“Five thousand words on Colonialism, five thousand words on Marxism and five thousand words on your views on family dynamics and it’s impact in our modern society … due by the end of this month, including the book review, you need to pick one classic, read it and write a one page review or you can do more than one page,” Hazel listed down Marlon’s tasks for the month.
He groaned, “Jeez … as if one page is not hard enough.” He was on his back on the sofa with his head hanging on the edge of the seat. He’s been staring at the ceiling for some time while Hazel compiled the materials he needed to work on.
“One page is easy, with the right book you won’t be able to stop ranting about it for pages and pages … here … the list of books you can choose from,” she handed him a piece of paper with a dozen title of recommended books for the review.
Marlon glanced at it, took the paper and shoved it in his jeans pocket. He didn’t seem to have a care in the world. “Can you give me a link where I can just copy and paste it on paper?”
Hazel rested her hand on her hip and stared at him, “You know they have plagiarism check right? They can spot plagiarism in one click and you’ll get an F.”
He sighed, “Right … would you do it for me then?”
She put her other hand on the her other hip, “Marlon! I told you, I’m spending time with Lee … I can’t babysit you on this one, and anyway, my tutoring period is almost over … you’ll have to do this on your own starting next month.”
He gave her a resentful look, “And if I don’t?”
Hazel tilted her head to one side, “Anything below B average is not going to get you to a good college … you heard what your dad said, he wanted you to go to UOG … they don’t even consider B average.”
He laughed sarcastically, “Hah … but they’ll accept my dad’s money for sure.” He sat up and rested his elbows on his knees. He reached for his cigarette and lit one up. “What did he say to you in the car ride home the other day?” his eyes studying her.
She was taken aback with his straightforwardness. Though it was nothing secretive about the conversation, she felt like the things that Josh had said to her were said in confidence. She shrugged, “You know … the usual dad stuff … he wanted you to go to college, do the things you used to enjoy … get back on your feet basically.”
He held her gaze without saying a word, “Is that all?”
“Well … yeah … he’s happy that your grades are good, why? What did you think he’d say to me?” she was getting an impression he didn’t believe her.
He blew a smoke and averted his eyes, “What did you tell him?”
“I told him what it is … you’re actually capable of doing this on your own, you don’t really need my help, you got this bruh,” she replied playfully.
He didn’t seem amused, “Did he … ” he hesitated to continue his question, “Did he try anything with you? I mean … ask you inappropriate questions?”
She didn’t see that coming, she was shocked, “What?” she thought she heard him wrong.
He shook his head, “No, sorry, I just … he wouldn’t do that, I don’t think … not to you.”
“What are you saying?”
He threw himself back on the sofa and let out a long exhale, “It’s just that … all the girls I’m friends with … they hit on my dad.”
She raised her eyebrows, she didn’t know what to say. “ALL the girls you’re friends with?”
He nodded, “Yeah … I never knew a girl who didn’t hit on my dad … and in some cases, the feeling’s mutual.”
She fell silent, she sat by his side still figuring out what he just told her. Josh seemed like any other dads she’d known, he was thinking about his son’s wellbeing. It never crossed her mind something like what Marlon described had occurred. She couldn’t imagine how Marlon’s friends would even think about flirting with his dad.
“But … he’s your dad?” she said it out loud, some things are just not possible in her reality.
He scoffed, “Yeah … exactly … so I take it you don’t have a dad crush on him?” his asked jokingly.
She grimaced, “No … oh my God … I can’t believe you even ask me that?”
He looked down at his feet, “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to offend you … I’m just … it’s different in this family.”
“I bet …” her eyes widened, still trying to grasp the kind of dynamics they have if his friends were hitting on his dad. “Don’t worry, I’m not hitting on your dad, okay? I’m not even hitting on you.”
He laughed, “That’s comforting … way to boost my ego.”
She laughed too, “I don’t think you need a boost on your ego, you have plenty of girls hitting on you … you don’t need another one.”
Their laughs subsided into an awkward silence. He turned to look at her, “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For not hitting on my dad,” he laughed lightly, “For being a friend … it’s easy to lose a friendship when you know she’s crushing on your dad,” he chuckled. “No, but seriously … I really appreciate you helping me, making time for me.”
“Hey, it’s not for free dude, you promised me a college entrance guarantee, remember?” her face was beaming.
“Yeah, I know … though you don’t really need that either, you’ll get accepted with or without my help.”
He was right. Though she wasn’t as sure as he was, she had a good feeling about it too. They started it with a deal, but they’ve developed a real friendship and it was more valuable than the grades and the college entrance they were working on.
She smiled at him, there were no words exchanged. And in the silence between them, they heard a loud crash coming from somewhere in the house. They looked at each other in surprise. Then they heard yelling and screaming, they hurried out of the study to find out what it was.