The unusual year

 The clock in the school bus alerted them 3:40 pm as James alighted from the school bus and dashed into his home,crushing dry leaves underneath on the way as he hurried his steps. He pushed the door open and located his mum in the kitchen, immediately he sighted her he started

"I'm home"

"Sure you are"Mrs Smith looked at him,assimilating his facial display and said "What's the joy all about?"

"It's our summer holiday"

"Cool" his mum said and covered the pot she is using in preparing their lunch before continuing

"So what are your plans" she asked the grade 8 scholar

James aura suddenly changed as he took his seat on the kitchen dinning chair before answering

"It's been an unusual year......"

"Hmmm...so how does that relate to your plans?"

"It really affects it....my plan is to go to the beach but I dare not ..don't want my fears to be executed"

"Your fears that...?"

"The water may suddenly you know.."he did not complete his statement before arising from his seat to go,realizing his mum will think him stupid

"Ok...tell me some of the unusual things"

James stopped and started

"One..the corona virus came and caused a total lockdown around the world,thank God it wasn't too long...something that has not happened before. Two...I engaged in physical combat with a girl...I've never thought of doing that. Three...My school fees increased drastically by 40 percent...who does that .." Mrs Smith interfered

"Your dad got that"

"I know...but this year is unusual Mum...let me change into something else" James said as he headed to his room

THE NEXT DAY- 8:15

Mr Smith took a look at his wrist watch as he hurried to the dinning,for his breakfast,something he do not like missing. He smiled at his wife,whose back was turned to him, because she already had his breakfast on the table.

"What's the hurry all about?" Mrs Smith asked because of the screech of Mr Smith chair preparation,seeming unconcerned 

"I'm late" he said,with a mouthful of bread,alongside fried eggs. On hearing this Mrs Smith checked the wall clock in the kitchen and replied

"Isn't your resumption time 9:00 am?"

"Sure..."Mr Smith halted to swallow part of his meal before continuing "I have somewhere to go"

"So when is your leave?" Mrs Smith asked the Mr but James interrupted the answer

"Morning sir and morning mum?" James answered as he alighted the staircase that create access to the upper part of their duplex where his room is located

"Xup" Mr Smith replied casually(very fond of James because he is the only child of Mr and Mrs Smith) but Mrs Smith did it well

"How was your night?"

"Fine ma" James answered as he opened the freezer and retrieved a keg of milk. He got a cup and poured himself a cupful

"So...what are your plans for the summer?" Mr Smith asked as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin

James returned the keg of milk and took his seat infront of his dad before replying

"Staying at home"

"Why that?" Mr Smith asked,busy with his shirt

"He said the year is unusual" Mrs Smith assisted,as she diced potatoes for the meat pie she wants to make

"How?" Mr Smith asked as he stood up to go

"Just unusual....don't bother yourself about it" James answered and drank from his cup.

HOURS LATER

Ben ignored his mum's rant and headed outside,he entered his dad's garage and located his bicycle. He unlocked it,looked up and the sighed before kicking.

As he sped off,just to fell the summer air and to visit his girlfriend he decided to visit James and tell him about his parents behaviour,so he made a disposition of location and headed for James'.

He arrived there in few minutes and layed his bike sideways on the floor,on their porch. He looked around the compound and then knocked on the James',and in 1,2,3,4 seconds the door was replaced by Mrs Smith beautiful face

"Ben,hi"

"I'm fine ma...Is James in?" Ben asked

"Yes" Mrs Smith answered and "come in" she said,walking back into the house

"James" she called "Ben is here" she finished and sat down to the TV.

James footsteps were heard coming down his stairs and he was with them in no time. Ben was already seated,waiting for the arrival of his best friend

"Whatsup bro?" James said as he exchanged pleasantries with Ben.

"I'm good ..."Ben answered and continued "Can we go for a walk?"

"Sure" James anwered and said "let me change into something else" he was still in his pyjamas.He dashed upstairs and left Mrs Smith the chance to question Ben

"So how are your parents?" Mrs Smith asked looking at Ben who was standing,waiting for James.

"They are fine" Ben answered few seconds later

"Why the wait?"Mrs Smith asked with concern writing on her face

"Nothing about it"Ben assured

"Hope here is nothing wrong?" Mrs Smith threw,but James arrival denied her of an answer

"We're good" James said to Ben and then to mum "Well be back"

"Ok dear... stay safe"

"Okay ma" Ben replied but James didn't,he has replied to that order thousands of times,so he does not see no need to compete with a new comer(Ben)

As they closed the door behind them Ben told James

"I brought my bike,so I'll suggest you get yours" on hearing this James halted and joked

"But you said we should go for a walk"

"Yeah...they're similar". Ben informed before James rushed to their back yard and fetched his BMX bike and pedalled to Ben as they rode off.

Few minutes into the ride was talk about how the previous term in school was(they are classmates),but James suddenly looked into the sky and noticed a change in the weather

"There you go again,2020" he said aloud and Ben was informed

"What about it?"

"Don't you notice a change in the weather?" James said,halting his bike under a tree and resting one hand on the bike control and one leg on the pedal,but the other hand was dangling while the other leg maintained balance.

Ben looked up and realized what James said. A summer day is supposed to be bright and sunny not dull(though still like a summer day) and a little bit cloudy.

"This is abnormal" Ben confirmed as he removed a leaf that fell on his head from the tree above. He immediately brought out his smartphone and checked the weather forecast and it was 9°C.

"Like it's about to snow" Ben said.

"Sure....that's 2020 for you" James said and pedalled on. Ben kept up and started the conversation he established their time out for

"My parents are making me almost tired of living" Ben said

"Are they still condemning you?" James asked, halting his bike and posturing as before

"Yeah man"Ben answered with a sad face "My mum made me leave the house today...I'm frustrated"

"Didn't you show them you special talent?" James asked

"Special talent....I should show them that my special talent is typing?....they won't give a f**k about it"

"They would...since the condemnation is on talent... typing fast is also a talent" James said

"You are not getting this" Ben said and pedalled,and James joined.

James played with his dinner and got the attention of his mum

"Why are you not eating?" Mrs Smith asked

James looked at her and then at his Dad,smiled at the thought that they love and respect him before facing his food,without replying his mum.

He took a spoon of his dinner of marshed potatoes and some sidekicks.

He finally couldn't take it in and he voiced out

"Is it right for parents to condemn their children?" He asked no one in particular,but Mrs Smith answered immediately

"No...on no ground should a parent condemn a child"

"Good...but can condemnation bring out the best in a person?" James asked again,completely forgetting his food as he laid the spoon down in the plate

"In some cases, few cases.. but in most it brings out the worst" Mr Smith answered

"Ok...thanks". On completing this James looked out the window and noticed some white dots on the window.He looked closely and dropped the spoon he already held back into the plate and aroused to check the scene out.

As he got to the window he slid it up,and lo and behold it was snowing,he closed it back

"What's wrong?" Mrs Smith asked

"It's snowing" James replied and made for the door,to check outside

"What do you mean by that?"Mr Smith asked 

"It's snowing" James answered,turning to them and then to his goal,on opening the door his thought was confirmed

"It's snowing"

"In summer?!" Mrs Smith exclaimed

"Sure...I told you,it's an unusual year"