The Parting of the Ways

By Albert Andrews

The parting of the Ways is a natural corollary of the first story in the book,
"Short Stories for Coffee break." A young girl going out to a foreign country to study. What else does she do. How much does she divulge to her parents. Does a genetic inheritance play some part in her ultimate behaviour? Is there a knight in shining armour standing by? There is tense drama which will keep you turning page after page. You could not predict some of the things which take place. Bridgette's aim is to hurt someone, and she would employ any means to do so.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491827925

Albert Andrews

Albert Andrews is a retired gentlleman, who now lives in Trinidad and Tobago. He is a Biologist and a Microbiologist with a P.hd. Although he was born in Trinidad, he migrated to England where he lived for a long time. He is the proud father of two children. He also has four grand children. He attended Thames Polytechnic in London and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. As part of his evolving career, he lectured on a part-time basis at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. He has been employed at Unilever and Nestle (Trinidad). His working experiences took him to several parts of the far East, Europe and the Caribbean. Albert Andrews, B.Sc; M.Sc; P.hd.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Separation

Bridgette was a pleasant girl, whose demeanour according to her father George was due to the Convent school which she attended. She was never restricted in her activities and she grew up to be a well rounded student.

When she chose to attend university in Europe, one of her most difficult tasks was to tell her father.

Bridgette took his hand one day and asked, Dad, would you resent me if I went away to university? You gave me the best principles to live by. Would you now give me time and opportunity to live those principles? Her father did not answer for a while, and then he asked, Why can’t you attend the local university? She was able to convince him that to her, the standard was questionable, and anyway, there would be more opportunities for her if she went abroad. George provisionally gave his approval and asked for all details regarding the school of her choice.

George was a decent man, but he guarded his daughter jealously. He asked for some time to digest what he had just been told.

He went off his food, and as her mother told her, he would lie in bed, restless and not sleeping. George went through the next few weeks talking to himself, questioning the wisdom of his own decision.

Who would be there to make sure she is not led astray? Students tend to be clannish. What if she found it difficult to make friends and became lonely?

What if she got in with the wrong crowd. Her life so far has been sheltered.

Would she remember to go cautiously? Above all, would the new found independence and zest for life cause her to detract from her studies?

Then there were the male students. Bridgette was pretty and no doubt would be a magnet for the boys. George almost hated Bridgette for putting him through this.

Why didn’t I have all boys? he shouted one day.

Because no one would realize what a loving Dad you are. He turned to see Bridgette standing behind him, with tears in her eyes. Dad, she said, I prefer not to go than to see you so miserable and unhappy.

No, he replied. You must go. I’m just practicing to come to grips with your absence.

As the date for Bridgette’s departure grew closer, George began telling himself that he was Dad, and Dads don’t cry. However, he felt sure he would be hard pressed not to. As the plane began taxing down the runway for takeoff, George felt his chest would burst, so great was his effort to hold back the tears. To prevent himself making noises, he began biting his shirt collar.

When his wife gave him a tissue and said, Wipe your eyes. It was then that he was aware of the tears streaming down his cheeks.

When the plane left, he bowed his head and wept uncontrollably.

As they left the airport, his wife said to him, This is your first lesson in letting go. But tell me, what is the matter with your shirt collar dear?

When George looked, he realised that he had bitten it off without knowing.

Chapter 2

A Shift In Loyalties

George took quite a while to compose himself after the plane left. He began feeling a bit ashamed since many people saw him crying so bitterly. Added to that, he had bitten off his shirt collar. They could not find the piece of collar, and his wife did not spare him the torment of occasional ribbing.

Cough dear, make sure it is not stuck in your throat, and I don’t expect you’ll want much to eat when we get home. A shirt collar takes some time to digest."

George took it all in stride, and every now and then, he would shake his head as if in disbelief.

My baby is gone, he said aloud once. I think I will stay up until she phones.

When his wife laughed, he became annoyed, grumbling that she did not know how he felt.

After saying goodnight to his two other kids, he settled into his favourite armchair.

Aren’t you coming to bed? Margaret his wife asked.

No! he simply replied. I may fall asleep and miss her call. I don’t want that to happen.

Margaret reminded him that the time difference of five hours meant that when her plane landed, he would be preparing to leave for work. That shook George up a bit. He looked at her and asked, Should I take the day off? Margaret looked at her husband in disbelief. When she next spoke to him, it was sharp and harsh.

George, she fairly shouted. You’re taking this a bit too far. You’re a grown man for God’s sake, not a child. Now pull yourself together and go to bed. Bridgette will call when she’s able to.

Without a word, George bent his head and moved to the bedroom.

When he got home from work the next day, his first words were to no one in particular, and yet to everyone. Has she called yet? The two other kids looked at each other and shouted in chorus, Good afternoon Dad.

His shame was apparent. He went over to them, hugged them and said,

I’m sorry kids, but your sister is on my mind. I did not mean to disrespect you.

Margaret then said, Yes she called. She is safe. Her roommate is friendly, but she feels the cold. She said she will try to call tonight to speak with you. There are a lot of students with too few public phones.

We must send her some money to purchase a mobile phone, George said. "But how could she call tonight? She is five hours ahead of us. I don’t like her staying out late just to talk to me. She always does things the hard way.

The next few weeks went by in a blur. Phone calls switched to e-mails, and George was finally satisfied that his baby had settled, and was in good hands. He began telling everyone who would listen that his decision to send his daughter overseas was correct and brilliant.

As with everything, the wounds of departure healed, and George’s household settled down. Their acceptance of Bridgette’s absence merged smoothly with the general flow of things. He simply assumed that she was healthy, and her studies were progressing satisfactorily. However, the end of her first academic year, and her impending return home on a holiday, brought on sharp awareness of her absence.

One day, George lost himself in thoughts of his daughter. He began to think of her beyond the aspects of a student.

He thought that it would be pushing things in the right direction if he introduced her to Frank, the son of his doctor. Frank was two years older than Bridgette and was quite a successful accountant. He smiled to himself in satisfaction.

When Bridgette arrived, the assessment began immediately. The way she looked, the way she dressed, her body language and her general attitude.

George thought that she had become sophisticated and slightly aloof. When a few of her former friends dropped by to see her, George noticed that she was more accommodating with the girls. On more than one occasion, he played host to her male friends, after she had little time for them. Being the man and father that he was, George did not miss the opportunity to ask, Why the bias?

His daughter looked at him and said, Dad, quite frankly, I now find boys boring. They were that way before I left and they are even more so now. Sorry Dad, but all they ever talk about are their cars and their conquests. I have outgrown them Dad.

George’s mouth fell open. His daughter had just delivered her judgement of her former male friends with such contempt, that he was left bewildered.

Still, he did not lose faith in her. She had lost shyness, and matched him at what ever level or subject he wished to discuss. He knew that before she left home again, the time would come when he would broach the subject of her social life.

He began constantly gauging the mood and the timing. His task was made easier when Selwyn, her former boyfriend dropped by one day. Selwyn was a pleasant young man, who in the past, mingled with the family as a whole whenever he dropped by. This time was no exception. He chatted for a while with George and Margaret, said hello to the two kids and headed for Bridgette’s door. He knocked once, and knocked again before he got a reply.

He went in but was ordered to leave the door ajar. When he moved forward to hug her, Bridgette extended both her arms in front of her and took a step backwards. Selwyn was taken by surprise.

What’s the matter love? I only want to hug you. After all, it’s been a long time.

Not long enough, replied Bridgette.

Pardon? replied Selwyn still confused. What’s this