guilt because of the man's handicap, but because he wanted to reestablish a friendship. Peter was once friends with Tim, until the "watermelon incident," that caused them to stop speaking and the whole town knew about it.

         Peter watched Tim smile exposing a crooked tooth, then frown. "My boss won't let me off till nine."

         Looking down at his watch Peter saw it was only six-thirty, time to use his, 'Richest Person in Avoy' powers for Tim's benefit.

         "Oh really," he replied, glancing towards the front of the store at the manager who was quietly absorbing the whole scene, as well as everyone else.

         "Mr. Wakefield, would you so terribly mind if Tim leaves work a few hours early as my guest for dinner?" He could see the old man's mouth twitch around in protest. Peter quickly answered for him, "If you allow Tim to clock off early, I'll make it up to you by taking the fourteen dollars he missed from his paycheck off your rent next week."

         Dead silence filled the store. The look on Mr. Wakefield's face said it all; Peter had won once again. Two minutes later Tim raced out of the store, laughing excitedly. Peter smiled to himself as he unlocked the Camaro door for him. 'Serves Mr. Wakefield, right,' Peter thought to himself. The word around town was that he wasn't treating Tim fairly because he was forced to hire him due to his handicap.

         Slowly making their way back to the house, Peter knew Tim wouldn't be missing any hours on his next paycheck. The glare he shot at Mr. Wakefield when they walked out of the store was enough. With that one look he told the man that he knew all about the horrible way he treated his employee. It was times like these he loved being the most powerful man in town.

*****

         "I love your house, Peter! It's so big!"

         Peter laughed as he passed the salad bowl around the dining room table. He sat in his usual seat at the head of the table, while Tim perched at the opposite end, his eyes taking in the enormous room.

         "Thank you Tim," Peter replied. On his right sat Erich and Paul who already welcomed their guest by starting a conversation about working at the grocery store. Erich told Tim about his desire to become a cook someday and that it must be heaven to work with food.

         This is why Peter loved Erich, he knew his son was being truthful. Thank goodness he wasn't a snobby, stuck-up, teenager like his father in the seventies.

         "Tim," Paul called out as he tucked a strand of black hair behind his ear. "Erich, and I are going to a movie tonight and we would love it if you came with us! We will even drive you home on schedule, so you will have plenty of time to sleep before going into work tomorrow."

         Tim's eyes widened in surprise. "Can I, Peter?"

         "Well I'm not going, but they asked you, not me. If it's a concern why not call your brother?" He pointed in the direction of the living room.

         Tim scampered happily away from his chair and skidded into the hallway. "Nice guy, daddy," Erich said, as he paused to take a sip of cranberry juice. "It's a shame that there are so many small-minded people in this town who only talk to him at the grocery store because they feel it's the nice thing to do."

         "But, do they ever invite him over for dinner, or talk to him outside of work?" Paul interrupted.

         Peter took a deep breath. He had been that person for far too long. "I know how difficult it is to be someone different in a small, judgmental, town," he replied.

         He saw Erich mindlessly trailing his fork through the few strands of pasta remaining on the china plate. Closing his eyes he turned away from Paul and quietly whispered, "You have no idea."

*Next Segment*

ID: 1737045   (Rated: 18+) Pretend You're Someone Else (Chap.8) 3/5  (This chapter is divided into 5 segments) "Did my daughter just come home drunk?" (1992) by KAT26/Adrian--Published!