“Have you seen Ellie?”My mom hedges nonchalantly. I know deep down she’s burning with curiosity though. From the very beginning, she was taken with El.
We’ve just sat down for dinner. It’s always been a household tradition that Friday night is pizza night. Meaning, despite the endless amount of tubs currently sitting in momma’s fridge freezer, I went to pick up our favorite pizzas from the local Pizza Hut. I’m in my mid-twenties, I know what most would say about this situation. Hell, I know what my friends say, I know how very different their relationships are with their parents. But to me being close with my mom is the most natural thing in the world.
I’m not one bit surprised when Mom mentions El, I knew this would bring up some old memories for her. The last Friday night I spent in this house was only a week after Ellie and I broke up. It was tough, I was beside myself. Momma tried so hard to make me feel better about the whole situation but in the end, I got angry at her too.
She told me it would be alright, that everything would work itself out. I didn’t believe her. Little does she know, that even now, things aren’t alright. Everything is even more fucked up than before.
That Friday night I locked myself in my room, I ignored her, I screamed. I said some hurtful things. The next morning when I’d calmed down from our fight, I apologized. I still didn’t believe that everything would be okay but I was about to leave for college, I didn’t want to leave on a bad note. Then momma sat me down and she told me the story of her and my father. I’d thought I’d heard the story before but not that version. Safe to say, it tilted my perspective a little bit.
Since my dad left my mom when she was pregnant she never really got the option of having more kids. I wanted her to be happy, so I’ve always tried to be open to the idea of her dating, even remarrying but it never happened. I hadn’t realized just how much she’d wanted more kids until I introduced Ellie as my girlfriend.
“Oh, yeah. I bumped into her a few days ago.” Aside from that, I don’t know what else there is to say. So as much as I’d love to give mom what she’s clearing looking for, I can’t.
“You know she’s an interior designer now?” No, I hadn’t known that. I have often wondered what Ellie ended up doing with her life.
“Yep, she’s a smart girl that one got a job here in town right out of college.” I can say, at the very least, that I knew she worked in town but that’s it. I hadn’t exactly taken the time to talk to El yesterday. Of course, after this morning I doubt she’ll ever say more than ‘fuck you’ to me again.
Mom continues talking, eventually moving topic to the neighbor’s kids that are off to college this year. I chuckle when she says she won’t miss them, ‘with all their loud no-word music and their sex parties during the day when they think no one’s around’.I fucking love my mom.
Somehow she always seems to have the funniest stories to tell, and the way she tells them warms my heart. It’s an easy decision to tell her about the promotion at work, about the big move. No matter where I live and how many memories I have to drive past every day, I know it’ll be worth it.
“I have some big news.” I stop eating and drop my fork, when she hugs me I’d rather not be holding a sharp utensil. “I got a promotion at work. They’re transferring me to the Lisle field office, which means I’ll be moving back home.”
“Aw, congratulations Michael, that’s the best news!” She lets out a squeal as she pushes away from the table and throws herself at me.
“I was going to wait until I started but I couldn’t keep you hanging that long.” I just knew she’d be thrilled. I smile as happiness crinkles the corners of her eyes.
“So, when did all this happen? How long do you have left up in Connecticut?” She settles herself back in her seat but all her attention is ever so clearly on me.
“I got the news that there was a position over this way, I went for it and I got told to pack my things a few days later. I put in the rest of my vacation days so that I’d have plenty of time to find a place before I had everything shipped.” I still haven’t packed up my apartment up in Connecticut, I was too excited that this was all actually happening. I hadn’t even thought about how moving home would actually make me feel, until the first time I pulled into mom’s driveway. It all hit me very hard, and suddenly, as momma came rushing out the door.
“You’ve made me so happy! My son is finally coming home.” She squeezes me once more before letting go and reclaiming her seat at the dinner table. “And you’re sure this has nothing to do with a certain brunette?”
“No mom. I mean I like the weather lady and all, but she’s a bit out of my age range.”
“Funny, you know that’s not who I meant,” she chastises as she carries her empty plate into the kitchen. Thankfully she drops the conversation favoring to call all my relatives and tell them the good news.
I pull out my phone to check the time. I’ve still got some time before the taxi gets here. I told the guys to just pick me up from here. It’s Friday night, Simon’s bachelor party and I’m so pumped that I could honestly use a nap. Or maybe it’s all the stress that’s worn me out.
I enter the kitchen, plate in hand, and start working on the mountain of dishes stacked up next to the sink. Mom’s still bustling around the kitchen, phone tucked between her shoulder and ear as she starts pulling out her Tupperware containers. The woman will have a full fridge and freezer for weeks. I suppose it’s only my duty to help her by taking some of the leftovers back to Lynch’s with me tomorrow.
At the very least I’ll be well fed when I move back to Aurora.
I’m elbow-deep in a dishpan of water when a car honks outside. One look at the clock and I’m pissed, the fuckers are early. I turn and dry myself off before looking apologetically at mom, ‘I’ve got to go,” I mouth.
“Hang on Sheryl,” she pecks my cheek and waves me off before returning to her conversation with my aunt. I chuckle as she waves goodbye like she’s sending me off to preschool. If only she knew I was going out to watch women strip and swing around on a pole.
Before I’m even out of the kitchen another honk sounds from outside.Fucking pricks.
Oh, my payback will be sweet. I can’t wait for Lynch’s family to come around for lunch tomorrow - after they’ve been to church. I’m sure we’ll just have so much to catch up on.
I jump in the back of the cab, the guys are hooting and hollering obnoxiously. I can smell the alcohol on them already. Maybe that’s what I need. I’m not a drinker, I never have been but I suppose if you’ve gotta start somewhere where’s better than a strip club? After this week, I need to ease my troubles and push all my incessant thoughts away.
