Strange Tales for Cozy Nights 1

by Brian Bakos

  ***

  Bobber stayed at a friend’s house the night prior to his departure for the government shooting school. The friend’s parents dropped him off at the bus station the following morning. Back at home, his mother claimed to be ill and kept to her bed, but his father made sure to be at the station to see the boy off.

  He spotted Bobber standing amid a group of admiring friends, including some girls.

  “Hey Dad!” Bobber called.

  Kough made his way slowly across the waiting room with his cane, being careful to avoid a misstep on the grimy tile floor. The crowd of kids made way for him.

  “Good luck, son,” Kough said.

  He gripped Bobber’s hand in a manly shake.

  “Thanks, Dad,” Bobber said. “Where’s Mom?”

  “Uh ... she’s feeling a bit poorly,” Kough said. “She sends her love.”

  This last statement was a lie, they both knew.

  “I see,” Bobber said.

  A light seemed to go out in his eyes; he lowered them to the floor. An awkward silence commenced, but a girl in the crowd soon filled it.

  “This is so cool!” she said. “When are you coming home for midterm break?”

  Bobber looked toward her; some of his amiability returned.

  “First of September,” he said.

  “That’s just in time for our ‘welcome back’ dance at school,” the girl said. “You’ll come, won’t you?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Bobber said.

  He turned toward his father. Sadness still edged his eyes, but he assumed a light-hearted tone.

  “I won’t be seeing Mrs. Cox anymore,” he said. “Who’s going to keep you informed about her?”

  Frank smiled. “I’ll manage, somehow.”

  The bus left promptly, piloted by a smiling and courteous driver. This seemed an auspicious start, and Frank Kough returned home brimming with confidence. After two years of frustration and gloom, he felt optimistic again. He scarcely noticed the angry silence radiating from his wife.

  Frank’s optimism faltered when the second weekly report arrived from the school. By the time a month had passed, the optimism was gone entirely. The reports spoke, in the empirical language of scores and ratings, that Bobber was having major difficulties with his studies.

  Ann had taken to opening Frank’s private mail quite freely now and was so thrilled with the news that her entire demeanor brightened. Frank had become too preoccupied to pay her much attention, though. Finally, a note from the school director arrived:

  . . . and since Robert’s performance in the qualifying tests show him to have considerable potential, I do not feel it would be justified to remove him from the school at the present time.

  However, I believe that his marginal performance of late serves to disqualify him from receiving tuition and board at government expense. As such, I regret to inform you that, as of the first of the month, he will no longer receive financial assistance from public funds . . .

  Kough wanted to phone his son immediately and demand an explanation. He decided to wait until Bobber came home for mid-term break, however. This was a problem requiring face time.

  Meanwhile, Frank had his hands full with the dreadful problem of trying to find money.