by Pepper Paris
She was laughing at something Amy had said. It didn’t look like my mother had made her way over to where they were…yet.
“Hey, where did you disappear to?” Roxie smiled, touching my arm.
“Oh, I had to get some fresh air.”
“Ha-ha, that’s a good one, Kelly. We’re out in the fresh air,” Dave cackled.
“Well, you didn’t have one of those fun conversations with a parent. I just needed a minute to regroup before jumping to the fun.”
Roxie gave me a knowing look. “They were just telling me about the house on Washington Street. You remember the one that always creeped us out as kids? Somebody bought it. They’ve been fixing it up, but are leaving the spookiness.”
“Yeah, they replaced the broken windows, but repainted it a dark gray.” Garett gave a shudder.
“I’ve met the lady who bought it and she looks like something straight out of a witch movie.” Amy grinned. “She comes in to have her hair straightened, but nobody can get any information out of her about where she came from.”
“She probably eats children and doesn’t want others coming around or digging into her garden.”
“There’s a garden?” I asked, not catching onto the fact that they were implying she was planting bodies.
“What else do you think she’s using the garden for? Food?”
They all started laughing.
“Speaking of food, let’s go ahead and get some while we can. I have a feeling that we won’t be welcome for as long as I’d like.”
Making our way through the food tables, we chose a picnic table on the edge of the party. My mom kept throwing glances in my direction, but I ignored them.
The last item of the evening was the fireworks display, and I really wanted to stay to enjoy it, but I knew that it would mean I had to face my parents.
“If we hurry, we can get a good spot over on the other side of the lake,” I suggested, hoping the others would take me up on it.
Roxie understood that I wanted to be far away from the party.
“I’ll agree if Garrett will help me load up a few of these coolers with the alcohol in them.” Dave gestured to the coolers sitting unattended.
“We’re going to go because I don’t want to be responsible for what you’re about to do.”
I made sure that I walked out in front of the adults so that my mom would know I’d left and everything that happened afterward couldn’t be blamed on me.
Safe in the truck, I relaxed for the first time all night.
“You told her, huh?” Roxie broke the silence.
“About you, yes. I didn’t get through the rest. There just wasn’t enough time, and I wasn’t going to ruin her party. Then I would never be able to get back into her good graces.”
“What changed your mind?”
I put the truck into gear, making our escape. “She tried to set me up with Christy’s cousin Karen. The one we met as we got there, and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I’m proud to be your boyfriend, and I don’t need to date sluts who look good to my mother just to keep up the pretense.”
“Do you want to take me home? We don’t have to go watch the fireworks.”
“No, I’m not going to let her ruin our fun. We deserve to have a night celebrating our nation’s independence.”
On the other side of the lake, I took out a blanket and placed it on the ground. I really didn’t care if the guys joined us with beer or not. I was more than comfortable with it just being us.
“Get ready, it’s about to start.” Roxie settled down onto the blanket, using my arm as a pillow.
We ooh and aahed as each set burst above us into arrays of green, red, and blue.
“This is when I realize that there are good people in the world,” Roxie spoke softly.
“Of course there are good people in the world. I just haven’t met many lately.”
That got me a poke in the side.
“No, think of all the soldiers who died so that we could lay on this blanket right now. Not everyone is selfish. I’ve just grown up around people who are always looking out for themselves. This always reminds me that there are other ways to live than just what we’ve been exposed to.”
I lay there processing her words. She was right. I wouldn’t ever be free if I let my family’s selfish wants dictate my actions. I was going to have to face the music and break free of their debilitating mindsets. The amount of money in the bank didn’t determine if a person was acceptable to be around. People determined that on their own by their actions.
“Roxie, you’re amazing, did you know that?” I moved a little closer to her.
“Why do you say that?” she turned to ask me as her nose brushed my cheek.
“Because you haven’t let your situation stop you from becoming a wonderful, caring person. I mean, you could have taken the fact that you don’t know your dad, or that your mom pretty much ignores you, to keep you from going to college or making a life for yourself. It hasn’t changed who you are on the inside.”
“Kelly, you are so wrong.” She wasn’t paying attention to the fireworks anymore. “I’m disabled by feelings of inadequacy. How can I possibly be a good girlfriend to you, much less to the other guys? I don’t feel that I’m good enough for any of you. I can’t be the perfect housewife or mother because I’ve never had a good example.”
“Nonsense.” I pushed away her doubts. “You’ve been mothering all of us for years. Kind of like Wendy to the Lost Boys, but you don’t need an example to follow.”
“How am I going to know what to say or do in situations that come up? What if I was invited to dinner with your family and I used the wrong utensils?”
“Well, first off, I don’t see any dinner invitations in our future. But that aside, how do you think others do it? People are faced with situations every day that are different to them. You just have to do what you think is best each time. We can prepare all we want to, but until we’re faced with that situation, there’s no way to predict what will happen,” I reassured her, but realized that I needed to take my own advice with my parents.
