The Country Club

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Edward’s Life Part 1

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Edward Branson was more than ready to take on his fathers successful business, however Edward Branson Sr. didn’t think that his son was developed enough socially, so he forced his son to go to the country club in a last desperate attempt for him to make friends.

You see Edward is smart and he wasn’t afraid to show his peers that he was intellectually superior and it was because of this reason that they picked on him, treated him like scum and made a mockery of him. He was basically… a geek.

“Dad! I’m going to the club.” A young man called up the stairs as he pushed his large, rounded glasses up on his nose as they fell down, throwing on his tweed jacket and pulling his turtleneck sweater up so that it covered more of his neck.

“Alright son, I’ll see you later for dinner.” His father called down the stairs to him from his cluttered office.

Edward Branson Senior was in his late fifties and although he didn’t feel it on the inside, his body was starting to let him down. Gone were the defined muscles, along with his perfect eyesight. When his wife and mother to Edward, Claire, died from breast cancer three years ago, Edward Senior started to let himself go and his son became more withdrawn from the rest of the crowed then ever. All he wanted was to see his son settle down with a nice girl that’ll look after him, just as Claire looked after him.

Edward Junior arrived at the country club just as the match was about to begin, got himself a steaming mug of coffee and found himself a nice table, far away from anyone else but still close enough to the pitch so he could spectate the game. Edward, although he found the game boring, enjoyed the concept of the sports and how it was usually ‘a game meant for thugs, but played by gentlemen.’ Of course Edward himself preferred the more reserved game of chess. A lot less screaming happens during a game of chess.

“Hi.” A pretty blonde girl chirped to Edward.

“Hello…” Edward said politely, looking up at the girl his breath caught at how beautiful she looked dressed in a blue playsuit.

“Do you mind if you join you, my parents say I need to mingle with people my own age.” She said, gesturing to the open seat opposite him.

“Oh no. I don’t mind, have a seat.” He said smiling watery at her. Never had he ever been in the company of such a pretty, delicate, young woman before and he was finding it difficult on how to react to her and the foreign feelings he was experiencing.

“Thanks. I’m Frances by the way, but everyone calls me Fran.” She said smiling, and holding her soft looking, delicate hand, complete with perfect nails, out towards him.

“Nice to meet you Fran. I’m Edward, people call me Edward.” He said laughing, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“It’s very nice to meet you Edward.” She said smiling softly at him, and then the pair fell into a comfortable silence. Edward desperately tried to wrack his brains for something to say, but he didn’t have to. “Do you come here often?” Edward heard the soft question a few minutes later.

“Now and again, what about you?” He said before taking a sip of his coffee, carefully trying to avoid burning off his taste buds. One too many times has he drank a mug of coffee and found that later on the day he could no longer taste his food.

“Every week. In fact, I’m quite surprised I haven’t noticed you before. You would have thought that a person like you would stand out a bit more.” She said to the shy boy.

“I tend to go through life unnoticed.” He said, wincing from the pain of being friendless. Lets just say he wasn’t received well at school.

“Oh well that’s a shame.” She said quietly, but Edward heard her. “What school do you go to?” She asked the mysterious boy opposite her.

“HCS. It’s short for Hampton Comprehensive School.” He said rather quietly.

“Really, I go to that school. I’ve never seen you around.” She said smiling at him.