There was a long silence. The light on the Ring camera remained lit.
“Hello?” I asked. “Did you hear me?”
Finally, I heard a deadbolt slam open. But the door only opened a crack. Through the sliver of vision, I saw a wrinkled face and a single green eye.
“We don’t have a son,” the woman said.
At first, I wondered if I was at the wrong house. But her eye was green like Cash’s, and there was a hint of pain and anger in her voice. She also didn’t close the door.
“I don’t know why you would say that,” I said to the barely-visible woman on the other side of the door. “Cash and his band are in town right now. It would mean the world to him if you met him for dinner or even just coffee to—”
“No,” she hissed. “He made his choice. Now he has to live with the consequences.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “But it’s been two years. Right? Cash said the last time you spoke to him was two years ago.”
“You’re in his band. You’reViolet.” She said the word like it was a curse.
“Actually, no. I’m not Violet. But she is one of his bandmates.”
“Then who in God’s name are you?” she demanded. “How do you know Cash?”
“I’m sort of… his friend, I guess. I’m touring with them and doing the artwork for their shows. Listen, they’re playing here in Detroit tonight. I talked to the band manager and got him to reserve some backstage passes. They’re available for pickup at will-call. If you—”
“Cash shouldn’t have sent you,” she scolded. “He knows how we feel about this. He’s a grown man, and is free to throw his entire life away, but Icertainlydon’t have to watch him do it from the front row.”
The door slammed shut and the deadbolt reengaged.
“Hey!” I knocked politely. “Please, just sit down and talk to me. I really think you’ll reconsider if you just hear what I have to say.”
“You’ve said plenty,” came her muffled voice. “Please leave my porch or I’m calling the police.”
That was the last straw. I felt my patience vanish like it had never really been there.
“You’re unbelievable!” I shouted through the closed door. “Your son is one of the most warm, intelligent people I’ve ever met. And you’re upset just because he wouldn’t take over the family business?”
“We don’t care—” she began, but I continued right over her.
“I know turning down MIT is crazy. I definitely won’t argue with you about that. But he’s pursuing what he loves! And he’s incredible at it! You should hear him play the bass guitar. He’s one of the best I’ve ever witnessed. He plans the bus routes and all the hotels. He herds the rest of the band everywhere we go. He’s a leader, he’s a master at his craft, and you’re upset because you disagree with his decision todo what he wants.”
She started to protest, but I wasn’t done.
“I can’t imagine having parents like you,” I continued, not bothering to hide my scorn. “My mom and dad were always supportive of me, no matter what they wanted. Dad always expected me to become some big engineer or architect, but when I discovered that I wanted to be an artist, he didn’t disown me! He nurtured my interests! It’sunfathomableto me that you would cut off all contact with Cash just because you disagree with a decision he made. I genuinely did not think people like you existed. It makes me appreciate my parents so much more. So thank you for putting things in perspective.”
I was shouting, and one of the neighbors had stepped onto their porch to see what the commotion was, but I didn’t care. I was speaking straight from the heart. The angry, bewildered heart.
“And you know what? Based on how you two are acting, it’s probably a good thing you’ve cut off communication with Cash. Because if you were still in his life, he wouldn’t be the man that he is.”
In a curt voice, the woman said, “The police are on their way.”
“I hope you realize what a mistake you’re making,” I said, stepping back. “And I hope you’ll learn to love the son that you have, and not the son you wish he had become.”
I was shocked by the passion pouring out of me like a geyser. But everything I said was true, and I realized it had been building inside of me since Cash told me about this whole situation.
I went to the end of the driveway, then picked a direction and started walking. I didn’t want to be around them any longer. And if I stayed, I might be tempted to give in to the temptation to smash their car light with my foot.
But beneath the anger, all I felt was overwhelming sadness for Cash. For the situation he was inexplicably in.
So much for parents loving me.
