The young me really liked school. It was my one positive focus in life. I dreaded going home. It was a parental issue really. The parent part is not what matters most, but instead, what I chose to do about it.
I was good in school. Teachers generally liked me, and I liked them. My peer group turned out to be mainly misfits who also had parental problems. We would hang around after school at the library discussing the issues of the day. No one was in a hurry to get home.
At some point for me, school stopped being an effective distraction. It was then that I began to focus more on Sasifraz…the voice from elsewhere.
* * * * * * *
“How are you doing?” An ever vigilant Sasifraz inquired.
“Not good obviously. I’m at my wits end.”
“Really, and just where is that?”
“At the end. Where do you think? The world’s ending and you’re busy asking me just where that is. Well, I’ll tell you, it’s where East meets West; the sun doesn’t shine; and the earth collides with the moon. Does that give you an idea?”
“Yes, I think I’ve got it.”
Sasifraz and I, after our honeymoon period of his tender understanding, had moved on to being just slightly irritated with each other’s manner.
In some ways, I thought it was fun. Here was an adult that I could tell to go to hell if I wanted. On the other hand, I sometimes wondered if he understood what was going on with me. I could never be certain.
As was his tendency, Sasifraz was only playing with me. His purpose was far more directed than mine. He was after another disciple. That’s at least what the general consensus was with the rest of The Mark.