15a) Killing time

It’s 10am and James is sitting in the living room, trying to kill the time by watching TV. Summer vacation in Saskatoon was never that boring, he thinks. Unfortunately, he has to wait another week before they fly home. He sighs and flips through the channels again when the phone rings. 

“Hello?” he asks.

„James?“

“Yeah, who’s there?”

„Hi, hier ist Sonja. Erkennst du meine Stimme nicht mehr?“

“Well,” he says defiantly. “It’s kinda hard if you only say my name.”

„Jaja, schon gut. Ist deine Mutter zu Hause? Kann ich sie mal sprechen?“

“I don’t know,” he answers, enjoying to keep her in suspense this time. Until now, it has always been the other way round.

„Was meinst du?“, fragt Sonja irritiert. „Ist sie nicht zu Hause?“

“She is at home – but I don’t know if I can let her speak to you.”

„Hä? Wieso nicht?“

“She’s making cookies and I’m very hungry,” he says, trying to keep a serious tone in his voice.

Für einen Moment ist Sonja stutzig und sagt nichts. Was soll das?

“Just kidding,” James says amused. “I’ll go get her for you.”

Jetzt versteht Sonja. James hat sie reingelegt. „Du Blödmann“, sagt sie scherzhaft. „Ich habe dir tatsächlich geglaubt.“

“Good,” James answers satisfied. Then he gets up and walks into the kitchen. “It’s for you, mom. Sonja.” Since her hands are full of cookie dough, he presses the loudspeaker button and puts the phone on the counter.

“Hi, Sonja,” his mother greets her.

„Hi Courtney, wie geht’s dir?“

“I’m good, thanks. And you?”

„Geht so. Ich habe mich mit Stephen gestritten – schon zum dritten Mal in dieser Woche.“

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Are you ok?”

„Ja, ok schon. Ich wollte nur mal mit jemandem darüber reden. Am besten mit einer Frau … und da habe ich an dich gedacht.“

“Sure, you can talk with me.”

James is still standing in the kitchen. I shouldn’t listen, he thinks. Sonja probably doesn’t want him to know about her boyfriend problems. He’s curious though, so he stays. However, instead of talking on the phone, his mom invites Sonja over for coffee.

„Ob ich vorbeikommen möchte?“, fragt Sonja erfreut. „Klar. Warum nicht. Heute ist mein freier Tag und ich hab' Zeit genug.“

“Well, just come over then,” Courtney Petzold replies. “By the time you get here, these cookies will be done, too.”

„Prima“, freut sich Sonja. „Dann bin ich in ungefähr einer Stunde da.“

“Great, looking forward to seeing you,” Courtney says, getting ready to end the call. 

Suddenly James has an idea. 

“Wait,” he says quickly. “Tell her to bring sneakers and shorts, so we can go out and play some soccer.”

Courtney nods at her son and gets back so Sonja. “Did you hear that?”

„Ja. Ich soll meine Fußball-Klamotten mitbringen. Prima Idee“, antwortet Sonja begeistert. Ein bisschen kicken ist jetzt genau das Richtige. Sie beendet das Gespräch und geht ihre Tasche packen.

“Thanks, mom,” James says as he turns towards the kitchen door. “I’ll go and get changed.”

Courtney laughs. “Slow, James. She still needs another hour to get here.”

“That’s ok. I’ll just go set up some goals in the backyard and kick around a bit until she comes. It’s better than watching TV anyway.”

He turns around and walks upstairs to his room. He’s looking forward to getting his ball out again. Since the summer vacation started, he hasn’t had anyone to practice with at all.