Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
She met Randall when I was twelve, married him when I was fourteen, and not a day goes by that I don’t wish it was his blood that flowed through my veins.
I pick at the red and black beaded bracelet on my wrist. She made it for me during one of her crafting phases. I wear it all the time. On my other wrist is a silly, white rubber bracelet that Evan got one night when we were out at Flirt. He put it on me when we were dancing so now I always wear that one too. It makes him happy to see it on my wrist. “From now on, you should just always make extra of things I like, just in case I happen to come over.”
She chuckles and rolls her eyes at me. “Should I now?”
“I think so. I mean, I am your favorite son and all.” I pick up the egg and bite into it.
“You’re my only son,” she replies. I can’t answer because I’m chewing, but she continues first anyway. “But you’re still the best one in the world.”
“Thanks, Ma.” I go to the fridge on the other side of the kitchen and grab the pitcher of sweet tea. “You thirsty?”
“Sure, I’ll have a glass.”
I pour our drinks as she finishes up with the eggs and then we go outside into the backyard. She scratches her arm—her skin is a few shades darker than mine. I pull out a chair for her at the patio table. Mom sits and then I take a seat beside her. “How’s work going?” she asks.
“Good. Keeping busy, which I guess is both good and bad since people have to need us for me to be busy.” I’ve known since I was seven years old that I would work on an ambulance. I know what it feels like to be on the other side, seeing those first responders come to help you, that moment you look up at that person who becomes your hero. Most of my life I’ve worked toward people looking at me that way, knowing that I would always be there to help.
“Have you put any more thought into the Paramedic Program?”
It’s something I’ve tossed around for a year or so now. There’s a part of me that wants to do it but on the other hand, I’m happy where I am. I feel good going to work every day and though more knowledge is always better, I don’t need to be a paramedic. I just don’t know if I want it or not. “Thinking about it here and there. It’s not real active on my radar, though.”
She pats my thigh. “The only thing that matters is that you’re happy…and you are, which means I’m happy too. You know how proud of you I am, Frankie.”
I set my hand over her smaller one. She’s little, not over five foot two but you don’t fuck with her. She hasn’t let anyone fuck with her since the sperm donor left. “I know, Ma.” We haven’t always had it easy. Mom and I…we’ve been through a lot, but we’ve always had each other. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
We enjoy the rest of our tea and talk about her work at the nursery. Mom’s always loved plants and flowers. It wasn’t something the sperm donor had allowed her to do, for no other reason than the fact that she enjoyed it, but Randall has always encouraged her. Even if he didn’t, she wouldn’t allow anyone to dictate her life again. Not like that.
When we hear the front door open, we head back inside.
“Hey, Dad,” I say to Randall.
“Hey, Frankie.” He walks right over to the deviled eggs, but Mom swats his hand like she did mine.
“Get out of those. They’re for the party tonight.”
“Ouch, woman!” He teases and both Mom and I burst into laughter.
“I should head back to Midtown and let you guys do your thing.”
“Do you have plans with Evan tonight?” Dad asks.
“And when do we get to meet this guy?” Mom adds. “He’s the first man you’ve ever talked to me about.”
“That’s because they’re not hooking up, dear. They’re just friends,” Dad replies for me, and my forehead wrinkles.
“Um…the words ‘hooking up’ sound weird coming from you. And I don’t know when you’ll meet him. You know we’re just friends, right, Ma?” I’ve told her a million times. Unlike our friends who just give us shit about our friendship, I think my mom believes we’re secretly in love. It’s not about that with Evan, though. He’s…different. I knew it the first night I went home with him after the Peter fiasco. I’ve never had a problem talking. I’m a chatty motherfucker and everyone knows it, but I’m also a good listener too. It’s important to take the time to listen to people and when I’d done it for Ev that night, it was like no one had ever taken the time to let him talk before.