33 Hour for reflection

Tuesday, October 21

10:00am Wempey Jewelers - New York 5th Avenue

Adam turns a watch set with diamonds around his right index finger, under the terrified eye of a salesman whose gaze oscillates between the young man, the young woman by his side whose expression on the face is complex to read and the security guards he hesitates to call in. Meg has just hung up her smartphone and Adam who continues to play with a fortune at his fingertips, sighs.

"Meg, do we really have to go to Paris on Thursday."

Meg is very happy but at the same time but she also feels sorry for Adam who wanted to stay with his mother a little longer. She tries as much as she can not to show her joy on her face, while she answers her question in the negative.

"No, we will have to leave no later than Wednesday late in the morning. Adam, I know the time is not right, but this contract is unexpected. I admit it, you may be a little disappointed because it's not Armani whose clothes you're still wearing, but it's still very good. A fashion designer wants you, that's great, isn't it?"

Adam stops turning the watch around his finger, grabs it with his full hand and looks up at the ceiling. "I suppose so, let's just say I would have liked to keep my freedom a little longer. We'll talk about it tonight. My mother is still looking at the little clocks, so I'm going to take this opportunity to pay for this watch discreetly, you come with me?"

Meg is panicking. She quickly grabs Adam's elbow, who was leaving to pay the expensive piece of jewellery and stops against his will. "Adam, please, be careful with your expenses. You can't afford to throw money out the window like that. When I got permission to have your guardianship because you lied to us that you no longer had parents, given our relationship, I promised not to bore you, but this watch costs a fortune. 8500$ is not so easy to earn. Don't forget that you're just starting your career and you never know what tomorrow will bring."

Adam is also a little saddened to have to spend so much money on a simple watch. Last month, he enjoyed himself by offering himself his for a price of $1,400 and when it came time to give his credit card, it made his heart ache, but just now, his mother seemed to love it and if she loves it, then doing him that little pleasure is not much.

"Meg, understand me, I abandoned my mother for so long, so if through this action I can please her and make up for it a little bit in her eyes, it's not that expensive."

After hearing this argument, Meg shakes her head. She loves Adam, she wants to stay close to him, but sometimes she realizes that he is indeed very young and their age difference makes them see things from a sometimes very contradictory point of view.

"Adam, you will not buy the time you spent away from your mother with an object but thanks to the affection you will bring her and through concrete actions. People who accept this kind of relationship are not reliable and having relationships with these people does not bring anything good. Do you think your mother is one of those people you buy with objects or money? As soon as a relationship starts like this, it is corrupted from the beginning and no mother would want her 17-year-old son to offer her a watch that costs 8500$, at least not yours, I am sure. Ask her the question, otherwise you'll see that if you buy this watch on her back, she won't wear it, but on the contrary, she'll blame you."

All Meg's words are like a succession of violent slaps that land on Adam's face. Again, as has often been the case since his return to Cheirfield, he remembers things he wanted to forget. In particular, that his mother herself told her some of these words two and a half years ago. At that time, he didn't fully understand their meaning. He didn't see what was wrong with accepting the gifts that his girlfriend was willing to give him. According to the Adam of that time, the most serious thing would have been to refuse them. It would have made Jessica sad and that Adam didn't want it. The current Adam has a better understanding of the value of money and many things, but he still makes far too many mistakes. At the moment, in the face of his lack of reflection, he wants to slap himself, thinking that once again he almost acted without taking his mother's feelings into account. He smiles bitterly as he says to himself that fortunately Meg is more thoughtful than him and he kisses her, a little to thank her and a lot out of envy.

"Say Meg, do you think I'm an idiot?"

"Chances are you are, yes, but I don't mind thinking for two. Just be nice and gentle to me like you are now and I'll take care of what needs a little thought."

"Say you'd still love me if I stopped my career to campaign for the presidency of the republic and became the most important man in this country."

When Meg hears this nonsense, she laughed. Adam, probably doesn't even know who the current president is, as which are the main American political parties, but this boy who has no interest in politics at all has the nerve to ask such a question?

"You'll never be president."

"And a mathematician?"

"You don't have the intellectual faculties."

"Painter?"

"You're even worse at this than I am."

"Garbage collector?"

"So yes, I will always love you as much, but I will force you to shower frequently. At least more than once a day, as you do now."

Adam looks at Meg's teasing smile, he knows perfectly well who she mocks him voluntarily, but that doesn't make him angry, on the contrary, he really appreciates it. What he doesn't like so much is that behind that adorable smile and this sense of humour, the fact is that Meg is saying what she thinks. It doesn't matter, if he's a little stupid, you don't need to have 4 years of university education to smile or walk on a catwalk. On the contrary, the dumber you are, the less you ask yourself questions, Adam reassures himself, who takes Meg's hand, who immediately gets out of Adam's hands.

"I want to hold your hand."

Meg shakes her head. Of course, she herself is very keen, but many factors come into play, which cannot and should not be neglected and Adam must be aware of this once and for all.

"Impossible, don't forget your public image. The agency was very clear when they told you, I believe. No, Adam, please, let go of my hand and listen to me. You are 17 years old, so your first audience is made up of teenage girls and very young women. For the moment, your celibacy, at least in appearance, is necessary for these ladies who fantasize about your image, so take into account. We've talked about it dozens of times, but I'll tell you again. Don't forget also, that in the eyes of others, I am only your agent and nothing else. A scandal if it can serve the stars, this is not necessarily true for those who do not yet have a solid foundation. Earlier when I let you kiss me, I showed weakness but, but, but, but, but Adam..."

"Do you think I'm so handsome?... Meg, seriously, why are you making that face suddenly?"

"...your mother disappeared."

"Shit the country girl is lost in town, we're in big trouble."