Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 12

We ate in relative silence for a while before dad said, "I hear you have a telephone message and it was left by a female."

"Wha...", I looked at my mom, who was smiling like the cat who had eaten the canary. "Why didn't you tell me it was girl who left the message?!"

"It must have slipped my mind... I'm sorry."

I could tell just by looking at her that she was in no way, shape or form sorry. In point of fact, she was still smiling, though not as broadly, and she had turned her head towards the kitchen window in an attempt to hide her face. She always did have a bit of the devil in her.

"Why would a girl leave a phone message for you?", my dad queried.

"I have no idea", I said hotly.

"Nick has a girlfriend! Nick has a girlfriend", my sister teased in a sing-song voice.

"I do not! I don't even know any other girls in this town!"

"Could it be someone from school?", asked mom after she had given my sister the 'stop that right now look.

"I don't know... I really don't know", I asserted.

"Guess you'll find out after you call her eh?" dad quipped.

We finished eating and mom and I did the dishes. We traded off with dad and my sister for dish-washing duty on alternating days. Finally we were done; the time was 6:58 pm, nearly time to call the mystery girl.

I waited until it was five minutes past the hour before calling the number; I didn't want to seen as too keen. The call was answered on the first ring.

"Hello Nick" a pleasant voice answered. I had given up on how everyone seemed to know who I was, but I had no idea who they were.

"HI", I replied without any questioning inflection in my voice. I may not have know who was calling, but didn't want to appear to be a complete dummy.

"I saw you in English class today and you seemed to be... hmm... struggling with the material."

Well... she had that right. English was my worst course, made even worse by the teacher who looked as though she could easily pass for a Playboy model. I had been sneaking glances at her all through the class and not really paying much attention to what she was writing on the board or what was in my textbook.

As I was formulating a response she said, "I am very good with English and I thought maybe I could help you out with it."

"Erm... how?" really wasn't sure what she meant by helping me out.

"Well, I'm babysitting tonight and thought that maybe we could get together and go over today's classroom material. I'm sure I can help you with the parts you're having trouble with." Her voice was friendly and inviting.

And so for the second time in a day I was being asked to participate in an activity I had no experience with. I really did need help with English though, and the thought of an English wizard helping me did have a strong appeal.

"Just let me ask my parents if I can."

"Okay"

As I turned around I nearly collided with my mom... "Oh... sorry, I was just going to check if the clothes are dry."

A white lle from her... although she did have the laundry basket under her arm, the light in the laundry room was not on. She obviously wanted to hear what was going on over the telephone.

"Can I go and study with... uhm... I didn't get her name yet, but she says she is really good with English; and I can really, really use the help." I asked mom.

To my great surprise she said, "All right, but make sure you are home by 11 pm."

I was certain there would be questions, like, "Where is she? Are her parents home? Has she got permission to ask you over?" and all the other things parents want to know before letting you out of the house in the evening.

"Okay mom, thanks!" I effused. That certainly went a lot easier than expected.

I took my hand off the mouthpiece of the phone and said, "Okay, I can come over, but I have to be home by 11 pm. Where are you?"

"I'm in the apartment above the grocery store. The doorway is between the grocery store and the drug store. When you get there ring the bell 3 times then come up the stairs. There are two doorways at the top of the stairs, knock quietly on the one on the left."

I quickly closed my eyes and tried to picture where she was talking about. Although it was a really small town, I had only seen short glimpses of the downtown area.

"Is that on the left side of the Cenotaph?" I asked.

"Yes, that's right."

"Okay then, I'll be there as soon as I find my books and walk over there."

Mom smiled as I hung up the phone, she was still lingering near me, the empty laundry basket still under one arm.

"So where will you be?" she asked.

The apartment over the grocery store."

"She is babysitting there?" It was more of a statement of fact than a question.

"Yes she is."

"Okay. Don't forget, home by 11 pm" she admonished as she turned away from me and headed in the direction of the living

"Yes mom." I assured as she started walking away from me.

I went to my room, got my English notebook and textbook, and put them in my school bag as I mentally plotted out the route from my place to the grocery store downtown.

All the way down to the other end of my street, a left turn on the second left, not the first... that was a dead-end. Keep walking straight after the left turn until I got to the street the arena was on.