''A Morning Errand''
*A short story by Gabriel Freeman
[email protected]
424.789.4668*
A Note: in interacting with this story, your path will at times have clear forks, where you understand where your actions might lead. There will also be points where you will be asked to move forward without knowing exactly what you are choosing, based solely on what you reacted to most strongly.
On a single playthrough, you will not be presented with all of the information that you might feel is pertinent. As a series of vignettes, you may also find that there isn't a satisfying conclusion. In this way, art imitates life.
Hope you enjoy.
Please click the [[blue->Alyssa wakes up]] writing to continue.
Derek reaches into a cardboard box labeled ‘''Important - KEEP''’ that sits on the dining table in front of him. Two other boxes sit on the floor next to the table.
“Morning, Daddy,” Alyssa says as she rubs her eye and waddles into the room.
Derek looks up, and snaps his hand back. He realizes how similar the movement is to when he caught Alyssa taking from the cookie jar. He quickly composes himself.
“Hey there, Lys, what are you doing up so early?” Derek checks his watch to find it is no longer early, 9:11am. “Oh shoot, here let me get you breakfast.”
* [[Derek makes her the healthier option.]]
* [[Derek gives her the sweeter option.]]
(set: $addedtime to 0)
Derek quickly walks into the kitchen and pulls out a box of off-brand Cheerios from the small pantry. He prepares a bowl and brings it back to the dining table. Alyssa is sitting in her usual spot next to his. She’s tracing the woodgrain with her fingers.
“Here you go. Now eat up, I have to use your school’s late-start today to run an errand.”
Alyssa looks at the bowl and pouts. “But I wanted Sugar Blasters.”
* [[Derek tells her why she needs to eat healthy.]]
* [[Derek tells her these are the rules.]]
(set: $cereal to 'healthy')
Derek quickly walks into the kitchen and pulls out a colorful box of Sugar Blasters from the small pantry. He prepares a crackling bowl and brings it back to the dining table. Alyssa is sitting in her usual spot next to his. She’s tracing the woodgrain with her fingers.
“Here you go. Now eat up, I have to use your school’s late-start today to run an errand.”
Alyssa beams. "Yay! Sugar Blasters!"
As Alyssa gulps up bites of cereal, Derek sits back down and hastily reaches into the box again. He sneezes as he pulls out another manila folder and [[opens->There's the bonds]] it.
(set: $cereal to 'sugar')
(set: $addedtime to it - 1)
“You can’t have Sugar Blasters all the time, otherwise you won’t grow big and strong like me. Batman has to eat healthy to have the energy to save the day.”
“Okay…” Alyssa pushes the cereal around before bringing a spoon up to her mouth.
Derek sits back down and hastily reaches into the box again. He sneezes as he pulls out another manila folder and [[opens->There's the bonds]] it.
(set: $reinforcement to 'pos')
"Sugar Blasters are a weekend cereal, so no you can't have any today. Now come on, you aren't going to be late for school again."
Alyssa continues to pout but turns to her bowl and starts slowly eating.
Derek sits back down and hastily reaches back into the box. He sneezes as he pulls out another manila folder and [[opens->There's the bonds]] it.
(set: $reinforcement to 'neg')
(set: $addedtime to it + 1)
Derek looks out the window. He got a good parking spot last night, right out front. If they move quickly, the landlady might not even see him.
“Okay honey, let’s go.”
Derek ushers Alyssa out the door, and turns to lock it. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees movement in the next apartment’s window.
Derek locks up and prepares to take the stairs two at a time to meet Alyssa at the bottom.
“Hey!”
* [[Derek ignores his landlady.]]
* [[Derek turns to speak with his landlady.]]
Derek pretends he doesn’t know the landlady’s exclamation is directed at him as he reaches the street. (if: $cereal is 'sugar')[Alyssa is confusedly pointing over his shoulder.
"Daddy, what does Rhonda want?"
