Stephen.
"Morning Stephen, remember it's Saturday 6:30am....this would be a new learning experience and you should try to make the most of it,even make friends".
I open my eyes to see mom leaning on the open door of my room, arms crossed across her chest. She makes her way to my bag, removes physics books and vertically arranges them on the shelves.
She picks a book near my face mumbling, "like father like son from the way I see it". Fully awake and mumbling a "good morning" to mom,I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and shower.
I look at my reflection regretting on why I let my mom convince me into attending her friend Rose's engagement party, yet she clearly had her friendship status in mind. Mrs. Rose worked as a traumatic nurse at Brigham And Women's Hospital. She got to know mum when she attended to her the day she gave birth to us and they have been close ever since.
From her look of things, she wanted to introduce her handsome son to her friends and I was almost too willing because she meant the most to me and she stood by me as I grew up. I decide on a pair of black jeans and a white shirt as I head downstairs.
My mom is setting the dining table as she hands me bowls of oatmeal, dad's cup of coffee, glasses of orange juice, bananas, pancaked eggs, toasted bread, bacon and doughnuts for dad to arrange on the table.
Laughs of my brother and sister are heard as they descend downstairs and make themselves comfortable around the table. I scan the stairs as my mom whispers," Daddy is still in his study doing work as usual" and she suddenly becomes absent-minded and sad faced.
I message her back and try to comfort her as we settle on the table. A quick prayer from little Cindy as we eat silently.
Flashback-;
I don't get it, why does dad keep acting as if we didn't exist and yet we lived under the same roof. Ever since I've been born, I rarely saw dad at home and when he was at home , he would lock himself in his study.
I would hear them quarell in the middle of the night, then I would hear the hard slam of the front door. "....Mom, please hold on a little longer....please God..." I would whisper every night before I went to sleep.
My mom was the one who mostly took me to Kindergarten and stood by me all the way and now still in Fenway High School, she helped me with my chemistry assignment during my first year.
She took pictures when I first grew my milk teeth,took my first step, rode a bike, my first heartbreak, attended all my school functions and even was there for me when I received an award from the physics competition at school.
She made me feel validated as a son through her assurance
End of flashback.
My mom's phone rings,she picks it up and head to the kitchen. " .....yes, he's ready. You can come over and join us for breakfast....ok.....see you.....(end of call). Stephen..... (giggles) , Mary is coming over for breakfast, be at your best and hope you remembered to brush your teeth...".
Crimson red crept up my cheeks as mom prepares extra food and sets it on the table.
The door bell rings and mom hurries to open the door. I can't believe she actually came over yet I am never talkative around her and in most times I avoid her at school.
She's one grade behind me, a tall beautiful brunette and a talkative one too." Thanks Mrs. Pearson", she sits close to mum and enjoys the dish.
And mom being always mum, she starts to ask really personal questions and starts to reveal my embarrassing moments to Mary.
She even had the nerve to show my baby photos to Mary and yet she knows how personal I am.
"Mom, please we are getting late for the engagement and you know how upset Mrs. Rose can be", I get up from my plate and head upstairs to pick up my phone and black coat.
Kevin,my brother elbows my arm and winks at me the very known message it's supposed to imply as we head to my room.
" Eeeeew..... she's not my girlfriend and above that we've known each other since the 4th grade. She's basically like my sister and a friend". I close my laptop, get the phone and we head out.
I still find mum talking with Mary and had to interfere with their conversation,afraid of where it might lead me into. ".....Stephen I'd be happy to know if you could escort Mary to the engagement party, she'd keep you company while I chat with my friends, and I expect you to say yes..".
Quiet response from me, looking at the cheerful Mary holding hands with mum, I protest," But..t.t.t.....mum, I won't be there for long and still remember that I am supposed to go over my assignments and my tutor is coming over, YOU VERY WELL KNOW THAT!!..."
Mom stands up with hands on her hips," MR. STEPHEN PEARSON... I didn't teach you to raise your voice at me, I expect better of you young man, you'll escort Mrs. Mary to the party and not a word from you....sorry Miss Mary, Stephen can be quite as stubborn before you get to know him." Mary chuckles and whispers to her,"I try to manage Mrs. Pearson(giggles).
