Jenny+Shah's+short+story

media type="custom" key="2991042"“Brett, pick up the phone. It’s your father,” Theresa Wolf called to her son, her soothing voice reverberating through the thick walls of the magnificent mansion. Even though he knew it was a horrible idea, Brett grabbed the extension, because he knew it would mean a lot to his mom. I’ll just make it quick-a quick hi, a quick bye, that should be enough, the clever Brett thought to himself. “Hey dad. How’s it going? Life’s good. I’ll talk to you later,” Brett spoke, rushing through his words. “Wait, calm down buddy,” Chace Wolf replied good-naturedly, “Have you thought about the proposal I made the last time we talked?” “NO! I already told you that I don’t want to become a famous movie star like you. I already have enough problems with a big-shot as a father. I get recognized everywhere and people aren’t friends with me because they like me, they’re friends with me because they want to meet you. I would never want to be in the film industry, even if my life depended on it! Good-Bye!” Brett slammed down the phone. Then, he turned and ran out of the room, his heart jolting as he heard his mother sigh heavily behind him. The next day at school, Brett was his usual calm and friendly self. He smiled and waved to all of his friends. It was a huge school, and Brett knew that he couldn’t survive alone. He struggled to concentrate on his work. His dad’s voice repeatedly entered his mind, taunting him with the proposal. As soon as the final bell rang, piercing all the adolescent eardrums, Brett jumped up and raced out of the room. He headed towards the main entrance, cell phone in hand. “Mom, I’ll be home late today.” After an exhausting day of school, Brett wasn’t ready to go home yet, so he headed to the local mall. Brett loved the feeling of the bustling, full of energy crowd. He walked into Abercrombie & Fitch, but wasn’t really in the mood for shopping. He preferred wandering around, observing other people. Wow! That’s the perfect shirt for mom! It was a plain pink polo, but something about it struck him. I think she’ll love it. While he was waiting in the seemingly endless line, he put his foot out, and started tapping a beat from the song his band was planning to play at their next gig. He continued tapping for a few minutes before getting impatient. Come on, hurry up. It’s getting late! he urged. Eventually, it was his turn and he pulled out his wallet to pay. He pulled out the first credit card he saw and was about to hand it over when he fully glanced at it. Chace Wolf, it said in bold, block letters underneath his name. I refuse to pay with the credit card that dad gave me! That would be like giving in to my rebellion against actors. But before he could pick another credit card, the annoyed salesperson grabbed it and was about to charge it when she actually caught a glimpse of it. “Chace Wolf? You‘re related to him?” she screeched, eyeing Brett. Brett mumbled something incomprehensible, but the teenage girl ignored him. “Ohmygod! I like totally love his movies! He’s such a good actor! Are you in the acting business too?” She quickly spit out the words, jumbling them all together. This was exactly the kind of thing that Brett despised. I hate being known as the famous movie star’s son. I hate being acknowledged by random strangers and having them pretend that they’ve known me forever, instead of just having met me a couple of minutes ago. Brett struggled to compose himself since he knew it was not worth it to make a scene. Finally, when it became clear that the girl wasn’t going to give him the shirt anytime soon, he grabbed the dreaded credit card and spun around to leave. He shoved open the bulky doors of the mall, enjoying the sensation of the cool wind on his warm face. He took a couple of deep breaths, to try to calm himself down. Soon, soft, fluffy snow flakes began to fall. Brett rushed to his car before he the cold, wet chunks could touch him. He drove home, speedily and recklessly, the way he always did when there was a snowstorm. As he neared his home, Brett saw a bright orange light piercing through the bright white snow. He brought his car closer and came face to face with leaping flames. “What‘s going on?” Nobody responded. Brett, panicking, ran to a nearby firefighter and hollered “What happened? Is my mom okay?” The firefighter gave Brett a look of pity and he instantly knew the truth. Still, he stared at the firefighter, hoping that he was somehow wrong. “I’m sorry. The fire was caused due to your laptop overheating. It caused a spark which grew immediately and surrounded everything. We tried to salvage your possessions, but we couldn’t save much.” A long pause. “We were not able to rescue your mother.” These words hit Brett right in the pit of his stomach. He sank down to the ground, not accepting it, but not doubting it. Tears filled his eyes. Brett, furious at showing any weakness, hurriedly brushed them away. Stand up. Face it like a man. Be brave, Brett chanted in his mind. “So what will happen now?” “Since you are 16 and not legally an adult, we will have to contact your closest family to take care of you until you turn 18. Where is your father?” This innocent question caused Brett to break down and bawl. I don’t want to live with my father. Everything would be completely different there. My friends, my school, my band. Everything would change. He hadn’t realized how good his life had been, and now it was all being taken away from him. Monotonously, Brett recited his dad’s cell phone number, and wandered away while the cops spoke to him about Brett‘s living situation.

The next thing he knew, Brett was leaving freezing South Brunswick, New Jersey to meet his father in warm Hollywood, California. After hours spent on the plane, Brett stepped outside, and the first thing he noticed was that his father wasn’t there. Instead, he had sent his personal driver, Sturges, to pick up his son. Well that makes a horrible first impression! He doesn’t even care about me enough to come pick me up himself. But then again, at least he remembered to send someone on time. He’s new at parenting, so I’ll have to go easy on him. Sturges was not very talkative, so Brett had the hour long drive to think about his new situation and remind himself to try and understand his father. As they got closer to Brett’s new home, Brett began to feel nervous. Although he was anxious to meet his father, he didn’t want to have to face him immediately either.

