I never thought that just one phone call could change a person's whole life. And if I can, it's not mined. But ... on this unfortunate day, I realized how wrong I was.
Everything was as usual. When I got home from school, I opened the front door and told the family I was there. I had to follow the standard answer in the form of "Welcome!", "Hello", "Will you eat?" and so on, but it wasn't there. Nothing happened at all.
I already thought that there was no one at home. It happens, and quite often. Mom, as a pediatrician, is often called to work. She is the best pediatrician in the city, so this is a pretty standard situation. Dad also goes missing at work for a long time. He is a professor at a local university. He gives additional lectures, which makes him practically impossible on weekends. And during the session, you ask yourself the question - do I have a father?
There is also an older brother, but he has been studying abroad in Europe for a long time and visits us only during the summer holidays, so he is out of the question.
I am home alone - this is the verdict.
I threw down the school bag on the floor, took off the windbreaker, shoes and quiet shuffling step headed for the kitchen. It's time for something to eat. Preferably chocolate. I can't live without it. Do not feed me bread, give me chocolate. I am a serious sweet tooth. And that's not even my whim. If I don't eat anything sweet for 24 hours... Eh... In short, I'm getting very irritable, angry, and it's better not to see me like that. That's why we always have sweets at home and everywhere. Especially in the kitchen. Yesterday my mother had to buy a chocolate cake. Excellent. The target is chosen.
- Sir, wait! - I heard my father's anxious voice from the kitchen and froze on the spot.
Is he at home? Slowly approaching the door ajar - where the voices came from - I looked into the doorway. Dad was sitting at the common kitchen table, squeezing the phone attached to his ear in one hand and smoking a cigarette in the other. Does he smoke? Dad usually smokes only in one case - if something bad happened. This way, he'd take care of his worries. Habit, you can't say anything about it.
But even though the cigarette was on fire, it didn't seem to touch it. He just squeezed between his index finger and his middle finger, leaning against the kitchen table. The gray ashes slowly fell on a white tablecloth with every sharp movement of Dad. He was silent. Light brown, almost yellow eyes wide open. Dark brown curly hair was ruffled as if they had been guided by a nervous hand more than once. The tanned skin was covered with sweat, white and looked like chalk. Narrow lips dried up from breathing and were covered with small cracks. Everything was saying that the man was panicking. He was scared, but there seemed to be nothing he could do about it.
- Tell him! - I heard my mother's voice coming from the other side of the kitchen. I didn't immediately notice her as the door covered most of the room. - Tell him it wasn't ready yet!
The panic in Mom's voice was also evident. What could have scared my parents so much?
After a little change of position, I saw a tall, slender woman with long, dark hair woven into a tight scythe. In the light, they gave away a light blue. Her hair was perfect. Unlike her father's clothes, they also looked as if she had just bought them. A beige blouse and black pants - obviously Mom came from work and hadn't changed her clothes yet. Or vice versa, she was going there, but something delayed her. Looking at my mother's face, it is impossible to understand how she feels. Cold, unemotional. Only the shine of her black eyes and the shiver in her voice spoke of excitement.
- Sir," said his father, gathering a little. - She is still a child. We didn't even have time to tell her anything. Wait a couple more years, and then..." A voice was heard from the phone. I couldn't understand for sure if it was male or female, and I couldn't make out the words, but after my father sighed and gave up. - Yes. I understand," Dad agreed. - We will do everything. Yes. Have a nice day.
The cell phone was disconnected and placed on the table. There was a deadly silence in the kitchen. It was three minutes later, but neither my father nor my mother said a word. Everything was looking somewhere in the void. The cigarette burned to the filter, and Dad quietly put it out on the ashtray offered by Mom.
- So..." the dark-haired woman started, carefully putting her hand on her husband's shoulder. - Is it time?
- It's time," the man nodded.