Читать книгу A Portal in Time - James A. Costa Jr. - Страница 10

Chapter 5

Monday afternoon. He didn’t think classes would ever end that morning as he grabbed his books, slid out of his 1990 Honda and hurried into the house. “Any packages come for me today, Gram?” he called, his anxious voice echoing in the kitchen.

“Is that you, Gary? I’m back here in the spare room. I’ll be right out.”

He headed for his bedroom, saw no package, tossed his books on the bed and stripped down to put on a comfortable pair of pants and a tan Greg Norman golf shirt Shelley had given to him for his last birthday.

But I’m not a golfer!

So? I couldn’t help it, I loved the shirt. Maybe it will inspire you.

Stuffing his wallet, a couple of Kleenex tissues and the silver dollar in his pockets, he sat down at his computer to check his e-mail. “Ah, Shelley loves me,” he said, seeing the library e-mail address and opening his mail. The message, just a line, put a crease across his forehead and then a smile on his face. Shelley’s doing it to him again, playing games, making fun of him. He read the line again:

If you want a future forget the past!

Chuckling, he deleted the message, shut down the machine, slipped on his sweater and left the room, almost bumping into his grandmother outside his door.

“No package for me, I take it?”

“What a day,” she said, running her wrist over her tired brow. I’ve been working like a dog, but you’d never know it. Nothing shows.” She went to the cupboard. “You want some lunch? There’s some leftover roast beef.”

“I’m not really hungry, Gram.” He glanced around. “No package for me?”

“Some mail came. The usual junk for me and a letter for you. Even one for your grandpa. All this time, ten years, they don’t know he’s dead? At least no bills came.” She put a plate of cookies on the table. “You feel okay, Gary?”

‘I’m fine,” he said, straightening up.

“Too much school on your mind?”

“Among other things.”

“Worried about your examinations?” she said, sitting across from him.

“Not really.”

“A hard day?”

“Not so hard, just boring. I’m glad it’s almost over.”

“Well, that’s good. Your grandpa would be so proud of you, God rest his soul, to see you graduate from college. Nobody in the family ever did before, you know.”

“I know,” he said, grabbing a cookie.

“He always wanted that for you. I wish he could be here to see it, your graduation.”

“I know, Gram. But like you say sometimes, maybe he’s looking down, watching us. When the day comes, he’ll be there, I’m sure.”

“I pray so.”

“Gram, when you were young, did you by chance remember reading in the paper or hearing about a little girl--”

The phone rang. “That must be your Aunt Shirley,” she said, getting up. “She’s supposed to set up my doctor’s appointment for me. Your letter’s over on the stand by you,” she said, pointing and picking up the phone.

A sprinkle of cookie crumbles fell to the floor as he stretched for the envelope.

“What is it, Gary?” his grandmother said, alarmed by the expression on his face when he pulled the letter out. “Wait a minute, Shirley… Gary…?”

“It’s okay, Gram, don’t worry,” he said, scrambling to his feet, jamming the letter in his pocket and rushing for the door.

“Will you be back in time for supper?” she called after him, but he was already gone….