Hapuch's Diary

Telephone lies

(Weeks Later.)

As the night ushered in the new day. I gambled between what to say and how to say it. Mom flight to Portugal was set for the next day, and this was my last chance of stopping her.

I did not have to burden my head with convincing reasons why she should not return to Portugal. I just had to appeal to her sense of right and wrong; this was my resolve. Unknown to me that, a lie would change the course of my life story.

I sat in yoga style on my bed, looking through the window at the summer birds. I toss my phone between my hands, contemplating on what to say.  

 Nothing would please me more than having both parents return to Portugal. Therefore, my mom must remain in Israel until Dad was allowed to travel alongside her.

Quickly, I called Dad, after mom refused to answer my calls. 

(Phone call)

"You're calling so early in the morning, are you alright?" Dad questioned in a husky voice.

"I'm doing fine. Dad, can you give the phone to mom, I need to speak to her." I said knowing fully well, that my mom was avoiding talks with me.

After a short muttering from the background, dad replied,

"Your mom is a little busy, she will call back as soon as she is free." 

His warbling voice was an indication that he was hiding the truth. 

I knew I had to play dirty but that was my folly. At once without a second thought, I said, “It's alright, I'll just tell you the good news." 

"Good news. What good news?" 

"This morning, I got a mail from the... the university."

OMG! Why did I say university, I regretted while stroking my forehead.

"A mail? what does it say?"

"I've been ACCEPTED!" 

"Oh my Goodness! You got accepted!" 

Wait! Did I just lie about gaining an admission? No, Keren, expensive lies breed trouble! my inner voice warned. Be positive for once, you will get accepted. I convinced myself.

"Yes dad, I'm super excited." I was biting my fingers in an unusual compromise. 

"Honey, Our daughter got accepted, can you believe that?" He called out to my mum. 

"Wow!" Mum's voice bellowed from the background, "let me talk to her." 

I could feel the excitement in their voices, and I could tell the jubilation will last long.

The next moment, Mom was speaking, “Oh dear, you got accepted!"

"Yes, mum.” My fake jubilation sounded a lot real than my imagination.

 She gasped gently, short of words, "this is the most amazing news anyone could tell me. Thank you, thank you, for not failing us."

"I wish I could do better." 

"You've done more than my expectations and I'm blessed to have a child like you."

"I'm blessed to have you too." 

"How much I wish to hug you now."

"I'll be in college soon, so you don't have to worry about me anymore." 

"I will always worry about you, even when you're done with school and married with kids. That's what mothers do. I love you so much."

"I love you too mom." 

My heart melted, what have you done? I thought. I paced back and forth, unsure of what else to say.

"We have to celebrate this, We have to." Her cheerful spirit was inspiring. While on the phone, she called on my dad and informed him as if he didn't know,

 "Nathan, my baby is now a College girl." she chuckled.

"She is, my dear. This is the best thing that has happened to us," Dad affirmed,

"I was afraid due to her low grades; still, I had faith one among all the schools would accept her."

A sudden change in my countenance occurred, and I slouched into my bed. So dad was worried about my grades? Was it that bad? How come he never said anything about it.

I refrained from interrupting them, instead, I placed a pillow on my folded thighs and listened.

"I had that fear too," Mom said, "especially when the other universities rejected her. I'm so happy things turned out well. I can't bear the thought of not seeing her in college."

A chill sensation diffused across my veins. Now, I was nervous. Why did you lie to them, Keren? My inner voice queried. 

My parents never showed they were disturbed about these things. Mom can't even bear the thought of not seeing me in college. 

"Me too." My dad agreed.

"Mom. Dad." I interrupted.

"Yes, dear." Their voices breezed in with full attention.

"Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell me how badly my grades affected you? You never said how disappointed you felt when the other schools rejected me, why?"

I was hurting inside. Trying to suppress the tears mounting up.

"I knew you worked hard for your exams." Dad answered, "I knew you felt sad already. It would've been unfair to cast blames. That's why your mom and I, chose not to criticize you."

"I'm so sorry dad, I really didn't wish to fail."

"Stop saying that." my mom scolded,

"You didn't fail, the fact that your grades weren't so great doesn't make you a failure. Those schools were too blind not to see your potentials. Don't you ever call yourself a failure, okay? My daughter is now a college student that's all that matters. "

"Mama," I called in between a low sob.

"Cheer up my dear. You should be singing and dancing." Dad giggled.

"Thank you."

"That's my baby, I wish I was with you now." Mum added.

"Yes mum, but you don't have to return to Portugal."

"I didn't think of that, but why?" She was genuinely contemplating.

"I'll be in school real soon."

"Um, that's true. How will you deal with the arrangements for school?"

"I can take care of myself."

"Are you sure?"

"You always told me that I'm brave, so please, let me prove it."

"Ok. you've got this. But you'll keep me informed about every detail concerning your school, agreed?"

"Sure."

I solved the problem, but created a bigger one!