Perception Magazine Spring 2020

The Hair Flip That Changed Your Life Jeff Nathan You wake up one Friday morning to your mother’s footsteps clomping up the stairs. The doorknob turns and she’s telling you to get up and brush your teeth, Dad will be calling soon. You leap out of bed, vault over your cat, and hurdle into the bathroom before your sister can get there. You brush your hair and teeth in record time, and head out as your mother and sister walk in. You’re pulling on your favorite red sweatshirt when you hear the Skype noise coming from downstairs. You yell that you’ve got it and jump down the steps two at a time and plant your seven-year-old butt in the spinning roller chair you’re only allowed to sit in when dad calls. You click the green phone button and immediately spin yourself in the fastest circle possible.

“Hi Dad!”

“Morning, bud. Having fun?”

“Yeah!” You say circularly.

“Where’s Mom and Haley?”

“They’re coming. Mom’s still brushing her hair. When do you come home today?”

“Well, my flight leaves here in two hours, and it’s an eight-hour flight.

Can you figure out what time I’ll be home?”

You stop the spin by grabbing the desk with two hands and do the math on your fingers but below the computer desk so he doesn’t see.

“Five o’clock tonight?”

He smiles. “Nice one! It should be around then if there are no delays.”

“Well I say no delays, so no delays!”

He chuckles. “Well in that case, I’ve something special for you and Haley when I get home.”

You beg him to tell me what it is. Plead for a hint of some kind. Give him your longest pleeeeeeeeeeeease. He refuses. Your mother and sister come downstairs. Haley whines that she wants to sit in the chair, she never gets to sit in the chair, it’s not fair. Your mother gives you that Look, and you get up.

Whatever> You’re mad anyway, you want to know the surprise.

At school, it’s all you can think about. Could it be a gigantic candy bar? Or maybe he stole another tall glass like he did the last time.

Time is molasses.

The day is perpetual.

Don’t look at the clock.

Don’t look at the clock.

18 | Perception