I got off the school bus in front of my house. I was so busy re-adjusting myself and my huge Art portfolio that I didn’t notice the car in the driveway. When it caught my eye I was almost past it. It was a bottle green Toyota of some kind, not that it mattered to me. I paused at the front door. My mom hadn’t exactly been sociable since dad died five years earlier, Unless you counted Smirnoff as a friend. So, I was a little uneasy about the owner of the car. As I walked into the house I could hear a man’s voice speaking softly. I slammed the door to announce my arrival.
“Shawna, I’m in the kitchen” mom called out “come in here for a sec?”
I rested my portfolio against the stairs and gave myself an eye roll in the mirror above the shoe rack. I was pleased with my reflection, the light streaming through the window made my hair look like pouring honey.
“Shawna?!” my mom sounded impatient but surprisingly sober.
“I’m coming, I’m coming” I muttered. As I walked into the kitchen a Thin man with curly black hair got up from the stool at the breakfast bar. Both He and mom were plastered with these fake nervous smiles that seemed inappropriate for the kitchen, they’d have been more suited to a toothpaste Ad, showing that many teeth.
“Shawna, this is Michael….” the combination of mom motioning and smiling i was reminded of Vanna White from wheel of fortune. Michael stepped forward, he was shorter than me which surprised me even though I stand tall at 5’10. He thrust his hand out towards me.
“nice to meet you Shawna” he said his voice was creepy, like someone whispering in the dark.
“It’s great to meet you too” I said in the most genuine voice I could muster, then without shaking his hand I sauntered over to the fridge. For some reason I felt arrogant. I grabbed a can of coke and could feel the two of them watching me. I took a huge chug of pop and instantly regretted it. I never drank pop and right then I was reminded why…..it felt like lit sparklers had been shoved up my nose, my eyes began to water. Although it was torturous I forced myself to swallow. Nothing in the world could have stopped what happened next. I belched REALLY loud. My mother suddenly got all twitchy and jumpy. Michael cleared his throat.
“Uh yeah” I finally managed to say “if you guys are done with me, I’m gonna go upstairs. I have to get ready to go out.”
“great meeting you Shawna, hope to see you again sometime” Micheal said then he turned to my mom beaming with pride at his own cleverness. I decided right then that I disliked him immensely, there was something sinister about him. I turned to look at my mom to see what kind of vibe she was giving off. I was really surprised to see her staring at me as though she had no idea who i was. I was a stranger to her.
“So mom…” I tried to break the tension with words “You remember Kat and i are going out tonight?” one of Her eyelids twitched slightly.
“o.k., well, umm, I’m going out too” she said then busied herself by picking invisible fluff from her white lace shirt. I found it strange to see her without her habitual dressing gown. Now that I was taking a closer look at her I noticed everything was different about her. Aside from the fact she was actually wearing clothes her hair was swept up in a loose bun with strands falling down around her face. People used to say she was an older Sandra Bullock and dressed up the way she was, I would have agreed. Lately though she’d been looking like a homeless person. It suddenly dawned on me that my mother was going on a date.
She saw the light going on in my head, I grinned at her. She glared back at me.
“Michael and I are going for dinner” she said and with that she clicked off in her heels muttering about her purse. Michael cleared his throat (again).
“I gotta get ready” I said pointing a thumb in the direction of the stairs. He nodded and smiled, as he searched for words I made a quick exit…………………………………