](else:)[Alyssa is staring over his shoulder with eyes like saucers. ]He takes her by the shoulder and, head bent, briskly steps to the car.
“Derek! Don’t you walk away from me!”
Derek turns his head to the side but keeps his eyes down as he helps Alyssa buckle into the car seat. “Sorry Rhonda I have to get Alyssa to school! I’ll talk to you later!”
“Derek! Your rent is two weeks late already! DEREK!”
“I’m taking care of it!”
Derek swings himself into the front seat and slams the door. He fumbles for his keys and sticks them into the ignition. The sedan sputters to life.
As he pulls away he sees in his mirror the imposing shape of Rhonda on her front steps, legs apart and arms akimbo. Twisting the mirror, He sees (if: $cereal is 'sugar')[Alyssa fidgeting uncomfortably in her seat.](else:)[Alyssa’s shoulders are up protecting her head, her face down as she stares at her tightly grasped hands.]
* [[Derek focuses on driving.]]
* [[Derek comforts Alyssa.]]
"Hi! Rhonda, what's going on?" Derek says as he turns to his landlady. He looks down the stairs. "Alyssa, stay where I can see you, okay?"
"Derek," Rhonda says, resting a hand on the railing. "You know you are two weeks late with rent, right?"
"Right! Yes. Yeah, I know." Derek stammers. He rubs his eyes. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm taking care of a few things today and I should be able to get it to you tomorrow. It's just...I've been sick, and I have an interview today, and I just need to get Alyssa to school..." He [[trails off->Rhonda's deal]] as he leans on the railing himself, staring at the steps.
Derek shuts off the car and cracks a window. Placing a hand on his chest, he reassures himself the savings bond is still there. With a deep breath, he plasters a smile on his face and turns to his daughter in the back seat.
“I just have to go in and drop something off, all right? Should only take a minute.”
“All right…” Alyssa mumbles, looking over the edge of the window and (if: $cereal is 'sugar')[fidgeting](else:)[rocking] in her seat.
* [[Derek decides to make sure the trip is quick.->Get out of car]]
* [[Derek takes time to find something for Alyssa to do while she waits.]]
Derek readjusts the mirror so he can see the road.
He rotates his shoulders, takes a deep breath, and taps his fingers on the steering wheel.
Derek just wants to get this morning [[over->Arrive at bank]] with.
(set: $addedtime to it - 1)
“Hey, it’s going to be all right. She’s just a little mad. We’ll be all right.”
(if: $reinforcement is 'neg')["Okay." Alyssa folds her arms and doesn't look at him.
The pit in Derek's stomach gets deeper as he turns his attention back to the road.](else:)[“Uh-huh,” Alyssa murmurs.]
[[`***`->Arrive at bank]]
Derek wonders what to give her to pass the time.
* [[Derek gives her a video game.]]
* [[Derek gives her a coloring book.]]
(set: $appeased to 1)
(set: $addedtime to it + 2)
Derek rummages through his glove box, pushes aside napkins and gum and pulls out his decade-old Game Boy. He turns it on, and hands it back to (if: $cereal is 'healthy')[eager](if: $cereal is 'sugar')[grasping] hands. Alyssa stares into the light and (if: $cereal is 'healthy')[leans on her knees](if: $cereal is 'sugar')[immediately kicks her feet against the passenger seat], eyes and mouth wide. She’s already in another world.
Derek wishes he could [[escape->Get out of car]] his problems so easily.
(set: $activity to 'game')
Derek rummages among the pile of debris on the passenger seat and hands her a dinosaur coloring book and a well-used box of crayons. (if: $cereal is 'healthy')[Alyssa bounces up and down, and immediately sits down cross-legged to work.](if: $cereal is 'sugar')[Alyssa fidgets and sprawls across the backseat, a crayon in each hand.]
Derek's small smile doesn't quite reach his tired eyes. He wishes he was still that eager to do [[anything->Get out of car]].
