Chapter 1: (v.2) Prepare for the coming storm!

Reads: 192

"There is something wrong with my son,” Iulia said to the Teacher.

"What seems to be the problem with him?”

"He closes himself inside his room,” Iulia replied with an angry voice. “He doesn't speak to any of us anymore! He is angry! He is blunt! He hates us!”

"Dear Iulia, calm down,” the Teacher said, calmly. “What indications do you have that he hates you?”

"He wanted to go to Thessaloniki without my permission!”

"Iulia,” the Teacher said, “how old is Christos?”

"Twenty six. . .”

"Don't you think he is a bit too old to be asking for your permission?”

"Yes.”

"So why do you worry so much?”

"Because my son isn't good for anything! He is worthless! He cannot make it on his own!”

"I would like to find that out myself,” the Teacher said.

"What do you mean?”

"I mean that I want to have a closer look at him!”

***

The door opened.

A young man of average height and a bit overweight, stood under the door of the room.

The teacher looked at him thoroughly.

Despite the young man having a healthy appearance, and despite his face looking calm on the surface, his eyes stared with apathy; eyes where emotions of anger and despair reflected deep inside.

A cold chill run down the Teacher's spine. Something felt off with him.“You must be Christos, right?” he asked and smiled.

"Ehh. . . yes, that's me,” Christos nodded shyly.

"Come inside!” said the Teacher cheerily.

Christos walked in with a slow unsteady pace, and sat on the chair.

"He is out of energy,” the Teacher thought. “But why?” Then he said, “I have known your mother for a long time. She is a good friend of mine.”

"Oh, yes,” Christos replied, “I remember she had her birthday a few days ago, and while I should have bought her a present, I forgot it!”

"Christos,” the Teacher suggested, “do you want to play a game?”

"Okay,” Christos replied.

The Teacher took a piece of paper and a pen and passed them on to Christos.

I would like you to write twenty things you did these last few days, for the people around you.”

Christos did that.

"Good,” the Teacher said and continued “and now I would like you, next to the things that you did, to put a W if that thing was something you to do.”

Christos finished after a short while and passed what he wrote to the Teacher.

He put fifteen W's and only five H's,” the Teacher thought. He looked at Christos.

Christos still retained that impassive look in his eyes.

"Something's wrong here,” the Teacher thought, “I guess he is hiding.” Then he smiled and said “Here's a man that does what he wants to do!”

"Of course,” the Teacher added, “if the things that you had to do were more than the things you wanted to do, in the end you would become angry and finally rebel!”

Christos became affected by the Teacher's words. He blushed, and looked ready to explode from rage. Yes, it appeared he kept it all inside.

The Teacher observed this and thought “I knew it! He is hiding!” Then he continued, “Christos, I would like you to tell me what you generally like to do in your spare time, hobbies etc.”

"I want to have a more active social life," Christos replied.

"You think your social life is not active enough?”

Christos didn't reply.

"Do you have any friends?” the Teacher asked.

"Not many. But I cannot meet more people.”

"And what stops you from meeting more people?”

Christos didn't answer. He appeared to be upset with Teachers' words.

Teacher appeared thoughtful. “You have confused your feelings,” he said to Christos. “You are in confusion; how is it possible to be involved in social matters and at the same time not wanting to meet more people?”

Christos got frustrated and even more upset.

"I guess he had enough for today,” Teacher thought. “It's all right Christos,” he said, “you needn't worry. I might be wrong. If you want to stop, then we stop.”

"Better,” Christos agreed.

"I suggest we make a relaxation for a quarter of an hour,” the Teacher said, “until your father arrives to take you home.”

The Teacher put some relaxation music on the CD-player. When the relaxation was over, Christos' father came with his car and took him.

"So we will meet after three days Christos, on Wednesday,” the Teacher said, “Okay?”

"Okay,” Christos agreed. “His voice sounded a bit more cheerful, and nervous at the same time, like someone scratching a wooden box that contained nitroglycerin.”

"Iulia is right!” the Teacher thought, worried. “Her child is angry!”

***

On the way home, Christos' father, Petros, asked, “So, how did the meeting with the Teacher went?”

Christos felt strange, as if something long dead became activated inside him.

"I want to scream!” he thought. “Cannot take this anymore!”

"The meeting was FINE!!” Christos said shouting.

Petros became shocked.

Upon realizing this, Christos felt bad. A wave of despair overwhelmed him and his voice returned to its previous colorless tone.

***

"How did it go?” asked Iulia the Teacher on the phone.

"Christos is not worthless” the Teacher said. “He is simply inexperienced. And it looks as if he is about to rebel.”

"But against whom?” Iulia asked. “And why?”