Chapter 1

It's six o'clock when I get the familiar WhatsApp from my father that he has to work overtime again today, so I already know what time it is and start making myself a sandwich. My father works for the sales department of a large company and regularly has to work late. Before my mother passed away a few years ago, she always had the rule that we only had dinner when everyone in the family was home for the day. To honor her, we kept that rule. The only thing I know from experience is that on days like that, Dad often doesn't get home until eleven and after a long day at school, I need to eat something around the normal dinner time. As my mother always said, I am a growing boy and I need fuel. You can tell by my natural muscle build and my height of 6.2ft and my weight of 191 pounds. I hope I won't get much taller because I am already taller than my dad.

With delight, I eat my sandwich and leave for my bedroom in the basement to do my homework and play some video games until Dad gets home. My friends had asked if I wanted to come to a party, but I indicated to them that I would come later in the evening. As the school year ends, there are more and more parties and since this is our last year in high school, we make the most of it before everyone leaves for different colleges.

Just as I put down my pen from my last piece of homework, I hear the key in the lock. I look at the clock and see that it is five past eleven. My stomach rumbles when I think about the fact that we can finally have dinner. I run up the stairs to welcome my father.

"Hey Dad, welcome home. How was your day?" I call out when I see him standing in the doorway with a tired face, and with what looks like several takeout bags.

"Terrible. I was told to clean up someone else's mistake for the umpteenth time, which meant I was working more overtime again."

"Ah, that sucks. But thankfully, you’re home now."

"I'm sorry kid, I know it bothers you that I'm home this late so often, so I brought your favorite takeout, Chinese. I hope we can enjoy it together."

I smile and watch Dad as he sets the bags on the table and begins to unpack. He looks very tired and it seems like he has more grey hairs than black ones these days. He has also developed a gut due to his current lifestyle. Mom used to always cook dinner, but since her death, we both have very little time to cook. Dad because he works long hours at work to make ends meet as a single parent and I because I have school, basketball practice, and my part-time job. So we usually get takeout when Dad has to work late.

I work out by training for the school basketball team and cycling to and from school every day, but Dad spends at least two hours in the car every day and spends most of his day sitting at a desk. He used to go out for walks after dinner, but with his increased working hours, he rarely finds the time for it.

When everything is unpacked, we both sit down at the table to eat. As I'm famished, I scoop up quite a bit of noodles.

"So, how was your day?" Sounds dad's voice.

"Great, I had a really good grade on my English test, and basketball practice went well today. I even scored a few dunks. By the way, I was invited to a party tonight, so I wanted to ask you if it's okay if I go there after dinner."

Dad nods in agreement.

"It's good to hear that you got a good grade. As a reward, I'll let you go to that party. Just make sure you don't drink too much?"

I look at him dumbfounded and Dad winks.

"You think I've never been young? I too know what happens at those end-of-school parties. But I know I can trust you to have fun responsibly."

I smile at him. "Thank you."

"By the way, have you thought about what you want to do after high school?" Dad asks suddenly.

"Not yet. I haven't really been able to make a choice yet. I’m leaning towards a gap year, to give myself more time to think this through. Why, did you have something in mind for me?"

"No, all I want is for you to be happy. And if you need college for that, then we'll just see how we can get by and if you don't want to go to college, then I'm okay with that too. As long as you're doing something that makes you happy. And I hope you will not get a job like mine, where you're treated like a dog and have to put in way too many hours, just to make ends meet, because they don’t pay you enough for the work you do."

Dad looks angry, but his expression calms down when he sees my worried look.

"If you want, I can put some money from my part-time job into the house."

Dad shakes his head.

"No, that's not necessary. You need to focus on your studies and your future. This household is my responsibility. I can't put that on your shoulders. It'll all work out in the end."

When we're done eating, we put the leftovers in the fridge for tomorrow.

"Apparently we were hungrier than I thought," says Dad smiling when he sees that there is very little left. "Oh well, as long as we enjoyed it, but we'll do the dishes tomorrow. I just want to relax with a beer in my comfy chair and you have a party waiting for you."

Dad walks into the living room with a bottle of beer and sits down in the recliner after turning on the TV. I walk to the bathroom and get ready for my party.