Chapter 28: (v.2) Provocation!

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Eventually the group meeting would take place on Thursday, as the team members unanimously agreed to meet that day. So, the days passed until Wednesday came, however that day Christos started feeling suffocated with his stay at Thessaloniki and an impulse drove him to book a ticket and take the first bus to Aleksandroupoli. He wouldn’t attend the meeting.

Christos’ phone rang and he answered the call.

“What’s new Christos?” the voice of the Teacher sounded. “You haven’t called for a long time, is everything alright?”

“I’m headed right now towards Aleksandroupoli!” Christos said.

“Aha!” the Teacher said. “Provocation!”

“I’m sorry?” Christos asked. “What do you mean?”

“You provoke me and the rest of the group by leaving so suddenly!”

“I felt a need to leave. . .”

“You felt the need to rebel against authority!” the Teacher said with a rather strict tone in his voice. “But I am not Iulia!”

“I understand.”

“I don’t think so,” the Teacher said, “for if you did, you would consider also the other members of the group, that you asked to change their schedule, only to have them duped!”

Christos didn’t reply and started to fear that his recklessness would have as a consequent to be punished by the Teacher.

“However, don’t mind!” said the Teacher laughing and the tone of his voice changed from strict to friendly. “As I've mentioned before, I am not Iulia, and I won't indulge in a conflict with you!”

“Are you trying to say that I project my mother on you?”

“The private logic must be verified Christos,” the Teacher said. “Since your mother wasn't present to challenge, you projected an imaginary authority onto me to oppose! I became Iulia! Christos, it is time to debunk you mother!”

The Teacher went on, “However, as I said, it is okay with your decision and I won’t punish you, because that would be absurd. You will simply accept the consequences of your actions!”

“And which are these?” Christos asked.

“You will miss tomorrow's group!”

“I admit that I was so blinded from my need to defy, that I never thought about the benefit I would have if I stayed one more day. Now that I think about it, I shouldn’t have left!”

“Don’t worry,” the Teacher said, “when you return from vacations, I will see that we cover the material we did on the group, as best as we can!”

“Thank you, sir, for what you do for me,” Christos said.

“Eh, enough already,” the Teacher said, “Christos, I wanted to tell you this for some time now!”

“What?”

“Stop calling me sir and mister! Friends don't address each other that way, do they?”

“Well, no. . .”

“Okay then, let’s stop the “sir” and “mister” please!” said the Teacher laughing.

“Very well then, Teacher,” said Christos laughing, “I will stop referring to you as sir or mister. Why? Because you are unique!”

Submitted: April 09, 2024

Literary Fiction romance therapy psychology counselling personal-development