The Corner House

Tim, along with his friend Nokko, decides to drop him off at his home. They had workshops that didn't feel like ending. It was already late, very past the usual school hours. The traffic had settled. Tim thought of the many times he thought of visiting his friend. He knew Nokko lived nearby but had never had the opportunity or the courage to ask him. Tim looks at Nokko while they are moving up the street. Nokko smiles. He has an unusual way of reciprocating emotion, there is just a moment before the sentiment, a mandatory service of relaying. He doesn't talk much but when he does, he is to the point. Tim is a loner but with Nokko he doesn't feel that way.

Nokko stops and looks at Tim, guilty,

"My home is just a block away, you can go on from here."

Tim, who really wants to see his home,

"No, no, I'll drop you off."

Nokko looks at him, there is no arguing with Tim, smiles and starts to head left pointing to the corner of the block.

"There is my house."

Photo by Valentina Locatelli on Unsplash

Tim felt there was something strange about Nokko, that he wouldn't share much, but it may just be Nokko, nothing to worry about at all.

They move in that direction and now at the doorstep, Tim didn't expect to be invited but contrary to his expectation, he was. Tim, tired from walking and the long day settling on him, feels energetic now to know his friend better, probably meet his parents.

As they move in, the door closes. The house feels cold and there is a stench of something damp, maybe the walls. The house is at the corner so a lack of sun might do that. Tim was surprised to see the home dark. Nokko moved to the sockets and switched on the lights, but still,

Tim asked,

"Is there no one home?"

"Oh yes, my brother moved to a different city, he got an internship."

"Oh I knew that," Tim looking around. "I mean your parents."

"Oh, mother is working, usually I am the first one home."

"Your mother works?"

"Yes, yes."

"That's why I was saying you can leave me here, there is usually no one home."

Nokko directs Tim to the couch and he himself moves to the kitchen.

He brings a bowl of rice for Tim.

"I am not eating this alone," Tim interrupts Nokko.

"You may as well, I don't like rice much."

"You can fetch something else then," Tim again.

"No, no, I'll eat later, now I am not in the mood."

Tim is hesitant to push further but he doesn't. Almost the whole day has passed, when is Nokko going to eat then.

Tim asks Nokko,

"So your father and mother both work then?"

Nokko looks at Tim. He looks around as if he needs an answer.

"No, no, only my mother works."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It is only my mother who works. My father died a year ago."

Tim doesn't believe him for a second and then realizes the situation. He is a loner after all, he could have asked but chose not to. There is a realization, whether they do not have much food at their home, that is why Nokko is not eating with him. It is a patent lie, although Nokko may notice that Tim knows, the rice was not for Tim, it was all they had. He didn't tell him about his father or whatever is going on with him.

Tim takes a sigh. Nokko has never been the social one.

28 April 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3087: patent lie