I get on my knees and bend over until I'm eye level with the space under his bed. Lifting the bed skirt, I prepare myself for the mess I'll find under here. There isn't anything shoved into the small space. Well, except for two things. I grab his shoes and pull them out from under his bed before standing up.
"He said he doesn't know where they are." Before he has a chance to freak out more than he already is, I dangle his cleats in front of me. "Thanks, Mom. You saved me from having to run laps around the field."
"You're welcome." I open my arms up for a hug, and he awkwardly wraps one arm around me for a few seconds before pulling away. I miss the days when he would hug me for no reason other than being his mom. I guess he'stoo oldfor that now. "Do I need to pick you up from practice?"
"Nope. I have a ride." He takes his cleats and rushes toward the door, grabbing his bat bag on the way. "I'll see you when I get home."
"Be careful, and have fun." I call after him. He didn't hear me, though. The front door slammed shut before I even got the sentence out. That kid is quick.
I pick up the dirty laundry scattered in front of his bed and put it in the laundry basket. He can tackle that when he gets home. He's lucky it was only his school clothes on the floor because I'm not a fan of picking up his clothes after practice. It's gross.
Leaving his room, I close the door behind me and head to the kitchen. His baseball schedule will most likely eat up our weekends, and I need to let Carlos know when I'll be able to work.
"Mom," here we go again, "can you help me with my homework?"
"That depends," I set the schedule on the bar and turn toward Abby, "what subject?"
"Algebra," she sets her laptop, and some paper, on the table. "I don't understand it. And the teacher sucks at explaining it."
"Did you ask them for help?"
"No," she grunts, "it wouldn't matter. If I don't understand how she explains it to the class, what difference would it make if I ask her on my own?"
"That's a pretty flimsy excuse. I'm sure she would have tried to help you in a way it makes sense for you." I pull out the chair next to where she set her stuff down. "But I'll give it my best shot."
Twenty minutes. That's how long we spend on her homework before I throw my hands in the air. "I don't understand the way they have y'all doing math. No wonder you don't get it."
"No offense, Mom, but the way you do it is so much harder than the way we do."
"If you say so," I mutter under my breath, "want to help me get dinner ready?"
"Actually, I'm going to call Chloe and see if she can help me with the homework." She gathers her things and heads toward the living room.
"Make sure it's actually help, and not just giving you the answers."
"I know." She leaves the kitchen with her phone already in her hand. Fingers moving rapidly over the screen.
Leaning back, I grab Isaac's schedule off the bar. His school games are already in my calendar. I just need to add these.
After this weekend, I'll be able to pay the balance for his select team. I still have a couple more weeks, but I want to get it taken care of sooner than later. Thank God for the tips I get as a bartender. Now I can start saving up for a car for him.
"What are you doing, Bug?" My dad pulls out a chair and sits.
"Syncing up my calendar with the newest schedule." I sigh as I see the days filling up. Most of the games are in the morning and afternoon. Which is good because it means I'll still be able to work nights at the bar.
"That sounds like fun," he leans back, "are you adding them to the calendar all of us share?"
"Yep." With each event I add, I know it's making the kids' phones blow up. Isaac won't be annoyed by it until he's done with practice, but Abby...I know she's probably silently cursing me.
"Don't forget about the game this week. If you want to meet us there, I can take him. It's one less stop you have to make."
I hate relying on my dad so much. I'm grown, I should have my shit figured out. "That sounds good."
"Good," he stands and goes to the fridge, "I'll get dinner started."
"I can do that, Dad." I scoot the chair back, prepared to stop him, "I was about to until I got distracted by the schedule."
"No, you sit," he motions for me to stay where I am. "You worked today. All I did was play a round of golf while the kids were in school."
