When Jeff Comes Home by Catherine Atkins
Author:Catherine Atkins [Atkins, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2015-05-17T14:00:00+00:00
14
A FEW DAYS BEFORE VACATION ENDED, DAD
decided to take me to Modesto so I could cash in the gift certificates he and Connie had given me for Christmas.
Thirty-five miles of agricultural land separated Wayne from the nearest town. I focused on the scenery, trying to ignore the glances Dad kept shooting at me. Finally, as we entered Oakdale, he let me know what was on his mind.
"What would you think about my going back to work?" When I didn't answer right away, Dad laughed self-consciously. "I bet you'd be relieved. I know I hover over you too much."
I protested halfheartedly. He shook his finger at me, smiling. "I do, and I know I do. You're very special to me, you know." I was embarrassed, and I guess Dad was too, for he concentrated on the road and didn't say anything else.
"Thanks," I said belatedly when I realized how my silence might be taken. But I mumbled the word, looking away from him.
Dad's next glance at me was anxious. "I am going back to work, Jeff. Monday after New Year's."
"Okay," I said quickly.
"And you're going back to school—"
"Not right then?" I said, panicked.
"No." Dad cleared his throat. "I called the Wayne High principal yesterday. Stan Dodson. He turned out to be a pretty reasonable guy."
I gave a little grunt to keep him talking, but I was shrinking inside.
"He said you could go ahead and start second semester, about three weeks from now. The alternative would be starting you on independent study right away. That's what he recommended at first. But I don't want that for you, Jeff. You need to be back in school."
"I don't want to be a freshman, Dad," I said, grasping at any straw. "I'm too old for that."
"You're going in as a junior. I made sure of that. After all," he said, voice tightening, "it wasn't your fault you missed out on the first two years of high school. Dodson said they could consider you a kind of exchange student. If you keep up with your class, and I know you will, he'll waive the requirements you've missed."
I laughed sharply. "Is that what the kids are going to think? That I'm an 'exchange student'?" Despite my words, I felt hope stirring. The idea of going back to school was terrifying, but Vin was right, what else could I do?
"The other kids will take their cues from you," Dad said. "If you walk onto that campus knowing you belong there, you'll be accepted just as you should be."
I shook my head. "It's not going to be that easy."
"Going back to school will be a challenge for you. No question. But I know you, and I know you'll succeed."
You don't know me at all.
"You're going to do fine this year, and next, and you'll graduate with your class. After that, college—"
"College!"
"It's not so far away. Just a year and a half. I can see you going to Berkeley. That's where I went, you know, for college and law school. We'll move back to the Bay area then, so you can live at home and commute.
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