Ballad of a Broken Boy

Visiting Nini's Estranged Father

When I walked in the house, momma D was waiting for me in the living room. I took a deep breath, then went over to sit next to her.  Neither of us said anything. We just sat there in silence for a while. Half of me wanted her to speak, but the other half didn't want to hear her tell me how angry and disappointed she was with me. Unfortunately though, all good things must come to an end and she broke the silence.

"I think we should go see your dad." She told me. I looked at her and saw nothing but seriousness on her face.

"Mom, are you serious?" I asked her, unable to believe it. She sighed, but nodded. I threw my arms around her neck and started crying.

"Oh my God, momma, thank you so much!" I sobbed into her shoulder. She kissed the top of my head and rubbed my back.

"While you were gone... you gave me a chance to think. It was wrong of momma C and I to keep him from you. If you have the opportunity to meet your dad, then you should take it. Plus, I know how you get when you're angry, and for a minute there it didn't feel like you were gonna come home." She said, and I could tell by the shakiness in her voice that she was close to tears as well.

"Oh, momma D, of course I was coming home. I was just so angry, and I didn't want to lose it and say something to you or momma C that I would regret. Are you mad at me for leaving?" I asked, hesitantly. "No" she said softly. "But... I disappeared for five days, momma D. I skipped three days of school." I said. She looked at me, surprised.

"Well, I didn't know you had skipped school, but we can deal with that later. The reason I'm not angry is because I trust you, Nini. Not once during the time that you were gone did I doubt that you were safe. I knew you would be at Kourtney's." She told me. I deliberated for a moment; do I agree with her, and let her think I was at Kourt's? Or do I tell her the truth? Finally I decided to tell the truth; she would speak to Kourtney's mom at some point, and there was no way she wouldn't tell my mom the truth.

"About that... I wasn't at Kourtney's, mom." I sighed, looking down. She looked at me, knitting her eyebrows.

"I thought Kourt was your only friend?" She said. I smiled.

"Well, she was... until I started tutoring Ricky. As it turns out, he's not as bad as I thought. I said. I saw a range of emotions on her face. Finally, she settled on confusion.

"Ricky Bowen? The guy you've hated for years?" She asked. I nodded.

"Yeah..."

"So, what, you two are friends now?"

"Yeah." I said, waiting for her to get it. Then I saw her expression change from confusion to anger, and I knew she finally understood.

"You stayed with a boy? For five whole days, you were sleeping with a boy?" She yelled. I shook my head.

"Not sleeping with him... I was on the couch, mom. We're just friends. Please calm down." I said.

"As if I'm going to believe that, Nina!" She shouted. I scowled.

"Come on, mom. You know me. I wouldn't do anything stupid." I said calmly. Her expression softened a little, but not much.

"That isn't the point. I thought you were more sensible than that. Staying with a boy. For five days. In his bedroom, no less." She muttered, but I could tell that the worst of her anger was gone.

"Momma D, I swear it won't happen again. You can trust me!" I tried to keep my voice down, but I was frustrated.

"I know. I do trust you. It's just... you're a young lady now. It's hard for me to think of you staying with a boy..." she said, grimacing. I laughed.