Studying

Flash Fiction

Studying

“Pretend I’m not here.”

“OK, now what?”

“You can’t talk to someone who is not here.”

“You didn’t say you can’t hear, just that you weren’t here.”

“And how could you hear me if I wasn’t here?

“I do it all the time with Santa.”

“Does Santa talk back?”

“No, not in words talking. I ask him for the things I wish I could get for Christmas and he usually gives me some of them. No all, just some. I do it just like you do, after all, you taught me.”

Well, this is not Santa. I’m not going to fly through the air and bring you presents. I’m just you’re brother. When I say pretend, I’m not here, I mean, be here if you like, watch TV, eat stuff, just don’t talk to me or look at the me in the room.

“OK that’s how… now why?”

“I have to study for my math test.”

“Well, why in here? You have your room…”

“My room is full of things I’d rather do. I keep getting distracted. I’ve decided to work on the math test stuff every day this week and I haven’t done it once because I get distracted.”

“Well, if I’m watching scary movies and eating chocolate won’t that be distracting…?”

“Is that what you’re going to do?”

“It is raining. Why don’t you go down cellar? It’s quiet and Dad has that table down there you can sit at.”

“Great idea!” off he went.

Monday after school:

“How did it go in the cellar? You were there all weekend!”

“And I learned how to use Dad’s woodworking tools! And he’s going to help me make a table next week!”

“Great, but I meant with the math test…”

“Oh dear… that’s tomorrow! I better go study!”