My cheeks feel hot as I follow mum and Mary to the car in the garage. My mum orders me to sit at the back to keep Mary company, which I knew was her plan from the start.
Her constant glance reflected by the rear-view mirror confirmed my suspicion.
As I glance through the side door mirror, I see my dad and siblings at the balcony fighting not to laugh as they witnessed the whole scene. THE NERVE!! At least my dad hadn't lost his side of humour.
I remained silent throughout the whole drive while Mary and mom continued with their small talk,except for the few occasional glance from mom. Mary pulls out her phone and watches Vampires Diary. I propose watching the movie together, sharing my ear pads together.
I was so caught up at the moment to notice mom driving the car towards the yard of Mrs. Rose and parks the car. Mom turns towards us from the driver's seat," stay and keep each other company while at the party, I on the other hand will hang out with Mrs. Rose....And REMEMBER.... behave".(She heads out and shuts the door)
The mansion of a house looked big from the walkway. Mum goes over and greets Miss Rose and a tall, well-built man whom I presumed to be her fiance.
I intertwine my fingers around Mary's and lead her towards the house. And since I know the home as the palm of my hand, I lead her to the kitchen where the heart of the home was.
"How are you Stephen,you've grown into a more handsome young man since the last time I saw,not that you were ugly before that.....(Mrs. Rose pulls me into a hug)... And who might your friend be..(smiling with spark in her eyes).
I introduced Mary as a family friend who agreed to be my partner to the party I hand out a wrapped parcel to Mrs. Rose and congratulated her on the engagement party. She excused herself to look for mum as we helped ourselves to the goodies.
Sudden outburst from Mary had me glance at her direction, surprised. She wipes a piece of the chocolate cake from my cheeks (crimson red), shows it to me and holds her stomach as she struggles to laugh.
(Can play the game too!) I dip my I index finger in the cake and sketch a circle around her face as I ran upstairs (laughing) and lock myself in the guest room.
Everything inside the room looks neat and arranged. I head over to one of the shelves, pick a comic book and make myself comfortable on the bed. As I peruse through the pages, I hear a knock on the door followed by," Steve (knock) I know you are in there,wait till I get my hands on you....". She opens the door with a spare key, then she lets out a deep breath as I pretend to be engrossed in the book.
I hear a laugh as I am weighed down by the weight on top of me. I feel a button from her front jeans press my back, her silky top obstructing my view and her distracting fresh axe perfume.
"Steve..... admit you are a creeper (giggles) or I will never get off.....(she starts to tickle my sides, earning a laugh as I try to shake her off)
"...or either agree I come for a sleepover at your house, your choice.." (continues the tickling). I agreed for a sleepover and she rolled to my left side of the bed, checking out what I had been reading. We changed to conversation, she shared how school had been the past few weeks.
" Tell me something about yourself Steve, I notice you seem not to enjoy to socialize with people at school.... So you are the nerd type..".(twirling her strand of hair around her finger)
" 1+1 is 2, so basically something like that but am social around people I know well.....like you"(I pinch her nose)
" Hehehe.....ummmh....yeah( crimson creeps up her cheek). We get off the bed and head downstairs to join the party. I pick up two cups of juice and make my way to Mary who is sitting by the table watching couples dancing . She seemed to look in awe with her chin rested on her right hand.
I settle the drinks near her and hold my right palm towards her," Care to dance mi ladei(coughs)".
"I'd love to sir (winks)", she reaches for my palm and we head to the dance floor, standing closely opposite to each other. My left hand snakes below her waist while my other hand holds her right hand as we sway to the music.
A soothing music flow follows as she rests her head on my chest, whispering ,"thanks for best time ever Steve....you made my day"
" Thanks for you time too Mary, hope I didn't bore you to death a few hours ago(giggles). And don't tell my mom about this, I don't want her having any funny ideas. Also I want to live in peace at the comfort of my home. You know how crazy and meddling she can get."
"Ok, I pinky promise( showing her pinky) and am dead serious about the sleepover in your home. I'll get you for that pinch in the nose and that mess you made in my face. I'll inform your parents first if they are ok with me having a sleepover in your home. AND I PROMISE I WON'T GO EASY ON YOU THIS TIME ( tickles my side).