A pair of headlights joined us. “I guess they got out with the goods.”
“So much for any ideas I might have had about doing something sexy with you out here under the stars.”
“I’m going to hold you to that later.” I grinned and got up to go help the guys unload.
I knew I was late getting home, but I didn’t want to give my mother any more reasons to be upset. I snuck in through the back door and carried my shoes up the stairs to my room.
I’d only been asleep a few hours when I heard noises coming from downstairs. I took a quick shower before heading down.
There were boxes everywhere, and my mother was assembling them with tape in a furious manner.
Curious, but feeling the need to be cautious, I walked in and poured myself a cup of coffee.
Joining my father, who was sitting at the table, I pointed toward Mom. “What’s up with her?”
“She’s getting ready to pack up your stuff,” he replied matter-of-factly.
“What?” I sputtered, spitting out the coffee I’d just sipped.
“She says she warned you, and when you didn’t listen, it was time to take drastic measures.”
“Do you agree with her?” I couldn’t believe that my father was on her side.
“Not exactly, but you can’t be dating women who aren’t appropriate for you.”
“Aw, come on, Dad. She introduced me to the town slut’s cousin. I don’t mind some of the girls she wants to fix me up with, but most of them are horrible when they’re not in their parent’s presence. Besides, Roxie is so sweet and kind. If Mom would just take the time to get to know her…”
“You know your mother, son. She’ll never believe that someone who doesn’t come from a good family is right for you.”
“No, she doesn’t believe that I could be happy without money. Well, does she realize that I don’t have money because it’s
yours? I’ve just gotten the chance to use it, I didn’t work for it.”
“You’re right, young man. That’s why you’ll be leaving our house until such a time as you figure out that the people paying your bills might know something about how hard it is to make it on love alone,” she snapped.
“It’s not just about love, Mom. You can’t run my entire life. I have to have a say.”
“Oh, you will in everything from now on because you’ll be doing it all on your own. When you’re ready to dump that horrible girl and apologize, then you can come back if your father and I believe that you’re sincere enough.”
“What’s so horrible about her? What has she ever done to you? Be born to a mother that hates her and made her take care of them? Did you know that she works to not only put herself through school, but to support her mother and aunt?”
“That’s very admirable, dear, but if she’s working so much, she’ll never have the time to settle down and have a family. She’s just not the best match for you.”
“Oh my God!” I growled. “You just don’t get it! You can’t judge people based on some made-up system. You came from a poor family, and I know that it’s your worst nightmare, but that doesn’t mean all people who start out poor stay that way. I’m staying with Roxie, and even you making me move out won’t change that.”
“Well, when you go back to school and your miles away again, you’ll see that there are other women out there to choose from.”
“No, I won’t change my mind or have a long-distance relationship with her. I’ve transferred to the same college that she’s at.”
My mother let out a gasp and clutched for the back of the kitchen chair to keep from fainting.
“You’ve quit football for this girl?” My dad’s voice thundered through the room.
He’d taken an amused stance, staying out of my mother’s way until this moment.
“No. I quit last semester after the season was over. I don’t want to play football professionally. It wasn’t what I thought going into it. If there was a chance that I’d be chosen to be on a professional team, I might have stuck with it, but there were so many others all just waiting for their teammates to make a mistake or be hurt that I just didn’t want to throw myself into the ring.”
“You’ll lose your scholarships…And what about the money we sent to the college?” My mother sank into the chair that had been holding her up.
“Yes, I lost the football scholarships, but they can go to someone who deserves them more. The money you sent was reimbursed and paid for tuition at my new school. It’s the first time I’ve actually enjoyed classes. Before, I was exhausted from practice and more practice that I barely had time to study or do the assignments. I went from having low C’s to all A’s this semester, and have a part-time job.”
“There’s no hope for you. How could you do this to us?”
“Mom, I’m not doing it to you, I’m doing it for me. I have to be able to look at myself each day and know that I didn’t make it on the luck and hard work of others. I understand if you don’t want to fund my school stuff, but I’ve already made the payments for this year. You put together an education fund, and it can’t be touched except for my schooling. I don’t have to use it for next year, but we can discuss it at a later date.”
“What’s done is done, son. Just know that we aren’t going to come and pick up the pieces. Your mother would say to let you fumble around on your own, and I’m inclined to agree with her. On the other hand, we set that fund up for whatever colleges you and your brother choose, and we didn’t stipulate it based on your athletic abilities. We’ll let the payments you’ve used stand for now, but I doubt that we’ll be paying anything else in the future.” He shook his head in disappointment. “I feel that this is a bad decision, but you’ve made this choice and now you’re going to have to live with it. Make sure that you clear out all of your stuff by the end of the day. Your mother shouldn’t have to pack it up for you.”
