It's Just That Crazy

Chapter 3- Words Like Knives

Chapter 3- Words Like Knives

 

        My mom lives in a comfortable size apartment on the south side of town. In all relativity it’s about as far away from my dad as she can possibly get while still remaining in the same town as him. 

        When my parents split up two years ago my mom wanted nothing more than to skip town and find a place where she would never have to risk running into my dad and Beth in the supermarket. It wasn’t that she hated Beth or anything, but she did suspect my Dad was seeing her while they were still married because right after my mom asked for the divorce my dad moved Beth in two months later and she’s been living there ever since. She has no proof of course, but she still can’t stand to be around them nonetheless.

        I suppose I have quite a bit of respect for my mom for not uprooting our lives and tearing what is left of our family apart. She’s bearing through it for Connor and me. My mom, I love her.

         On Wednesday evening Connor and I are sitting in my room at Lander Hills Apartment Complex discussing his freshman year schedule when mom comes in carrying two plates of hotdog macaroni and cheese and sits them on my bed.

        Another awesome thing about my mom, she lets Connor and I eat in our rooms whenever we want. She doesn’t keep any of the same rules my dad does.

        My eyes light up at the plate full of food sitting before me. My stomach growls loud enough for both Connor and Mom to hear and they both laugh.

        “This looks great, Mom,” I tell her before shoveling a fork full into my mouth. I moan at the cheesy goodness.

        “What’s the occasion?” Connor asks digging into his food too.

        She shrugs and grins. “I have no idea what you mean.”

        I raise my eyebrow at her and eat another bite. “Nice try,” I say with a mouth full of food. I chew and swallow. “The only time you make our childhood favorite meal is when you have something big to tell us. So, spill.”

        She looks between Connor and I, and then grins even wider.

        “Come on, Mom. You’re killing us here,” Connor says. “Is this something a good something or a bad something?”

       I am already a third of the way finished with my food when she starts getting fidgety and nervous. She spins on her heal and picks up the horse figurine on my dresser I’ve had since Fourth grade. She strokes its main and sits it back down again. Then she finds something else there and picks it up too.

         When she speaks again she is facing us. “Okay. Just know that even though I’m doing this, I don’t love you guys any less.”

        I lean toward Connor and whisper in his ear, “We should probably be worried.”

        He nods his head in agreement. “Definitely. We should probably pack.”

      I look my mom straight in the eyes with mine slightly narrowed. “You’re moving, aren’t you? You’ve changed your mind about staying here and you want to leave.”

        I am feeling a little anxious until she starts shaking her head and waving her hands in the air in denial. “Oh, no, it’s nothing like that. I have a date Friday night.”

        Both Connor and I share the same surprised look as we stare at our mom. I don’t know what to say and when neither of us say anything she starts to get a worried look on her face.