Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman Read Free

business frequently, he wanted everyone available to do things together when he was in town. My job encroached on that time, so he asked me multiple times to quit. It was tempting, but when he was gone, I would get so bored alone at the house since Luke was rarely there. Plus, I liked having my own money to spend as I wanted. But, today I wished I’d taken him up on his offer.
    The crowded hallway was already buzzing with weekend plans, even though it was only Tuesday. I had plans. I was scheduled to work.
    I shoved my books into my locker and slammed it shut.
    “Where’d you park?” I asked Sam as she did the same; her locker just a few down from mine.
    “I got a spot in the front today,” she said in a teasing tone.
    “Oh? Well, I’m in the back today, so I guess I’ll see ya tomorrow?”
    I was a tad jealous because she’d be home by the time I left the back parking lot, but that’s my fault for getting to school at the last minute.
    “Yeah. See ya,” she called from behind me and we headed in separate directions.
    * * *
    We lived close to my school in a quaint three bedroom, two-story, Cape Cod home, the cutest house on the block. It had a lot of character with navy blue shutters, a large front porch and white picket fence covered in fuchsia-colored climbing roses.
    I parked at my usual spot on the street and walked up the cobble stone path to the front door. Luke and Dad were already home, hanging out in the kitchen catching up after Dad’s weeklong business trip.
    “Welcome home, Dad,” I said giving him a big hug.
    My dad, a very handsome man in his early fifties, was tall and trim and slightly balding with salt and pepper hair. At the moment, he was still wearing his ‘monkey suit’, as he liked to call it and appeared tired.
    “Thanks. Good to be home, Jules,” he said affectionately while he flipped through a huge stack of mail.
    “You guys still going to Mexican food for dinner?” I asked, slumping down at the kitchen table already knowing the answer.
    “We were talking about it,” Dad said.
    “Oh, I wish I wasn’t working.”
    “Just call in sick,” Luke said as he leaned against the counter, his mouth full of food.
    He wore his favorite torn jeans and faded black tee-shirt, eating a bowl of cereal. Every time he leaned over to take a bite, his black hair fell into his eyes and he had to brush it aside.
    Luke was four years older than me and still lived at home. He was taking a few courses at the local junior college unsure of what he wanted to do ‘ when he grew up’ and currently unemployed. So, for him to give me ‘work’ advice was a bit ludicrous.
    “I can’t do that,” I said annoyed he’d even suggested it. “They are depending on me to be there tonight.”
    “There’s a simple solution to this,” Dad said, looking at me with kind but weathered eyes. He could give me his full attention now that he’d pulled out all the bills and tossed the rest.
    “Dad, we’ve talked about this before.”
    “It’s just that you’re only young once in your life and you’ll have plenty of time in your life to work,” he said matter-of-factly. “Actually, there’s only one person in this room that should be working but isn’t, but I’m not pressing the matter since he’s still in school.”
    My dad’s eyes stayed glued to me, but Luke instantly got interested in rinsing out his bowl, humming to himself. I chuckled. It seemed comical for a second, until I took to heart what my dad said.
    “I know,” I mumbled, biting my lip. “Maybe I should quit.”
    My dad walked over and hugged me again. His disappointment mixed with mine and I found it difficult to stick to my decision, until another idea came to mind.
    “Maybe I can get off early.”
    “I’d like that,” he said as he let go of me and took his bags upstairs.
    If I left early, at least I wouldn’t miss the whole evening and work wouldn’t be upset with me. I sat for a few minutes mulling it over while Luke