(set: $activity to 'color')
“I’ll be right back.”
Derek steps out, closes the door behind him, and locks up the rusty sedan.
*Honk*
He checks his watch, and pulls a half-used tissue from his sleeve. He looks for a clean corner, and blows his already raw red nose. He folds over the tissue, and sticks it in his back pocket.
Derek looks up at the sign for the local branch of his bank. A mosquito-like buzz comes from the old light, perceptibly flickering in the pale morning.
Derek [[heads indoors->Entering the bank]] and out of the cold.
He enters the building and is greeted by sickly fluorescents and an already twisting line of slumped customers. He double-checks his watch. 9:(print: 34 + $addedtime)am now. He pulls out the bond.
He reads it again as he wanders into line. He eyes the crumpled slip of paper with its frayed edge.
* [[Derek thinks the teller will probably accept it like this.]]
* [[Derek thinks he should try to clean it up.]]
It's a treasury bond after all. It's signed, it has all the information, even if there are a few creases in it. And the rip doesn't keep you from reading anything.
Well if they don't take it, maybe it's a sign.
[[`* * *`->never enough tellers]]
Derek fingers a small rip and tries to smooth it out. He flattens the bond against his leg, rubbing it back and forth.
He feels eyes on him. He looks up to see a stiff woman glancing at him over her shoulder. He gives her a sheepish smile, which she doesn’t return as she tilts her head forward again. He takes another look at the bond.
Shoot.
His signature looks blurred. He should have been more careful carrying the darn thing.
Well if they don’t take it, maybe it's a sign.
[[`* * *`->never enough tellers]]
There are never enough tellers.
Derek checks his watch again. 9:(print: 40 + $addedtime)am. Alyssa has to be in class by 10:00 on Wednesdays, and he's already had a meeting with her teacher about how often she's been late.
Maybe he should just leave.
* [[Derek stays in line.]]
* [[Derek steps out of line.]]
Derek anxiously shifts his stance. He coughs into his elbow, and sniffs.
Derek reminds himself why he should take this money out. But it doesn't keep the feeling that he's doing something terrible at bay for long.
* [[Derek focuses on the benefits.]]
* [[Derek focuses on his misgivings.]]
He can't do it. No. It's *her* college fund. It's not his money, it's hers. And her grandparents', and her godparents', and her mom's, may she rest in peace.
He may have set it up, and put most of the money in, but it's hers.
(if: $rhonda is 1)[Maybe he'll figure out another way, if Rhonda's giving him until next month.](else:)[He'll figure something out, he knows he can. Worst comes to worst, it's not like they'll lose the apartment right away, either. Derek has started reading up about 'Squatters' Rights' and it seems to him like they might be able to stay there for a year even if they stopped paying rent altogether.
His landlady might not even want to bother with it.]He feels the eyes of people in line follow him as he steps back [[out->Early exit]] into the cold.
(set: $addedtime to it - 5)
*tap tap*
Derek snaps his head around. A middle-aged man with a walrus mustache stabs a finger towards the end of the row of tellers, where a woman is looking towards him with tired eyes and waving a hand lazily through the air.
Derek bites his lip and steps [[forward->the teller]].
He has to get the rent. He has to. If he doesn’t, they’re both screwed. Especially Alyssa. She’s never lived anywhere else.
The bonds were never supposed to be just a college fund. They’re a safety net, for anything that could happen.
Losing the apartment would hit her hard. And he can’t keep asking her grandma for help. Not again.
There will still be plenty left over, and that will still accrue interest. He’ll reinvest with the next few coupons he gets from the other bonds every few months. It’ll be okay. And he’s got an interview later today. Derek just needs to get back on his feet. They both need to get back on their feet.
He’ll explain why he did it when she’s [[older->tapped]].
It's *her* college fund. It's not his money, it's hers. And her grandparents', and her godparents', and her mom's.
Although it was his idea. Most of the original money was his.
