I smirk at Dad, “Are those machine guns you call yourarms… and the thick mustache.”
“You noticed.” He shows off the tight biceps he developed. “Had some spare time to kill.”
I sense the joke he’s going to make from miles away.
“Got bored of the weights and started lifting your Mom to clean the shelves in the back. At least it has its pros.”
Although it cracks me inside, “I really don’t need that image in my head.”
“Chill, you kids have one thing on your mind.” Mom is quick to intervene.
Every dirty mind has those regardless of age. And they know it.
“Hey, Russ,” Dad answers a call, “No problem, give me twenty minutes. Just saying hello to my son.” The call ends and Dad looks at Mom with one of his plotting expressions. “They need ice cubes, stat.”
“Ooh, an emergency… how exciting,” Mom giggles to herself.
They need this type of action here because normally that is all they’re going to get except for the summer.
Fuck yeah.
I need this break.
Badly.
These are my kind of people. Laid back. Fun makers. Bike-pumped enthusiast. Hilarious as hell. And the majority are the nicest people I ever met.
“You’ve been crowned ‘the destroyer of the tracks’ by Mom.” His voice pulls my attention back to him.
“You need to cut them some slack. They will get tired of seeing your sweet ass dusting them on the course if you keep winning all the time.” She pulls a few stacks of candies, layering them on top of each other. “One specific rider’s hostility nearly brought me to your last race. He needs to chill.”
The thing about sports is the competitive aspect of it all. Some would know how to lose a race with dignity and power up for the next one, some put the blame on others, or act out. “That’s just part of the sport. I don’t pay any mind to it. Getting beat up time and time again sucks. I was there once too.”
I let it drive me to become better.
“Well, I guess you’re better than me.” The colorful candy has her whole attention, “And smarter,” She adds.
“Mom…” The words slowly exit my mouth. “Did the candy hypnotize you or are you worried?”
She sighs. “I just don’t want you getting hurt by some idiot in order to win. Jealousy can drive people to do crazy things.”
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer into a bear hug. “You know when I’m in a race, you’re the voice in my head.”
“The others aren’t important. You focus on your lane. Clear your mind of any distractions, and come back home to me afterward.“ I play her words in my head.
“I have my moments.” We laugh at that and she tightens her grip around me. “I love you, Meadow.”
The grin lifts my cheeks to the sides. “Love you, Mom.” Ikiss her forehead before I snatch a piece of candy and toss it into my mouth.
Dad crosses the store to sneak a glance outside, “There’s someone out here making a fuss. They’re filming the whole thing.” He’s completely immersed in the image he portrays, “What a scandal. She cheats on him with someone else. Such an attention seeker this one.” The joke is laced in every word he utters. “The Garageis on fire, go and handle the audience your bike is getting, son.”
“M-hmm.” Mom hums in her glorious sassiness, putting her palms on her hips.
Turning his head in our direction, “What?”
“Nothing.” Her mouth twitches to the side, “Mister, whatever you need, you come to Milo.”
He walks inside and catches Mom between his arms. “Providing good service isn’t a crime, my little, Donna.” He ends that statement by kissing her nose.
