Chapter 2: A Strange New Realm
Jason toggles the tracking on the video player for the umpteenth time. He can’t believe the stupid machine is taking so long. His teenage sister and her friends watch nearby, they want to watch last night’s episode of Idol and watch it now. There are a thousand places he’d rather be. He had planned to visit his mate, Dan at the apartment he recently bought with his girlfriend. Last time they spoke Dan had been wary of locking into a 25 year mortgage while Michelle had really wanted to go ahead. He recalled his friend retelling her arguments:
‘…If not now when? It’ll only get more expensive and unless we win lotto buying a place will always require a mortgage…’
‘But shit it’s a long time and a lot of money and much of what the bank didn’t give them will also be repaid but to their parents. I’m very lucky’ Jason thinks, looking around the unit his parents had largely provided for him and his siblings. And of course it’s all in his name. Yes number 1 son does alright but with privilege comes responsibility.
He has to look after his younger sister, for one. A fact she knows all too well. All those bigger desserts and nicer presents had not gone unnoticed over the years and his sister, Joanne, never missed an opportunity for payback. Yes, it seems Jason will be playing video technician for a while yet.
It wasn’t so bad, he once did this sorta stuff for fun. In his teens he had de-assembled the video, the stereo, the telly, you name it, just to see what was inside. And he got everything back together and, eventually, operational.
OK, all the connections are correct that should do it he thinks, here goes. He turns the video back on and flicks the channel to 3 and still nothing. Bloody hell, what’s wrong with this bloody thing?
The girl’s chatter increased behind him, adding to his agitation, through the noise Jason hears the phone. What a welcome distraction he thinks as he answers.
‘Jas, it’s Yachi. I need to see you right away meet me here in half an hour. And bring Billy. I’ll tell you more later. See you soon’
‘Strange,’ he thinks to himself as he hangs up the phone. ‘What could Yachi possibly want our help for? Why was he so hurried on the phone?’
Regardless, Yachi is his savior; his father’s friend will excuse him from his current situation. He is outta there, barely containing his smirk as he bids farewell to the disappointed faces and his sister’s vindictive stare.