Chapter 4
Four
ALEX
It’s been almost a week that I’ve been in East View, and I’m not any closer to figuring out what happened to Isa. I’ve revisited all the places she used to hang out and where we searched all those years ago. I keep hoping I will run into her on the street, in a restaurant, or even on campus—but it’s as if she never existed. Honestly, if I hadn’t actually met her and held her in my arms, I would question whether or not she was real.
The first week of my new job is almost over, and so far I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve met so many bright young kids. The most surprising of them being Grace Summers. Despite thinking that she’d cheated, I’ve come to the understanding that she’s incredibly smart.
A cheery knock pulls me out of my thoughts.
“Come in,” I call out, and the door opens, revealing Grace— her laptop in her hands. Speak of the devil.
“Mr. Schwartz, can you help me with this program? I keep getting errors in the coding.” She stands on the threshold like she’s waiting for an invitation.
“Sure. Let’s see what you got.” I motion for her to come in. I’m surprised she needs help, considering she’s so far ahead with everything computer-related.
“I’m doing the assignment where you have to write a program to calculate how many months it will take to save enough money to buy a house.” She sits on the chair on the other side from me and puts her laptop on my desk.
“Grace, we haven’t even gotten to this assignment yet. You’re pushing really far ahead.”
“I finished everything from this and next week already; I just want to learn as much as I can while I’m here,” she says, enthusiastically.
I lean forward and push her laptop closed causing her mouth to drop open. “When’s the last time you actually acted like a kid?”.
“Umm, I don’t know.” She shrugs a shoulder.
“Well, this can wait. There are no classes today. Today, you get to be a child.”
“Why?” She purses her lips and crosses her arms.
“Because I spent years of my life doing nothing but sitting behind a computer. It’s not as great as it’s cracked up to be. Come on,” I get up and walk toward the door. “There’s an ice cream shop on campus, I’m taking you there.” For some reason, I feel like we were destined to meet each other, but I can’t put my finger on why. Maybe it’s because she needs a positive role model in her life, like so many of the teenagers I mentor.
When we get to the ice cream shop on the other side of campus, Grace walks up to the counter and looks at all of the flavors. “You can have anything you want,” I tell her.
“What can I get for you?” the lady behind the counter asks. I nod at Grace to order.
“Two scoops of mint chocolate chip with strawberries and cookie dough.” I can’t help but smile at her order. “I know everyone thinks I’m weird for liking mint chocolate chip, but it’s my favorite, and the strawberries mixed in make it perfect.”
“And for you, sir,” the server asks me as she puts Grace’s order on the counter.
“I’ll have the same,” Grace narrows her eyes at me, and I shrug. “I don’t think you are weird at all. It’s my favorite, too.”
“Everyone says it’s like eating toothpaste, but they don’t know what they’re missing” She takes her ice cream from the counter.
“I happen to agree.” I take mine and sit at a table in the corner. “What got you interested in programming? Do your parents work with computers?” I’m curious about where Grace has got her knowledge from.
“Well, it’s something I’ve been interested in for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been interested in both the hardware and software of computers. My mom let me build my own, but it took a while to persuade her. She says I got all this from my dad, I wouldn’t know though, I’ve never met him.” Her voice has a hint of sadness.
“I’m sorry, Grace. I didn’t meet my father until I was an adult, so I know how it feels to wonder who and where they are.”
“Did he know you existed?” She cocks her head to the side.
“He did. He just had better things to do than meet me. I do have two younger sisters through him. We have become pretty close over the years.” I’m not sure why I am telling Grace my life story.
“My dad was apparently a bad guy. My mom refused to tell him about me, and she still refuses to tell me who he is. She’s afraid I’ll look for him, and she’s right I definitely would.” She takes a bite and then points her spoon at me. “I know I am named after his sister, but I don’t really know anything else. I often wonder what he would think if he did meet me. Would he like me? Would he be happy about me being into computers? I hope he would be proud to have a kid like me,” she sniffles.
“Grace, you’re an amazing kid. I don’t think there’s anyone on this planet who wouldn’t be proud to call you their daughter. If I’m ever lucky enough to have one, I hope she’s like you.” I try to reassure her.
After a long pause I change the subject to what I hope will be a happier one. “So, what other hobbies do you have besides computers?”
“Well.” She tilts her head from side to side as she thinks. “I like to draw but I’m not very good at it.”
“Both of my sisters have the artistic genes. I can’t even draw decent looking stick figures.” I grumble which makes Grace laugh. “Do you have any siblings?”
“No, I’m an only child. I have an older cousin we lived with when I was younger. So that was kind of like having a brother.”
“I got to experience the best of both worlds. I grew up an only child and then met my sisters when I was an adult.” I scoop a bite of cookie dough out of my bowl.
“Where are you from, Mr. Schwartz? You have a really unusual accent.” She talks around her bite and looks at me.
“I’m from a small town in Germany named Ewigherz. What about you? Are you from here?”
“That’s so cool!” She sets her spoon down and gives me her full attention. “I just found out my dad is from Germany, too. I live about three hours away in a boring little town called Bellevue.”
Her dads from Germany; her aunt is named Freedom. If I didn’t know any better, I would think she was mine. It’s been thirteen years; she would be the right age. Her last name is Summers, though. If I did have a child, I would assume they would have Isa’s last name or the fake name I gave her.
“So, is Summers your dad’s name or your mother’s?” I hope I don’t sound like a creep asking her all of these questions about her family.
“It’s my mom’s name. I don’t know my dad’s name. She won’t talk about him, and she almost didn’t let me come here because she hates him so much. My aunt Amanda helped me talk her into it.” She lets out a sigh.
If I remember correctly, Isa said she was an only child, so this can’t be her. I must have officially lost it. I’m trying to make connections where there are obviously none.
“Is your mom coming to the parent events on Saturday?” I know it’s not Isa, but I should at least meet her and put my mind at ease.
“Yeah, she has to work, but she’s going to try her best.” She finishes her ice cream.
“All right, well, I look forward to meeting her. We should probably head back, though.” I grab our trash and clear it away.
“Now, will you help me with the assignment?” she pleads.
“Do you really want to spend your day off coding?” I ask, raising my eyebrow.
“Yes!”
“Okay, fine,” I sigh. “I’ll help you with the assignment, but only if you promise not to spend all of your time here on your computer.”
“Deal!”