Torbin sulked in his room. His favorite game was on, he even had the Xbox One controller in his left hand. He just did not accept the invite. The only light source in the room was a large fish tank. The heat lamp for the geckos gave off enough light. Two fans and a window air conditioner were all on. He was unaware how loud his room was.
Life was easier six months ago, he made one great miscalculation. Out of state college was out of his middle-class families’ budget. He had never felt so let down: so average. He would have to start at a community college to work his way up to an in-state school. That meant he could not leave for four more years. His dreams of moving to Carolina were shattered. So much would change between then and now.
He was wise beyond his years; he knew all too well people’s plans change daily. Nothing would be the same in four years. His family would still be average, though. That is all they ever were. Why would anyone work so hard just to be average? He was the closest he had ever been to throwing the controller hard enough to break it! That would just add to his problems though.
So what? Just spend the summer inside and go to a community college that accepts anyone and everyone. His GPA was high enough to get into most colleges. He did not qualify for full scholarships. His path was there it just was not very long and it went to another school he did not want to be at.
None of his family understood how serious in his own mind he was about both setting up a life and starting a business. In his own mind he was motivated, the idea of two years at a community college made him want to cry.
His mother knocked on the door. It could have been anyone in his oversize family, but she somehow had the softest firmest knock.
“What?” Torbin somehow had an even flatter voice than earlier. In his defense, he had only been accepted into seven out of state colleges that he could not afford to attend. He was accepted into every college he applied for. All out of state. He had never really thought of college like that. You get in and go, right? He knew no one on the east coast. He could not afford to live and go to school on student loans in a very expensive part of the country. Now somehow his plan seemed made by a child. The adult version of himself understood all too well what the child did not. His friends resent the invite for the third time. He set the controller down.
“Your grandpa is on the phone for you. I don’t know why he won’t just call you. He always calls the house line.” That was true he did always call the house line. That was everyone could listen. Great.
Torbin could not help but think he would soon party with some of his friends that get to leave. He would have no going away party. He left his room and walked downstairs. The way he held himself was like someone in mourning.
The cordless phone was so clunky his youngest sister kept trying to throw it away. Issa had become the trouble maker in the family. Torbin was so lost in his thoughts he put the phone to his ear backward. He quickly reversed it. “ Hey, Stevie.” Stevie was not Torbin’s grandpa by blood, rather by marriage and choice.
“Hey, man I am kinda surprised you even came down. You must feel like one of those long offensive swear words.” His voice was more serious than his always funny banter.
“I feel like a kid, I got all excited too,” Torbin stated, almost like a programmed machine.
“You know why I called?”
“To comfort me?”
“No, I am old and broke. I cannot send you to a fancy college. I can’t fix this. I am not your fairy godmother. What I can do is change the subject.” A long pause. Stevie spoke again. “I know you were going to move away with your friends and you were going to start your idea. Turn a profit. I mean with the internet? Custom wood carvings and engravings? It’s a good idea that needs to get done. I called to give you some good news. Not great news but good news.”
“What?” the monotone what was Torbin’s new thing, apparently. That or being lost in his own thoughts. For the first time in his life, he felt like an adult. He did not like the feeling.
Stevie knew he was about to smile. “I can access some of my retirement, nowhere near enough to send you to college. I can foot the cost of the wood that you would need to start woodworking. I can cover your first round of shipping costs. I can also pay to set you up a basic website.”
Torbin moved his mouth enough some would call it a smile. He would have called it a wise smirk. “You use itsy to sell online. I would not even set up a website”
“See there you are. Thinking about how you are gonna make at least enough money to keep moving forward. Couple that with a part-time job, BANG!” It was the loud bang he made that got Torbin to smile for the first time in two days. “You are going to need some new tools too. Trust me on that. I have at least a few connections. Don’t waste your summer sitting around because life kicked you. You are a good enough craftsman to make something.” He paused. “I know it hurts inside. Be yourself; that will help.”
Torbin? He had had an awful two days. Now he only had one question: “How are you gonna get me the money?”
“Wow, there is that eighteen year old mind hard at work.” He laughed; the same contagious laugh he always shared. “I will come down this weekend and we will go to the hardware store. Draw up a few plans of what we will cut in bulk. Keep what you sell small at first.”
“You know what?”
“You smiled?”
What Torbin’s honest response was? One of those long offensive swear words.
In front of his sister too. Issa was happy the phone was not thrown away!
Never give up on life. Never give up on love.
That’s it, That’s all:
-Nathan Hall