He wishes he could ask Alyssa, but she's too young for him to request her permission.
He could ask for Alyssa's grandma's help again. She's family, even if he hasn't visited in months. But asking for money makes him feel like a leech. He doesn't want her to think of him like that, but he's not sure he prefers feeling like he's taking money from his daughter. (if: $rhonda is 1)[Maybe he'll figure out another way, if Rhonda's giving him until next month.](else:)[
Worst comes to worst, it's not like they'll lose the apartment right away, either. Derek has started reading up about 'Squatters' Rights' and it seems to him like they might be able to stay there for a year even if they stopped paying rent altogether.
His landlady might not even want to bother with it.]
* [[Derek stays in line.->tapped]]
* [[Derek gets out of line.->Step out of line]]
Derek tries to cover up a cough as he approaches the teller. She glances at him over stunningly colored glasses that don't match her dour expression.
Maybe she's nice outside of work.
"What can I help you with this morning?"
* [[Derek came here to redeem the savings bond.]]
* [[Derek can't go through with it.]]
“Hi, uh, yes I’d like to redeem this bond.”
“Of course sir. Please place the bond and your identification in the tray below,” the teller drones, pushing her glasses back so the bright reflection of her computer screen obscures her eyes from view.
Derek unsteadily places the bond and his driver’s license in the slot. He coughs again.
The teller examines the bond and frowns. She adjusts her glasses and sees him for the first time. “Sir, are you aware that redeeming this before five years have passed will mean you would lose the last three months’ interest?”
Derek avoids her gaze and looks toward her computer. “Yes, I am.”
The teller rotates her chair, giving him her full attention. She places her clasped hands on her desk and leans toward him. He glances up to her face. The dour expression is gone, replaced with one of concern. “Sir, are you sure you want to redeem this bond at this time? You don’t have any other, older bonds you might like to redeem instead?”
It’s just one time. It won’t become a regular thing. It won’t.
* [[Derek redeems the bond.]]
* [[Derek can't do it.]]
"I...I'm sorry, I have to go. I'm—sorry." Flustered, Derek steps away from the window. He feels the eyes of the teller and those behind him in line.
He shouldn't have come. He can't use Alyssa's money. He can't bring himself to do it. (if: $rhonda is 1)[With the couple weeks Rhonda gave him, he'll figure out something.](else:)[It just isn't right.]
He steps back [[out->Early exit]] into the cold.
(set: $addedtime to it - 4)
“Yes, this is the one I would like to redeem. And no, I don’t have any older ones.” Derek breaks eye contact. He sniffs again.
The teller leans back in her chair.
* [[Derek waits.]]
* [[Derek asks the teller to hurry up.]]
* [[Derek realizes he can't do it.->Derek can't do it.]]
"I'm sorry. Uh—" Derek moves to leave, before coming back to the window. "Could I get that bond back? Please."
"Of course you can." The teller gently handles the bond. It's almost through the slot. "Sir, are you sure there's nothing I can help you with?"
Derek looks at the bond. Then up at the woman holding it. She's staring up at him, but it feels like she's staring through him. "I...I don't think you can."
She slides the bond through the slot. "Alright. Well, you take care of yourself. Remember that you can talk to any of our agents. You can even set up same day appointments."
"Right. Yes. Thank you." Derek pulls the bond back, grasping it in both hands. He looks down at it. Flustered, Derek steps away from the window. He feels the eyes of the teller and those behind him in line.
He shouldn't have come. He can't use Alyssa's money. He can't bring himself to do it. (if: $rhonda is 1)[With the couple weeks Rhonda gave him, he'll figure out something.](else:)[It just isn't right.]
He steps back [[out->Early exit]] into the cold.
(set: $addedtime to it - 2)
Derek stands there in silence for what feels like an eternity.
“Alright. Let me take care of this for you. By the way, here is a copy of Form 1099-INT for your taxes.” The teller hands Derek the form.
