I lay there staring at the ceiling, watching the shadows of the tree dancing. I catch myself wondering if I have thought about everything and am I truly ready to start my new life as a college freshman? The last few months of summer went by so quickly, and I can't believe that the time has arrived for me to start the next chapter in my life.
My alarm goes off on the bedstand, and I cancel it. Shit, six o clock already? I might as well get ready for my last day of work. I get up and quickly get dressed. As I walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, I see my mom dressed in her finest while busy making a toast while enjoying her favorite cup of coffee.
She's a very famous lawyer in the state and is currently busy with an extremely big case at work. Hence why she is up and running around already. As she takes a bite from the toast, sees me walking in, and asks;
"How did you sleep last night, hun?"
I smile at her and say;
"About as much as you did? I heard you walking around talking to yourself again." I smile and tell her jokingly;
"You should really get yourself checked out by a professional, mom."
She rolls her eyes at me while smiles at me while I sit down at the table, and says;
"Sorry for keeping you up last night...and hey. You know that I have a big day ahead of me where I have a deposition of four expert witnesses...so I had to work late."
"I was only kidding, mom. I barely heard you."
My dad walks in, gives my mom and kiss and says;
"She might not have kept you awake, but she made sure as hell that I didn't get any sleep with her typing away last night."
My mom smiles while taking a sip of her coffee and replies sarcastically;
"No, no, no, you were the one that told me that I was not bothering you. So don't come and complain now, Mr."
Dad sits down next to me and asks;
"So? Are you ready?"
I shake my head in disbelieve and ask;
"Why does everyone ask me that question?"
My mom hands my dad a cup of coffee and replies to my question;
"Because we need you out of the house, that's why."
"Hahaha, mom. Very funny."
She pulls a sarcastic face at me and says;
"Because we care about you. That's why we ask!"
Dad replies;
"And we need your room for the gym that I bought."
"Wow, I am still only planning on leaving, and you have already pushed me out the door to fill up my room with gym equipment that you will never use."
Mom tells my dad;
"Ethan has a point."
My dad gets up, shows his muscles to us and says;
"You will see me all buffed up when you come to visit us again."
"Yeah, right. And I believe the word that you were looking for is pumped up and not buffed up. I tell you what, dad. I will pay for one year of intuition out of my own pocket if you are pumped up the next time when I come to visit you."
Dad quickly replies;
"Now, that is a deal that I can not pass up on. DEAL!"
Mom shakes her head at the two of us and asks me;
"Would you like to get something to eat? I can make you something?"
"Nah, thanks anyway. I will get something on my way to work."
"You sure, honey?"
"Yes. Thanks, mom."
My dad asks me as he takes a sip of his coffee;
"So, what are your plans for today?"
"Well, get my last paycheck and say goodbye to a few people."
Mom sits down at the table and says;
"Ahhh. Saying goodbye to anyone in particular that we might know?"
"Yes, mom. I am going to say goodbye to Lexi."
My mom looks to my dad while winking at him and says;
"He's so cute when he blushes."
My dad grins from ear to ear as he replies;
"I agree, honey."
"Really, guys? Ganging up on your only child on his last day at home?"
A sudden uncomfortable silence falls on everyone at the table trying to avoid what I just said. My mom reaches over, grabs my cheek between her fingers, and says;
"Yes, cutie. Do you know why we gang up on you?"
Before I can get a word out of my mouth, she finishes her sentence;
"Because it doesn't matter how big you are, you are still our child, and you will always be cute to us."
Dad chips in and say to my mom;
"Do you remember the time when he ran around the house as a baby naked when you had your book club?"
Mom looks all nostalgic as she says;
"Ahhh, he was such a cutie pie as a baby. All the woman liked him. And some were really surprized that he was so well-hung at an early age."
Dad quickly says;
"He must have gotten that from me!"
I quickly get up and say;
"Wow, okay, that is enough. I know when I am being chased away!"
My mom quickly says;
"You know that we are just joking, hun. Anyway, do you need a ride to work?"
"If only you stop talking about my nudity as a baby, then yes. And does anyone know when is my car going to be fixed?"
Mom gets up from the table and says;
"Okay, promise I will behave myself. Let me get my briefcase, and then we can go. Your dad will do a follow-up at the mechanic today...won't you, Brad?" My mom gives my dad a kiss and walks away.
"Yes, Ashley. I will go stop at the shop later on my way to my first job site and find out what is going on."
"Thanks, dad."
"You just focus on your last day and enjoy it the best that you can."
"I will do."
My mom screams down the hall with the front door opened already;
"Ethan, If you are not in the car in five seconds, I am leaving without you."
I get up and say;
"Cheers, dad."
"Have a good day, son."
I walk down the hall and follow my mother to the car. We get in, and she starts to drive off. As she pulls away, she tells me;
"But in all seriousness. I will make sure that your dad doesn't use your room for all of his stuff. He has to clean out the other rooms with all his other old stuff so that he can make room for his gym."
I smile at her and say;
"It is okay, mom. Really. I am fine with it. If you need the space, then use it."
"Nope, that's it. There is no way i am letting him do that. Because I want you to know that you always have a place to come home to, okay?"
I nod and say;
"I know. Thanks, mom."
I stare out the window and watch as we pass all the people walking on the sidewalks. My mom asks me;
"What are you thinking about?"
"It's okay, mom. I will figure it out."
"No, please tell me."
I sigh and say;
"I don't know how to say goodbye to Lexi."
"Why do you need to say goodbye to her?"
"Well, I got into college and will be moving away to the other side of the continent while she has to stay here. It is awkward subject, that's all."
"She will understand, Ethan. If I may ask, how serious are things between the two of you?"
"MOM?"
"I don't want the details. I am just asking to help to give you some advice on how to deal with this situation. That's all."
"Thanks, mom. I know that you only want to help, but I will figure it out."
"You mean wing it?"
"Whatever solves the problem works for me."
My mom laughs at my statement and continues driving. As we get into town, she parks in front of the Music Store and says;
"You have a good last day now, okay, Ethan?"
"Thanks, mom, for the ride and the advice. Good luck with your day as well."
I open the car door, get out, and she says;
"Always a pleasure."
I close the door and watch her pull away into traffic. I turn and look a the Music Store and walk in the doors. Benjamin sees me walking in and waves frantically at me. I walk in, and he meets me halfway and asks;
"How are you, my brother from another mother?"
"Good and you, bro?"
He puts his arm around my shoulder and lifts his hand in the air while saying;
"Dude. Do you realize that this is our last day in this shit hole. Can you believe the day has finally arrived?"
The boss walks past the two of us and says;
"I heard that! Get back to work, or I will deduct the last day's pay."
Benjamin leans in and tells me;
"Man, I can't wait to walk out those doors so that I never have to listen to that guy screaming at me again!"
The boss says again in the distance;
"Mr. Benjamin A'lamar. I heard that also."
I tell Benjamin;
"Let's get back to doing our work before he fires us, and we get no pay."
"Dude. If he does that, I will get my mom to pay your mom to sue the living hell out of him."
I smile while replying to his statement;
"You can't afford her."
"Dude? Really? That was a low blow!"
The boss peeks his head out of his office and says;
"Ethan. My office, now!"
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