Good Morning, Joseph

GOOD MORNING, JOSEPH
by Peter Alistair

Joseph opened his eyes slowly; wakefulness crept in steadily. He groped for his mobile phone with his right hand. He found it among the clutter of books and magazines on his bedside table that used to be a stool for the neglected piano downstairs. He checked the time--8:02 am.

  Plenty of time, Joseph thought, but for what? He didn't go to school today, or else he would have been awake as early as 5 am. Joseph reasoned to his father that he needed the day off to work on that English composition. His father, of course, consented. It is easy to cut classes when your father trusts you.

  He gazed aimlessly at the ceiling, looking for any blemish in the white paint.

  It was a dull, gray morning outside; it was Valentine's Day.