Later that same day, I drove back home to find food ready on the table for me.
Spaghetti was what we were having for dinner. Yum. I threw my bag into my room and joined my dad and sister in the dining room. My mom worked five days a week, from early in the morning to late at night, so she was hardly ever with us; it was almost always just us three.
I went to grab something to drink, then pulled out the chair and sat down to join the company, going to help myself to a serving. "So, how was school?" my dad started up conversation with me.
"Boring," I replied expressionlessly.
"Come on, you always say that. Something exciting must've happened," my dad said encouragingly.
That got a laugh out of me. "Sorry, no. I'll let you know, though, if anything changes."
Elle showed the least bit of interest in our conversation. She apparently had finished her meal early and was sitting there playing on her phone. I took a bite at my own helping, my father then speaking up. "Well, I've received some news today that I thought I would share with you girls."
That captured my attention. "What is it?" I looked to him curiously. My sister was completely oblivious to the real world at the moment.
"I have another business trip coming up in a few weeks. I've been emailing a professor and he says he'd like to meet up with me."
"Oh," I blurted out of nowhere. "Where's it going to be? You said I could come with you one of these times, right?"
He laughed. "You most likely wouldn't want to go. It's in the States, but not a place filled with much interest."
"Where? At least let me know, maybe I'll find it to be so—"
"Michigan."
Instantaneously, I clumsily dropped my fork onto the table as it made a loud 'cling.' It frightened everybody, including Elle, who was now giving me an odd look. "Michigan?" I repeated, my mouth agape.
My dad looked at me funnily. "Yeah, what's the big deal?"
I held back, trying to contain myself. I took a quick breather. My father, shrugging to my not answering, faced back down in order to gulp down more forkfuls of spaghetti. I caught Elle giving me a goofy smile in between. Oh, so now she gets it. I spoke up again when best. "Dad, can I please come along? Michigan—well, Detroit in particular—is one of my top three places I want to visit. If it's during school, I'll only miss maybe a few days at most. You know I don't have classes every day of the week. And I'll just ask off from work. My manager's very understanding," I begged.
My father sighed. "Well, I don't know, Sal. The professor I'm meeting up with is covering for just my expenses only. It's strictly business-related. I'm not sure if I'm completely comfortable with you wandering around the city by yourself. I really don't want you missing out on school or work if you don't have to, either. And who's going to watch over and pick your sister up from school during the week?"
I groaned, my opportunity of being in my dream state seeming more and more improbable. I wasn't going to give up that easy; I tried pushing harder. "I'll help pay for the ticket and hotel expenses if I have to. I have money saved up. And I'm nearly twenty, Dad; I can watch out for myself. Maybe we can ask Mom to take the week off to watch over Elle. What date are you going?"
"I'm leaving on Saturday, the 22nd. We're planning to meet up Monday, the 24th. There may be other days, too, but I believe those are optional."
"Oh, I think that's around when my spring break is," I exclaimed in realization, "so I won't even have school during that time. It could work out. Please consider it. You said I could come with you on one of these trips. This is the one I'd absolutely love to come on," I told him. "Where exactly in Michigan will it be?" I asked next, gulping.
"Near U of M," he answered, taking another bite of his food. I gave him a perplexed look. "University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor," he gave me a quirky smirk. "I think it's about forty minutes away from Detroit. I'll think about it," he concluded.
I gasped lightly. "That would be perfect! Okay," I lastly remarked.
With that, I finished up my meal in a gleeful mood, hopeful that I would be able to tag along with my dad just this once and have the time of my life. Always what I've dreamed of and this finally being it. Just imagine that.
I spent the rest of dinner making funny faces at my sister and her doing the same to me.
YOU ARE READING
The Unexpected Encounter (An Eminem Fan Fiction)
Fanfiction"I felt a hand swiftly make reach for my arm. I jumped badly as soon as it grasped me, me fixing my attention on who had just done that. 'Yo, who the f*ck is that guy? He causing you trouble?' I answered back to the dark-faced man, my heart racing...
