We're Working On It by Richard Norway Page B

reality. The word was son!
    Richard loved his daughter and she loved him. He had no doubt about that. She was just like any other teenager when she was growing up, needing and depending on Richard back then, but she had grown and was now on her own. He remembered the day she had left for the university. She was gone. His wife was gone. And his business was gone. He couldn’t do anything more for them.
    But this was a new chance that had come into his life.
    On Wednesday, Cory was to start school, and he had to ride the bus that morning. That meant they had to get up early for Cory to be able to make it to the bus stop on time.
    Richard was up before Cory, like most parents, to fix him a full breakfast. Well, that part wasn’t like most parents. As Cory entered the kitchen, Richard could immediately tell that Cory was quite apprehensive that morning. Cory had put on some of his new clothes, and it was the uniform of high school boys; blue jeans, white tee shirt, dark blue canvas Vans and a Tigers ball cap turned backwards. Cory had his back pack slung over one shoulder. His clothes didn’t say anything special about him, but Cory’s face was the front page of a tabloid newspaper. He could be read it like a freeway billboard. The furrowed forehead on Cory told Richard that Cory was deep in thought and probably scared to death right now. Cory didn’t know anyone at his new school yet, but Richard knew that he would make some new friends easily. Cory had that kid-like vulnerable personality that drew people to him. He wondered how much more had been there before his mother passed away, and how much was lost after his father starting abusing him.
    He fried bacon and eggs for breakfast and served them with orange juice and toast. He figured a hearty breakfast would be just what he needed for a good start at Cory’s first day in a new school.
    Cory plopped into his chair at the breakfast table and immediately placed his elbows down in front him and rested his chin on his knuckles. He looked straight ahead, hardly seeing the room around him.
    Richard placed his breakfast on a plate and set it in front of Cory, but Cory, usually ready to engulf his food in one bite, just sat quietly without moving for a moment. Cory didn’t eat much as he played with most of his breakfast. Richard put his own plate on his side of the table, sat down and had been studying Cory while he started to eat. He then decided it was time to get Cory out of his doldrums.
    “They sure came through fast enough. Here it is Wednesday and they were able to get you into school in just six days. That’s just amazing,” Richard opened the nonexistent conversation.
    “Yeah, they did,” Cory said while still watching his plate as he continued to swirl his fork through the egg yolks.
    “Nervous, aren’t you?” Richard asked.
    “Yeah, a little,” Cory replied as he slowly looked up at Richard across the table. “Maybe a lot.”
    “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine, Cory. Would you rather I drove you to school this morning?” Richard thought that Cory would like some company, any company, on his way to the new school.
    “Would you mind?” Cory sheepishly asked. “I am just a little nervous. Actually, I’m scared shitless.”
    “That’s really just because it’s something new. Everyone’s a little nervous facing something new. It’s kind of the unknown in front of you. And don’t swear.”
    “Okay. And, yeah, I know what school’s like, but this is a new school and new people,” Cory replied.
    “Cory, think about this. Once you’ve gotten through the day, it won’t be the ‘unknown’ anymore, right?”
    “Hmmm, I guess you’re right, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not really nervous now. The day hasn’t started yet.”
    “Well, hop to. Finish your breakfast and let’s get this day going then.”
    Cory stared at Richard for a moment, but wasn’t willing to eat any more. “I’m not very hungry I guess,” Cory replied.
    “Okay.