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1999
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I furiously scribbled notes during history, my favorite class of the day. I glanced up as the clock struck 3 p.m. The bell rang, and I gathered my books. As I walked out of the crowded classroom to get to my locker, a lanky guy with auburn hair approached.
“Hey Natalia, what’s up?”
“Not much, how are you Cal?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to go to Springfest with me.”
“Um, thanks, but I can’t.”
“Why?”
“I’ve gotta help my parents with their business.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t think you have any parents,” Cal declared with a sneer.
“I have to go,” I said tersely.
I shut my locker and walked outside where it was chilly. I could smell fresh grass and Douglas fir trees.
“Natalia, wait up!”
I turned and saw my best friend. Colleen was a tall, slender blonde with green eyes and freckles.
“Natalia, what’s wrong with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why don’t you want to go to the festival with Cal?”
“I constantly see him lurking around like a criminal.”
“C’mon Natalia, he’s not so bad.”
“Then you should go out with him,” I suggested.
“I know you like Peter, but he has a girlfriend.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking.”
“Peter is a flirt, so don’t get the wrong idea.”
I ignored Colleen and said, “I thought you were going to the Springfest with me.”
“Sure, but you just told Cal that you have to work for your parents.”
“Oops, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“It’s okay. Maybe it’s better if neither of us goes. We can rent a movie or something.”
I didn’t realize that as we were talking our friend Margaret had snuck up behind us. She had dark-brown hair, big brown eyes, and a stocky frame.
“You’re both scared,” Margaret taunted.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“If you weren’t afraid, then you’d go to the festival,” she replied.
“This from someone who sleeps with her light on.” I joked.
“How do you know that?” Margaret demanded.
“At 5 a.m., the light in your room is still on.”
“Natalia, you shouldn’t be jogging when it’s dark. That’s dangerous,” Colleen advised.
“Yeah, I keep seeing this car popping up during my jogs,” I admitted.
Colleen exclaimed, “That’s creepy. Go to the Y or something.”
“The old hippies get too chatty,” I complained.
“Yeah, they’re high on life,” Margaret explained.
“They’re high on something,” I remarked absent-mindedly.
“Yeah, you oughta try it ... ’cuz you need to chill out,” Margaret teased.
“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” I confessed.
“Don’t we all?” Colleen asked.
“Uh, huh,” I agreed, “I’ll see you two later. I’ve got to get to my babysitting job.”
“Alright Natalia, see ya,” they both chimed.
As I left, I looked up and observed that the sky was overcast. If I didn’t hurry, I’d get caught in the rain. I thought about what Cal said. How did he know about my parents’ absence? Had he been stalking me?
Even if I wanted to go to Springfest, I really couldn’t because I didn’t have enough money. Babysitting barely covered my bills.
I rushed down the sidewalk as a squirrel dragged a baguette through the grass. I was about to cross a driveway when a car startled me by pulling up out of nowhere. A man rolled down his window, leaned forward, and yelled, “Hey, how are you?”
I gasped with fear and hurried to get home, but the car followed. I ran, but when I reached my house at the end of the cul-de-sac, the same vehicle pulled into my driveway. The man quickly jumped out and barked, “Natalia? Natalia Canaan?”
I stood speechlessly. I wasn’t sure if I should race into my house or run towards the opposite street. Unfortunately, this stranger was blocking my path.
The man approached and said, “Natalia, my name is Milton. I’m your cousin.”
This was not my day, I thought. I regretted not darting across the street when I had the chance. It was too late now because I was trapped.
“Milton, so lovely to meet you,” I chirped with fake enthusiasm. I extended my hand professionally the way my parents did with business associates.
He ignored my gesture and declared, “I’ve been messaging Jason for almost a year. Is your father home?”
I shook my head. “Dad isn’t here right now, but I promise to tell him you stopped by.”
Milton looked annoyed and asked, “Can I wait inside? Technically, it is my house.”
Nervously, I stammered, “Dad would kill me if I let an unfamiliar man inside.”
“I’m not a stranger; I’m your cousin,” he retorted.
Ha, like a fourth cousin and not by blood, I silently mused. Aloud I said, “You know Dad ... he’d kill me.”
It was evident that Milton couldn’t care less what punishment I might receive. However, he wasn’t eager for further confrontation.
There was an awkward silence as we stared at one another. Finally, he handed me his business card and said, “Have your dad contact me.”
“Sure,” I lied. “Sorry, but I have to get to my babysitting job.” I then ran across the street.
From a distance, I could see my cousin lingering. He meticulously inspected the place as if it was his. He peered into various rain-stained windows and crept to the back of the garden, which was filled with weeds and had a broken swing.
It was unlikely I would ever inherit the house from Milton, because he had been married twice and had four kids. Plus, according to Dad, he was a spendthrift with gambling debts.
I scurried over to the library where I created a fake email account for Dad and wrote:
Dear Milton,
Sorry for being out of touch. I lost my job and was traveling a lot for interviews.
I’m now very sick with mounting medical bills. Can I borrow $20,000? As you know, I have to care for my family. Plus, the house needs repairs.
Thank you,
Jason
As I hoped, Milton didn’t respond. Six months later, to ensure that he remained at bay, I sent another email:
Hey Milton,
I’ll be in your area, soon. Let’s meet for coffee. I have this great idea for a business. Hope you will partner or invest.
Cheers,
Jason
Again, I didn’t hear back. I knew my relative would eventually return, but at least I could try to stall him until I finished high school.