3: 3
3
I hung up and went back into the private room, and Kerry turned to me out of nowhere.
"Alfie, what did you get me?"
Every set of eyes in the room settled on me.
I stood there, my throat dry and tight.
Locked out all night, then running around all day.
I hadn't had so much as a sip of water. Where was I supposed to find the energy to buy a gift?
When I said nothing, Kerry's eyes filmed over with tears.
"Alfie, is it that you don't want me home?"
Then my parents piled on, one after another.
"Alfred, how can you be so thoughtless? Your brother finally comes back to the country and you can't spare a single kind gesture?"
"So selfish. How can you be this petty?"
"We raised you for nothing. No sense of family at all, cold-blooded and heartless."
Zoe lifted her eyes to me, her look distant and detached.
"Alfie, what you did really was wrong."
I kept my head down and bit hard into my lip.
They welcomed their younger son home with open arms and full hearts.
They remembered a table of fine dishes for him, expensive gifts, a house bought outright, and they even remembered a special feast for the dogs.
Every single thing. Except that today was also my birthday.
After dinner, Zoe made a rare move and came to talk to me.
"Alfie, I need to tell you something."
Something in me stirred.
I thought she was going to explain why she never replied last night.
I thought she still remembered that today was my birthday.
But she hesitated a long moment, then raised her eyes to mine.
"Kerry just got back, and he's not used to the pace here yet. I'm worried he won't find a decent job."
"I want to bring him into our company through a referral."
I stood there, stunned.
Zoe's company was the top firm in the area.
The bar to get in was brutally high. Ordinary people fought for a spot and never made it.
Even I, a graduate from a top school, had to wear her down for ages just to get a referral for an internship.
An overseas-project translation post, the hours flipped by time zones, day and night blurred together.
I'd stay up until two or three in the morning proofreading drafts, night after night.
I didn't dare take a day off, didn't dare make a mistake, didn't dare let up.
I gutted it out for a full six months.
Now the internship was nearly over, and my coworkers all said that with how hard I worked, being made permanent was a sure thing.
But the company also had an unwritten rule. Each employee could refer only one person.
"Zoe, what are you getting at?"
She dropped her gaze, but her tone left no room for argument.
"Alfie, resign. Give the position to Kerry."
I'd already decided to join the Antarctic research expedition.
But quitting on my own and being forced to step aside were two very different things.
"Zoe, you know how hard I fought to get made permanent, everything I poured into it."
"And now, on your say-so, I'm supposed to just hand it all over?"
"And if I say no?"
She flushed, half-angry, half-embarrassed.
"Alfred, Kerry is your brother. Not some stranger."
"If you don't resign, I'll have the company fire you outright. Kerry studied abroad, after all. His English is better, he's more suited to the position now."
"Think it over carefully. Don't make everyone look bad."
With that she left me standing there and hurried to catch up with Kerry ahead of us.
The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder, talking and laughing.
My phone buzzed. A message from the head of the Antarctic research expedition.
"Mr. Sullivan, we depart in three days. We've put together a welcome package for you here, a full set of living supplies, cold-weather gear, and a food kit, everything included. You don't need to bring a thing, just yourself."
Two short lines, and I read them over more than ten times.
It was the only kindness, the only warmth, I received on my birthday today.
I lifted a hand and quietly wiped the tears from the corner of my eye.
It's fine. I'll be gone soon enough.
