It’s been an ongoing struggle to keep her helicopter blades far enough away so she didn’t cut off my head in the process of rescuing me from whatever situation she thinks I’m struggling with.
There’s a loud ding in the auditorium. “Oh look, Mom, it’s time for the men’s medals.”
She looks at me weirdly. “Do I have to stay for the men’s finals? You’re not a man.”
Deep breaths. Count to ten. “You guys can go. Cyrus will stay with me.”
“Do they take the men’s medals too? Or are the games sexist?”
Count to twenty. “Yes, mom. They take the medals from the guys as well.”
She huffs. “Wellfine. As long as they take them from everyone. It wouldn’t be fair otherwise.”
Is it possible for your mother to cause a tumor? Because I’m pretty sure I have one growing in the back of my head, and every time my mother talks it throbs.
“It’s true, Mrs. W. When I win the gold in three days, they’ll take mine too.”
She smiles at Cyrus, almost as if he were her own child, and gently taps himon the cheek. “You better. And this time I want pictures of the two of you together. No arguments.”
Here we go again.
“Come on, dear. Let’s go.” My father tugs my mother on the arm like the unsung hero he is. “We’ll see you later, Charlie.”
The man deserves his own gold medal for the way he handles my mother. Two years ago, Cyrus and I both placed at the X Games, and my mother didn’t get apicture of us together. No one within a fifty-foot radius of her and a camera has ever heard the end of it. The way she carries on, you would think it happened yesterday.
Cyrus and I watch the two of them wander off into the crowd, and then the Chinese national anthem plays over the loudspeakers. The snowboarder who came in third place steps up to the podium to receive his bronze medal. The fanscheer, the flags wave, and it seems to take forever on this side. I swear as I stood up there a few minutes ago it happened in two seconds flat.
“Thanks for being so awesome with my mom.” I’m forced to yell words I wanted to whisper to Cyrus, but the noise is too loud around us.
He shakes his head. “Your mom is not so bad, Charlie. This is your first Winter Games and you medaled. Let her beexcited for you.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Oh really? Like you’re one to talk.” Last time we were both in the X Games, my mom made up a huge collection of posters for everyone to hold while they watched from the stands. He refused to let her use them and even went so far as to steal them from her and throw them away.
Nobody wants to be the one someone causes a scene over.
But the truth of the matteris, there’s always one. Most of us didn’t start practicing our sports at three because we were dedicated. Top athletes get this way because we have relentless parents hell-bent on making their children practice each and every day. So there’s always bound to be drama.
The crowd cheers again, clapping wildly as the racer from Norway climbs the steps to the silver-place podium. He waves and smilesas the event official places a silver disc around his neck. Then the music changes and his face falls. The United States of America anthem plays over the loudspeakers, and Knox climbs the steps to take his position in the number one spot as the guy from Norway scowls. Being a sore loser is never something you want to have caught on camera, and it looks like Norway memes will rule the Internet ina few hours.
Knox leans down waiting for his medal. When it’s laced around his neck, the crowd goes wild, including me. I clap hard, the skin stinging even under my mittens. I can’t help it. This moment is a beautiful one for any and all athletes. It’s even better when it’s an American at the top.
“Are you getting all emotional again?” Cyrus asks leaning his face in mine.
I push him away butit’s too late. The smell of his aftershave invades my senses. It awakens my libido. That bitch still hasn’t learned my best friend is off limits. In the countless years Cyrus and I have been friends, he’s never once made any kind of mention of wanting more in our relationship. And I refuse to be the one to risk it, but damn, it sucks being in love with your best friend. He’s always around smellingwonderful and looking good
Probably tasting good.
I’m not sure because I’m not crazy enough to try and lick him. Although if the situation arises and I think I’ll get away without being caught, I might make an attempt.
“Alright, the party’s over,” Cyrus says as the music dies down. “Let’s go to bed. Early morning tomorrow.”
I chuckle. Nice try. I have to give him points for the attempt. “No,you have a big morning tomorrow. I get to sleep in.”
Cyrus’ face falls like I’ve kicked his puppy. “You’d party without me?”
“No, I promise I won’t have any fun until you’re done too,” I say with my fingers crossed behind my back.
