Paying for College - The Novel Read online

  ***

  I woke up as an officer pounded on the metal door with his nightstick.

  He shouted, “Rise and shine, dirt bag.”

  I rubbed my eyes with my hands. Then I scanned the cell. It was empty again except the two officers standing by the opened cell door waiting for me.

  “Let me guess? You arrested the culprits who robbed the university?”

  “A visitor has come to see you.”

  “Who?”

  All I could hear was the drip drip drip of the bathroom sink.

  I slowly rose to my feet. I felt every muscle, every joint in my body ached.

  The officers helped me and led me to a brightly lit room with two chairs on each side of the table, and low and behold, the room had a window that was letting in the morning sun.

  As I walked in, Phaedra jumped out of her chair, ran to me, and hugged me. She leaned back while still holding my waist with her hands. “Jax, what happened to you?”

  “Oh, nothing. I must have rolled off the bed in the cell and fell onto the concrete floor several times throughout the night.”

  “Jax. Be serious. The police said you had trouble with the inmates.”

  “Don’t believe everything the police tell you.”

  “Jax, did they do this to you?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Of course it matters. You know I still care for you.”

  “Thank you Phaedra, but don’t worry about me. Everything will be over soon.”

  We sat down at the table and faced each other. Then I grabbed and held her hands. Brothers. She looked good even though she permanently damaged my heart. I wish she could take me out of this cell and nurse my wounds for the next twenty years.

  “Jax, the police are saying you had friends rob the university bursar when you staged the protest. Is this true?”

  Now, I understood why the police let Phaedra talk to me. I saw the opaque window on the wall and could visualize a team of cops standing on the other side, listening and recording everything that Phaedra and I said. The police hoped an old flame would make me squeal like a rusty old electric fan.

  “Phaedra, believe me when I tell you this. I had nothing to do with the university robbery.”

  “Then somebody broke into my dad’s office and stole his antique chess set.”

  “I know. I heard about it.”

  “Daddy thinks you did it?”

  I looked straight into her eyes without blinking, “I didn’t do that one either. Your dad has many people angry with him. I think every student came to the protest except you.”

  “I was there.”

  “Really? I didn’t see you there.”

  “By the tree, next to the ROTC Building.”

  “That’s cool. I’m sure your dad’s furious about me foiling his tuition hike.”

  “I don’t agree with him on everything.”

  “Well, that is good to hear.”

  I don’t know what possessed me, but I turned Phaedra’s hands over with the palms facing down. Then I saw the sparkle on the ring finger of her left hand. “Oh, it looks like you and Steve are progressing?”

  “I’m sorry Jax. I didn’t know how to tell you.”

  “Did you guys set a date yet?”

  “Not yet. Steve wants to graduate first. Then we’ll set a date.”

  I looked Phaedra in the eyes, “Do you love him?”

  Phaedra looked down and shrugged her shoulders.

  “I understand. You must think about your future.”

  “I’m sorry Jax.”

  “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you came. We shared a moment. We’re just two clouds drifting in different directions in the sky.”

  Phaedra continued looking down. “You’re not angry?”

  “Of course not. Let’s go our separate ways. We shared some good memories, some good times. Let’s not spoil them with bitter emotions. Perhaps, we’ll meet again someday. We’ll become friends.”

  We looked at each other.

  Phaedra asked, “Do you really want to be friends?”

  “Someday, I think we’ll become best friends.”

  “I should go.”

  I still held Phaedra’s hands, “Okay, but please don’t worry about me. Like I said, everything will be solved. I’m sure the police will catch the town burglar and the university robbers. And your dad will find the bastard who broke into his office.”

  We both rose and embraced each other tightly. As I pulled back a little to look at her, I noticed a black emblem on Phaedra’s gold necklace with a clover shape top. I looked closer and saw my black skeleton key dangling between her breasts. Then I let her go. Perhaps I should have said something. The girl broke my heart and then stole my lucky talisman. Damn. Steve really is a lucky guy.

  She kissed me on the cheek. Then she looked at me, “Let’s meet for coffee when you get out.”

  “That sounds like a plan. We can meet when exams are over.”

  Phaedra turned a little reddish, “I may not be in town after exams.”

  “Wow. Where are you and Steve going for Christmas?”

  “Not with Steve. Daddy wants to take the whole family to Europe for Christmas.”

  “Europe. That’s great.”

  “If you like, I can bring you back something.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but, honestly, there’s nothing I need from Europe.”

  We let each other go. She turned and walked out of the room. The two police officers escorted me back to my cell. I shook my head back and forth in disbelief. How could she have stolen my lucky talisman? That bitch.