The first thing that Brett noticed about his dad was his persona. Everything about him: the look on his face, the way he spoke to others, and even the way he walked, all showed that he was powerful and he knew it. Taking a deep breath, Brett went over to meet his dad for the first time in his life. “Hi dad. It’s me, Brett.” “Hi son. Welcome to your new home. Your bedroom is the first door on the left. Make yourself comfortable. I can’t talk right now because I’m on the phone with a very important man who is trying to improve my reputation. Let’s do lunch. We can talk then.” Brett stood there stunned. This was his dad. It was their first time meeting and this was his reaction? Well, did I honestly expect him to embrace me with love and start crying in happiness? Sighing, he headed to his new, luxurious bedroom to unpack. At 12:00, he went to meet his dad at the fancy //Asiago// //Rassis// Restaurant for lunch. “Hi Brett. So, I’ve been thinking. Since you are living with me now, I have full custody over you. I want you to audition for a role in my new movie. Of course you’ll get the part, because you’re my son. But, you still have to audition anyway, just to complete formalities. Auditions are tomorrow at 7.” Chace Wolf explained. “WHAT?! I don‘t want to be in the acting business. I‘ve told you that so many times! Why don‘t you ever listen to me?” “Brett, there’s no need to raise your voice. People are staring, and you’re making me look bad. Calm down, and stop acting like a little kid.” “Not everything is about you! You should try to listen to what I want for a change!” With that said, Brett stormed out of the restaurant, ignoring all the stares and whispers. At his father’s house, Brett locked himself in his room and turned his ipod on really loud, to drown out his hateful thoughts. Soon, he was fast asleep.

Early next morning, Brett awoke to the sweet smell of pancakes coated with maple syrup. He rushed downstairs to find his father reading the Sunday paper. “Good morning son. Did you sleep well?” Chace Wolf spoke with a surprising pleasant tone to his voice. “Yea, thanks. The room is great.” “Well, I just wanted to apologize for the way I acted yesterday. It was unfair of me to force you to pursue acting as a career, when you made it clear that you didn’t want to. So, I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot and I hope we can be friends. I even had my butler make pancakes for you, because I know that they‘re you‘re favorite meal.” At the end of his speech, the famous actor looked expectantly at his son, waiting to see his reaction. Brett nodded his forgiveness, too stunned to speak. “Well, now that we have cleared that up, I have to go to an interview this morning, so do you think you can keep yourself busy?” “Yea, of course. Don’t worry about me.” “Feel free to ask Sturges to drive you anywhere. And be careful.” Brett frowned. He knew his dad was just showing fatherly concern for him, but there was something unnatural and forced in the way he said it. It seemed fake, almost as if it were rehearsed. Brett decided to take advantage of his father’s offer and got Sturges to drive him to the movie theater. The new movie Bloody Bones was playing, and he was eager to see it. As he settled down in the theater with a jumbo bag of popcorn overflowing with butter, the previews began. Brett was not surprised to see his father in the first preview. Just as he had suspected, it was a superficial drama about true love. Throughout the movie, Brett could not help but feel alone. Everyone else in the theater had come with their friends or family, and he was the only one sitting alone. I wish I could go back to New Jersey to see my friends. I wonder how they’re doing. After the movie was over, Brett trudged dejectedly back to the limo. I can’t believe that I’m missing the band’s first big gig to wander around here and do nothing. He had promised his dad that he would meet him again for lunch, this time at a different fancy restaurant, so he told Sturges to bring him directly there. When he arrived, his dad was already waiting for him. “Good afternoon Brett. How was your morning?” Why is he being so formal? Out loud, he replied, “It was pretty good. I saw //Bloody Bones//. How was your interview?” “Same as usual. Very boring.” Chace seemed distracted. He kept checking his watch and mumbling to himself. “Where are they?” he seemed to be saying. Suddenly, the door of the restaurant swung open with a loud thud. Brett spun around to find about 20 people pile in, pushing to be in the front. They all had large cameras around their necks and microphones in their hands. “What? Reporters? How did they find us here?” Chace feigned surprise. “This is Charlie Jersagie of Hollywood News and I am here with famous actor Chace Wolf and his son Brett Wolf. 16-year-old Brett has just recently come to live with Chace and they are already having lunch. Chace is apparently not just a great actor, but also a great father. Look at them, bonding over lunch.” The camera zoomed in on Brett’s face. The reporter started firing questions at Brett, which he reluctantly replied to. I can’t believe my dad would do this! He’s using me as a publicity stunt! He doesn’t even need any more publicity. Doesn’t he care at all about the ties of family? Brett wondered, afraid to throw a tantrum on live television. After the torturous interview was over, Brett faced his father. “What is wrong with you? Why can’t you just accept that there are some things that are more important than fame?” “Brett, you don’t understand. There is so much pressure on me. Hollywood is all about the biggest, the best. I need the publicity or I’m just going to fizzle out and lose everything I worked so hard to get.” “Well, if that’s all you care about, then I don’t think I should be here. I’m just slowing you down in your quest to be at the top of the social ladder. I’m leaving.” “You can’t leave! Where will you go?” Chace scoffed. “Anywhere is better than here.” Brett stormed out of the restaurant, not caring that he didn’t have a plan. Chace just stared after him, too shocked to find the right words. When Brett woke up, he found that Chace had already left the house. He had taken Sturges with him, so Brett immediately flagged down a taxi. “LA Airport please” he told the driver. While he waited in the airport for his flight to arrive, Brett couldn’t help but wonder if he was making the right decision. I don’t have a place to stay when I get home. I don’t have a guardian. But then again, my dad doesn’t exactly want me to stay, or else he would be here begging for forgiveness right now. Brett silently contemplated the pros and cons, weighing each option in his mind. Too soon, his flight arrived. Before he boarded, Brett turned around and took one last look at everything he was leaving behind. The opportunity of fame, fortune, and his only family. Then, he took a deep breath and got on the plane, going home, where he truly belonged.