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“Congratulations, son.” Dad holds a hand out for me to shake. I take it, keeping my grip firm.
Immense pride and relief flood through me. I got to the meeting in time for Dad to announce his retirement and plan to hand everything over to me. The board’s vote was unanimous, and I was named CEO of Poole Enterprises.
“Thank you, sir. Your company is in good hands.”
“I know it is.” Dad opens the cabinet behind his desk. “Sit down. This calls for an early drink.”
I don’t argue, despite it only being noon. I’ve had a morning from hell, and a glass of bourbon is just what I need to settle my nerves. Dad hands over two fingers of his finest, and I take a sip.
My final conversation with Mike plays through my head. Why did I even ask him that question? It was something I thought about often in high school, but I didn’t care enough to figure it out. I guess I wanted to hurt him, and uncovering a lie that lasted his entire youth had the punch I wanted to deliver.
But now I’m curious all over again. Maybe it’s the knowledge that Dad’s control over me is non-existent anymore or the liquor numbing my senses, but I can’t help but need to ask a few questions. Thankfully, he’s lucid today and might shed some light.
Dad was on the school board and was close friends with the school leadership, so he might know something.
“Do you remember that weird kid who went to school with me? Mike?”
Dad’s grin flattens to a straight line. “The scholarship kid?”
“Yeah.” I take another sip. “Except I don’t think he had a scholarship.”
“Why would you say that?” He leans back in his chair. To anyone else, he’d be the picture of calm and collected. But I know his tell, and his neck only turns that shade of red when he’s uncomfortable. Why does this topic make him nervous?
“I interviewed the principal once for the school paper and asked him how many scholarship kids there were. He said the academy didn’t offer scholarships.” I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but seeing Mike again got me thinking.
“Why else would they let a kid like him attend?” Dad drains his glass in one swallow.
“That’s what I always wondered.”
“And why are you bringing this up after all these years? What does it matter?”
“It doesn’t. Except my new truck had an issue this morning, and Mike was working at the shop I took it to. It got me thinking.”
“He’s a mechanic? Sounds about right.” Something about the way he says it leads me to believe he’s not surprised and not because no one expected Mike to make anything of his life.
“Yeah, me neither. So, you don’t know how he got the money for tuition?”
Dad reaches for the liquor bottle, pouring himself another glass. “Why would I know anything about that?”
I shrug. “I thought since you were friends with the administration, they might’ve said something.”
“Well, they didn’t. Now can I have a celebratory drink with my son?” He raises his glass to toast.
“Sure.”
* * *
“Thanks for calling The Garage. How can I help you?” a cheery voice answers my call.
“Tigger?” I ask.
“Yeah, who’s this?”
“Jenson Poole. You guys are replacing a fuse in my truck.”
“Oh yeah. How’s it going, man?”
“Good, thanks. I was calling to see if my truck was ready?”