“Yes, sir. I don’t want to leave you on bad terms, and I’ll keep calling you to let you know how things are going. I didn’t want to lie to you, but I knew that you wouldn’t agree with my decisions. I needed a chance to prove to myself and to you that I could make it on my own.” I tried to apologize.
“You haven’t really been making it on your own, but we won’t be putting spending money into your accounts, and you’ll have to figure out how to make it work.”
“Honestly, I’ve been saving all the money I’ve been making at work and paid cash for the truck. I love you both, and I hope that one day you’ll be able to accept my choices and welcome me back home.” I looked at both of them. “Not to move back in, but as part of your family.”
“No son of mine would make these kinds of choices that will ruin his future.” My mother got up, turning away to hide the tears running down her face, leaving me and my father sitting at the table.
“One day, not in the near future, she’ll come around. Just make sure that you do everything you can to succeed. Make sure to send her cards and letters on the holidays. Eventually she’ll soften, but it might be years before that happens.” He patted my back as he left the room.
I sat there, amazed. This was not the way I thought this conversation would go at all. My dad had left a glimmer of hope that one day I’d be welcome again. Well, before I left for good, I might as well enjoy coffee and a meal. It felt like my last supper as I faced my execution, but then again, I was alive, and my punishment seemed like something I could face, especially with Roxie by my side.
“Want another roommate for the last few weeks of summer?” I texted her.
“Sure thing.” She texted back with a smiley face.
Now to box up my entire life and leave. I wonder what my mom will do with my empty room?
I shrugged. It wasn’t my problem anymore.
Chapter Seven
Roxie
It had been three weeks since the 4th of July fiasco, and it had been quiet with no word from either of our parents when I got a call.
“Roxie, can you come up here to the front, please? There’s someone here to see you.”
“To see me?” I was curious, but the receptionist had ended the call.
Sticking my head into the lobby, I saw Kelly’s dad, Bob Hudson.
“Mr. Hudson, what can I do for you?” I reached out to shake his hand.
“Is there somewhere that we could go to speak privately?”
The only room we had was a small conference room, and it was empty.
“Sue, can we use the conference room for a few minutes?”
“Yeah, go ahead.” She studied us as we entered and pointed to her watch when I went to close the door.
If it went longer than a few minutes, she’d interrupt and give me an option to get out.
“What can I help you with?” I motioned for him to take a seat as I pulled out a chair from across the table.
“I’m in a difficult position. Kelly has made it clear that you are going to be a part of his life. While I appreciate his decision and know that he has always had a soft spot for you, I’ve been wondering if you’ve considered the effect that you’ve had on his future.”
“Exactly what are you implying? That I’ve stopped him from having a future?” I wanted to scream and yell at him so badly, but bit my lip, holding it all in.
“Oh, I’m not implying.” He smiled at me. “I’m just stating fact. The longer he’s allowed to play house with you, the longer he’ll take to get back to his goals.”
“I don’t think you understand what Kelly’s doing. He doesn’t want to play football. He would rather get his education and help others than to chase something that doesn’t provide him happiness. This has nothing to do with me. I wasn’t even with him when he made this decision.”
“While I do get that he’s spreading his wings, anything that you say can help sway him in the right direction. If you were to convince him to just try out for the football team at your school, then h
e might still have a chance to be noticed by a scout for the pros.”
“I might be able to mention it, but it’s not what he wants.”
“Damn it, girl. This is his future we’re talking about.”
“I know, which is really strange that he isn’t here to discuss it with you, don’t you think?”
“Are you just trying to be willful, or do you really want him to fail?”
“No, sir. I want the best that Kelly can have, but it’s his choice. The more pressure he feels that he has to measure up, the more likely he is to continue doing what he’s doing. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with his choices, but if you want him to consider other options, then you might want to talk to him, not me.”
“This is just making no sense. Where did the thought of quitting football come from?”
“I know he hasn’t made it easy for you or Mrs. Hudson, but I don’t think that he’s ever really enjoyed it as much as you both thought he did. It was what he was supposed to do. Now that he’s had a chance to think about his future and see how competitive that kind of career could be, he’s trying to find out what he really likes.”
“So you’re saying we never gave him any options? He’s just doing this to rebel against us?” He frowned, still not understanding what I was trying to explain.
“It’s the exact opposite. It was what he was always supposed to do, and you tried to give him the world, but it was your world and your goals, and he did it to please you. Somewhere along the way he couldn’t keep loving the sport. He still loves you, and didn’t want to make you mad, which is why he never talked to you about it.”
“What you’re saying is now that he’s left home, he’s suddenly grown a pair to stand up to us?”
“If that’s how you want to phrase it, then yes. He’s standing on his own two feet and is feeling pretty confident. Even though it’s not what you want for him, it’s what he needed to become his own person.”
Mr. Hudson nodded thoughtfully. “You’ve given me a lot to think about. I personally don’t have anything against you, Roxie. I know my wife is just reminded about where she came from when she looks at you, but you’re a great girl to stick up for his choices even when facing his father.”