A FINAL DREAM – Chapter 2

Tina Kennard

When I come in the dinner room that evening, everyone is already there. Kate is toppling on her chair, waiting impatiently for my dad to serve the food. Ken is messing about with his cutlery. They are all obviously waiting for me. I know they expect me to feel guilty, but I don’t.

My dad comes in with the steaks and I hastily take the biggest one – I just love meat. I admire vegetarians, but I just couldn’t do it. I look at my mother, she seems to be in a good mood, despite me being ‘late’ for dinner once again.

“Tina, how was your day?” She asks. I frown at her, she never asks me this.

“Fine, I guess, why?”

“It’s just a question. I am interested in my daughters’ life.”

I suspect she has read an article in a magazine or she had to attend a seminar for parents. She always goes to these events or reads this stuff claiming that it’s for her job.

I smile at her. My mom can be so sweet at times. She just tries out everything she hears or reads to motivate her children. Little does she know I need no motivation; it won’t help. Next year is my last year and then I’m off to do something I really like. Something that has nothing to do with maths or sciences. Something with movies.

That reminds me of something I still have to ask my parents. Since my mom is in a good mood, I decide to give it a shot.

“Mom? Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, honey.” Oh my god, honey? She never calls me honey!

“I was walking by Chad’s Electronics the other day. I saw really good cameras there, for a very acceptable price.”

Mom sighs. I know she doesn’t like this conversation, but I have to have this camera. It’s just that I need it. I have a crappy camera now, it’s not even a real one. It’s a digital camera, made to take pictures but with the option to film. The quality is crappy and the format it records on is just shit to work with. The files are way too big and they load damn slow in my computer. It drives me nuts.