She paused for a moment, and then said, “As it is I might have to repeat fifth form next year, so I might just as well have done Intermediate this year.”

“Yes,” agreed Chris, “that’s the problem with some parents, they’re so determined to help you, that they end up doing everything they possibly can to hurt you.”

“It wasn’t both of my parents, just my father,” said Sonja.   “And he wasn’t trying to help me, he only wanted to be able to boast that his daughter had been smart enough to be promoted a year.   Not me mind you, his daughter, who inherited his brains, But now he’s not boasting so much, now I’m my mother’s daughter who inherited her brains,” she said, almost crying.   “I think he almost started to believe that he was the A-student, so he thought I was questioning his ability when I started to slip down a few pegs.”

Sonja stared down into her coffee cup for a few moments, then gulped down the last of the tepid coffee.   Grimacing, she crumpled the Styrofoam cup and then under-armed it into the cigarette tray in the corner of the room.   Chris finished his own coffee, and seeing the other students were stacking their chairs upon their table, he decided to risk his hand.

“Perhaps I could help you out with your problem subjects,” Chris offered.

“No, I … I couldn’t impose on you,” said Sonja.

“It wouldn’t be imposing.   I only do three subjects, as a night student, so I don’t have much homework,” lied Chris.   He wondered how he could possibly find the time to help Sonja, if she accepted his offer.   However, he could think of nothing else to say on the spur of the moment that might allow him to see — and hopefully do a lot more than just see — Sonja on a regular basis outside school hours.   Once he was in good with her, thought Chris, if the worst came to the worst, he could then plead difficulties with his own studies, as a way of getting out of his promise.   “And after all,” he reminded her, “physics and chemistry are my two best subjects.”

“But you have a day job as wells don’t you?” asked Sonja.

“Yes,” admitted Chris, trying to think fast.   “But I knock off work at 3:00 PM, so that gives me time to get home, get my books, then get to your place before you get home from school….”

“Oh no!” said Sonja, loud enough to startle Chris.   “It … it couldn’t be at my house.   Not at my house.   My father wouldn’t like me to be around a boy.   He thinks I’m still too young.”

“Hey, we’d only be studying together,” said Chris.   He wondered whether he had scared Sonja off somehow, by being too obvious about what his real intentions were.   “Don’t tell me she can read dirty minds?” he thought.

“I…I know,” said Sonja, causing Chris to sigh aloud from relief.   “But my father wouldn’t be able to understand that, he’s a very suspicious man.   He wants to ….”   She stopped, lost for words, having almost admitted “He wants to keep me for himself.”   Instead she said, “He wants to keep me a baby as long as possible, at least until I’m fifty-five anyway.”

Chris laughed, and then said, “Yes, I think that all parents are at least a little bit like that.”   Standing, Chris helped Sonja to her feet, and stacked their chairs upon the table, then said, “Then what about studying together at my place?   I can set up my text books and things, ready to start as soon as you get there.”

“Do you still live with your parents?” asked Sonja.   She allowed Chris to place an arm around her shoulders as they walked out into the basement.

“Yes, but they won’t mind.   My dad’s a little strange at times, but mostly he’s all right.   My mum’s very nice … actually she’s my stepmother, but if you ever met my real mothers you’d understand why I think of Norma as my mum,” Chris said then laughed, along with Sonja.   “Perhaps that isn’t very kind,” he added, “but it’s perfectly true.”

THE END