“Thank you.”
“Let me know if there is anything else we can do.”
Derek leans on the counter. “Thanks. That should be it.”
"Would you like this in cash or deposited into your checking account?" the teller asks.
"Cash would be great."
[[`* * *`->exit bank]]
"Look. It's--" Derek checks his watch. "--9:(print: 44 + $addedtime), I have to get my daughter to school by 10 am. Can we hurry this along? Please?" He sniffs.
"Fine. Of course, sir." The teller's expression turns cold again as she reaches under her desk.
"Here is a copy of Form 1099-INT. You'll need it for your taxes.” The teller shoves the form through the slot.
"Thank you," Derek replies as he takes the form.
Staring at her computer screen, the teller snaps back, "Is there anything else I can help you with today?"
Derek drums his fingers on the counter. “No, that should be it.”
"Would you like this in cash or deposited into your checking account?" the teller asks.
"Cash would be great."
[[`* * *`->exit bank]]
Derek pushes open the bank’s front door and is hit in the face with a cold wind that blows through his coat and lingers around his ribs. His nose starts to run again.
He pulls the ratty tissue out of his pocket and wipes his nose before he walks heavily [[back->off to school]] to the car.
*Honk honk*
Derek unlocks the front door and falls into the front seat with a sigh. A weight seems to have been lifted off his shoulders, but the pit in his stomach seems to have grown larger.
(if: $addedtime > 3)[Derek brings up his watch.
"Oh frick."
Derek shoves the key in the ignition and the car's engine sputters to life. Derek pulls out of the parking lot and rushes off to the elementary school.
“How was the bank, Daddy?” Alyssa asks from the back.
"Oh, good honey, it was good. Now let's get you to school.”](else:)[He looks into the back seat.
(if: $activity is 'color')[Alyssa is coloring in a triceratops, its horns a vibrant green. Derek's always surprised how well she stays in the lines. His coloring books when he was a kid were a mess.](else-if: $activity is 'game')[Alyssa is sticking her tongue out while she furiously taps a button.](else:)[Alyssa is kicking the back of the passenger seat as she swerves an imaginary steering wheel and blows a raspberry.] Derek smiles, but his vision is shimmering. He tells himself his eyes are wet because of the wind and his cold.
“How was the bank, Daddy?” Alyssa says distractedly.
“Good, honey. Always good.”
"That's good." (if: $activity is 'game')[Alyssa echoes softly as she keeps playing. "Aww, that one got away."
"You'll get it next time, Lys."](else-if: $activity is 'color')[Alyssa says as she colors the sky red. "Look! It's a sunset!"
Derek turns back to look. "That's great, Lys." He smiles. "I'm so proud of you."](else:)[Alyssa quickly says as she pulls her hands to the right. "Ah! we're crashing!"
"Don't worry, we'll be okay."]
The car’s engine sputters to life. Derek pulls out out of the parking lot and off to the elementary school.]
`* * * * *`
''*End*''
Finally. There they are, the ten savings bonds that he, Alyssa’s grandparents, and her mom—may she rest in peace—had bought Alyssa two years after she was born. He pulls the first one off the top, and the second one comes with it. He peels them apart, crumpling the edges in the process. He folds one, steps quickly to the hall closet to grab his coat and shoves the bond into the breast pocket as he puts it on.
Alyssa (if: $cereal is 'sugar')[kicks her feet from the chair as she laps up the now blue milk.
“Alright, come on Lys. Let’s get you dressed.”](else-if: $reinforcement is 'pos')[dangles her feet from the chair, following the last pieces of cereal around her bowl with her spoon.
“Alright, come on Lys. Let’s get you dressed.”](else:)[still has a quarter of her bowl left and is swirling the now mushy cereal around.
"Come on Lys, finish up quick so we can get you dressed."]
