Mom and Dad were reading
on the sofa. They were side by side, and they seemed really interested and
absorbed. I bit my lip as I stared at them adjacent to the couch, tapping my
pen against my Bio assignment. I’m still trying to find the opportune moment to
ask them about tomorrow and my confidence just fails me. As always.
I thought of Travis’
hopeful face as he dropped me off from school.
“Dad? Can I ask you
something?”
“Hmm?” he said absently,
no looking up. Wha – he didn’t even look at me!
“Dad.” I complained. No
response. “Mom?”
“Yes, honey?” she smiled
at me. I sat up straighter and said, “Can I go with Travis’ family tomorrow on
the beach?”
“Will you go home late?”
I knew she wasn’t really asking – she knows already. To be frank, she’s used to
Travis going in and out of the house and it’s become habit for her to reserve
some cookies for him whenever he decides to pop in. But the same can’t be said
for me; I can hardly visit time to time in their mansion whose guards probably
wouldn’t let me in, anyway.
“I really don’t know.
Travis will drive me home.” We hadn’t really discussed that part but I’m sure
as hell that he will. “So, I’m going to meet Mr. and Mrs. Warner and…Mom, what
the hell should I wear?”
She burst to laughter and
finally put her book down. ‘Is that what you were going to ask your Dad?
Because asking him is probably not a good idea.” I can’t help chuckling in
spite of my inner dilemma, “I was asking or permission, but…” I glanced towards
Dad, who was, predictably, still
sticking his nose in the book he’s holding. Mom caught my eye and she mouthed plants. Then she winked.
Of course.
Without speaking, she got
up and put her arm on my back and I left my assignment on the couch and went
with her upstairs to my room. The moment we were inside, she assessed my face
and said, “You’re worried.”
“Not that much.” I
squeaked.
“Good. You’re worried.”
She nodded as if satisfied and got my hand and led the way to the cabinet.
“Let’s see.’ She pulled both handles open and quickly skimmed the contents,
pursing her lips. She said conversationally, “Ave, do you want advice?”
“About the thing I’m
wearing?”
“No. About Travis,
honey.” She as still perusing my inventory but I can tell she’s serious about
what she’s going to say. Cautiously, I said, “Sure, Mom.” I realized I was
nervous. Not because Mom isn’t close to me – we’re close as hell – but it’s
just that she’s never given advice about something like this before and…it’s
just new.
“If you want to know how
he would treat you in the long run, just look at how he treats his mother.” She
has her hands on a green scarf I got from Aunt Laine on my 14th
birthday, but she looked at me and smiled pleasantly. Maternally. “That would
speak for itself.”
I nodded soundlessly and
managed to smile a little. I will definitely do that. Suddenly, she said, “I
like this one.” I saw her pull out a summer dress which has a colourful blending
of ocean green and magenta. It’s one of those kinds where you tie both ends of
long, thin strings of cloth at your nape. And…my shoulder blades will be
exposed.
“It’s nice, Mom. But – ”
“No buts here, Avery. El
gave you this and you didn’t even use it once. Don’t you think she would be disappointed?”
“She knows I wouldn’t
wear it, so she gave it to me.”
“So, don’t you think It
would be nice to show her that you can
wear it?” she lifted her eyebrows and smiled triumphantly. I sighed. Trust
mothers to have their way with everything.
“You win. But don’t tell
me that I have to wear a – ”
“How about a bikini?”
Shit.
I groaned. “Mom. I don’t do bikinis. I’ll look
pale.”
“But you’ll be under the
sun, honey. You’ll probably get a good tan, but bring sunblock, okay? And extra
clothes, money, just in case – ”
“I’m not going to wear
the bikini. Ever. I’m going to murder
Uncle Zed – ”
“She just laughed at her
brother’s antics. But it is not
funny. Not in the slightest. I mean – me?
Bikini?
“He said they matched
your eyes and he’s quite right, darling. And it’s really worth trying.”
“I’m going to have a
heart failure when I look at myself in the mirror – ”
“If you’re going to have
a heart failure, imagine what would happen to Travis.”
Fuck. I blushed furiously
and I was stunned momentarily. I sighed, “Mom, that’s so unfair. I’m not model
perfection like him – ”
“Nonsense. You’re
perfect.”
I rolled my eyes and sent
her a look that plainly said, You don’t
say?
“Mom, you’re extremely
biased.”
“Well, that’s a good
thing. But that’s not exactly the point. You will wear your Uncle’s gift. No excuses and no buts.”
I gritted my teeth. Maybe
asking my mother was a wrong move. So what should I’ve done, then? Ask the neighbors?
“Is this
payback-for-all-you’ve-done day or what?”
She grinned. “It’s the
first one.”
“Mom. Do I have to beg on my knees?” Maybe I should’ve asked Dad instead. Or maybe, I should’ve had the initiative to
do it myself.
“Avery, that won’t be necessary.
But when Travis sees you in this two-piece caramel bikini – ”
“Mom – ”
“It would be really nice
if you could snap a photo of his face.” She continued as if I didn’t interrupt.
She smiled hugely, “Now, I’ll help you pack your things, how about that?”
Thanks, Mom.
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