The Silver Compass By: Sean Roberts
Author's Note: Please send feedback to seanr_13@yahoo.ca It is very much appreciated.
Snow Men
Matthew did not show up for dinner or for breakfast. Michael sat in the living room with his parents. His mother, every few minutes, picked up the phone to call him. His phone never rang. Matthew did not call home. Michael was not worried but he waited with his parents because Matthew had waited for him. It was the fair thing to do.
At ten o'clock both of his parents called in sick at work. And then Michael's phone rang. "Blocked Number" flashed on the display.
"Hello?"
"Hi Michael. It's me." Sarah. "I just convinced Matt to let me call. He's with me. He's been with me the whole night. He's fine. I hope your parents haven't been too worried."
"All fucking night? Across the street?" He glanced at his parents. They were looking confusedly at him. His anger hung up the phone without saying good bye. "He's at Sarah's. He went there for...some reason, I don't even know. I told you not to worry." Michael ran out of the house. In less than a minute he was furiously ringing Sarah's doorbell. She opened the door wearing pyjamas, covered in snow men.
"What is it?" she said angrily.
"You're fucking my brother," Michael said, taking a step backwards. He was shocked. The glow of her face, the state of her hair -- he knew what she had been doing. And he could see it in her eyes. He could see that she had not been alone the night before.
"For crying out loud Michael I don't believe this. You won't have a relationship with me but you'll get mad at me because you think I'm having one with Matt."
"I don't think..."
"I know that Michael. That's why you're here."
"You didn't let me finish! I know! I know you're fucking him. Don't bullshit me about relationships! You would never date Matthew. He's an idiot. He's never read a book in his life; he listens to gangster rap. You're fucking him because he looks like me."
"You look like me you fucker," Matthew said, walking up behind Sarah. He was wearing the pants he had on the day before. His shirt was upstairs on Sarah's bed. "I'm older than you. Now fuck off and leave her alone."
"Right. It's good that you have your boyfriend to stick up for you. And he's two minutes older than me so he can kick my arse. But just so you know, so that you don't get hurt, Sarah, is that your boyfriend sucks cock at night. And why the fuck, Matthew, are you walking around without a shirt? Don't your parents have anything to say about that Sarah?"
"They're at work. And he's not you Michael. If all you're going to do is insult him, and me, then I think you should leave."
"I think he should leave. He has no business, f- fucking you!"
"You told me to," Matthew said.
"I didn't tell you to fuck her I told you to date her and that was only to shut you the fuck up!"
"Get out of here Michael. Right now," said Sarah.
"No."
"Then I'm going to call the police."
"Good. Do it."
"I think it's adorable that you think I won't." The false sweetness in her voice sent him away.
"Fine," he said. "I'm going. Fuck you both." He did not go home. Instead he sat in his car and called Cameron.