[[`* * *`->Ready to go]]
Rhonda puts her other hand on the railing. "Okay, okay. Look, I don't want you to think of me as the bad guy here, you know? You haven't been across the hall for dinner in over a year. Yes, I am going to need the rent, but I know how hard it's been." Rhonda tentatively puts a hand on his shoulder. "I know how hard...losing her, hit you. It was a long fight but the doctors did everything they could."
"I know." Derek continues to stair at the step.
"Just...can you get it to me by the end of the month?"
Derek exhales a ragged breath. "Yeah. Yes, I can do that."
Rhonda gives him a concerned smile. "Okay. Great. And if you need any help, let me know. Chris can probably help you with any bank stuff you could possibly want." She turns to head back in. "Hey, why don't you and Alyssa come over tomorrow night? Chris and I would love to see you, and I'm sure Alyssa would love to play fetch with Roxy again."
Derek returns the smile. "Yeah, I...we'd like that"
"Great." Rhonda claps her hands together. "Okay! Go get Lys to school!"
"I have to run an errand first, but yes. Thanks Rhonda." Derek starts heading down the stairs and then turns around. "I needed that."
Rhonda waves away his comment. "Hey, I'm here."
[[`* * *`->Arrive at bank]]
(set: $addedtime to it + 2)
(set: $rhonda to 1)
Derek pushes open the bank’s front door and is hit in the face with a cold wind that blows through his coat and lingers around his ribs. His nose starts to run again.
He pulls the ratty tissue out of his pocket and wipes his nose before he walks heavily [[back->Early to school]] to the car.
*Honk honk*
Derek unlocks the front door and falls into the front seat with a sigh. He's going to have figure something out. (if: $rhonda is 1)[He should really talk to Chris about this. Rhonda's right, he knows more about this than anyone Derek has ever met. He'll know what to do. He has to.](else:)[But he has no idea how.]
(if: $addedtime > 3)[Derek brings up his watch.
"Oh frick."
Derek shoves the key in the ignition and the car's engine sputters to life. Derek pulls out of the parking lot and rushes off to the elementary school.
“How was the bank, Daddy?” Alyssa asks from the back.
“Huh? Oh, good honey, it was good.”](else:)[Derek looks into the back seat.
(if: $activity is 'color')[Alyssa is coloring in a triceratops, its horns a vibrant green. Derek's always surprised how well she stays in the lines. His coloring books when he was a kid were a mess.](else-if: $activity is 'game')[Alyssa is sticking her tongue out while she furiously taps a button.](else:)[Alyssa is kicking the back of the passenger seat as she swerves an imaginary steering wheel and blows a raspberry.] Derek smiles, but his vision is shimmering. He tells himself his eyes are wet because of the wind and his cold.
“How was the bank, Daddy?” Alyssa says distractedly.
“Good, honey. Always good.”
"That's good." (if: $activity is 'game')[Alyssa echoes softly as she keeps playing. "Aww, that one got away."
"You'll get it next time, Lys."](else-if: $activity is 'color')[Alyssa says as she colors the sky red. "Look! It's a sunset!"
Derek turns back to look. "That's great, Lys." He smiles. "I'm so proud of you."](else:)[Alyssa quickly says as she pulls her hands to the right. "Ah! we're crashing!"
"Don't worry, we'll be okay."]
The car’s engine sputters to life. Derek pulls out out of the parking lot and off to the elementary school.]
`* * * * *`
''*End*''
"Excuse me. Sorry! Sorry." Flustered, Derek steps out of line. He feels the eyes of those behind. The middle-aged, mustachioed man behind him walks up to a just vacated spot at the window. The man greets the teller with the colorful glasses. His booming laugh rings hollow in Derek's chest.
He shouldn't have come. He can't use Alyssa's money. He can't bring himself to do it. (if: $rhonda is 1)[With the couple weeks Rhonda gave him, he'll figure out something.](else:)[It just isn't right.]
He steps back [[out->Early exit]] into the cold.
(set: $addedtime to it - 4)