Let's Play

Motherly Love

Jessika

Charles stopped the car in front of my mom's house. He came around to open the door for me, and I took a deep breath before stepping out of the car. I needed my parents in this moment but the "why" is what I was nervous about. The "why" is the whole reason I haven't visited them in so long. I didn't want to explain everything to them and now I had to. My eyes were so puffy anyway that I know my mom would make me tell her everything.

"Thank you, Charles. For everything" I said, attempting to shake his hand. Charles grabbed my hand firmly, but instead of shaking it he pulled me into a tight hug. My body was rigid with shock at first, but I quickly melted into his embrace. He felt like family as I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed him tight.

Charles kissed the top of my head before pulling back, one hand still resting on my shoulder. "You're doing good, kid. I'm proud of you. Even if Mr. Hart tells me I'm relieved of my duties you can call me for anything. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." I said, tears forming in my eyes again. If I could stop being a crying, snotty mess today that would be great. But I know it'll only get worse once I get inside.

Charles squeezed my shoulder one more time before getting back into his car. My heart ached as I watched him drive away. For some reason it felt like it would be the last time even though I knew he was serious; I could call him for anything.

I stood there watching him drive away, thinking of all the memories I've had in that car. That is, until I felt raindrops splash against my face, letting me know it was time to go inside.

Within seconds it was pouring down rain, and in the 10 steps it took for me to reach the front door I was soaking wet. That's good ol' Seattle for you.

I knocked on the front door and my mom quickly answered, a big smile taking up her whole face. "See, hun, what did I tell ya? I knew our baby was gonna visit today!" She yelled back at my dad. I could hear him grunt in response which made me laugh. She was always finding ways to prove him wrong. That's why this was called mom's house. The queen was always right.

She pulled me through the door and in for a hug so tight I couldn't breathe but I didn't mind. It was a hug I needed. She pulled back and grabbed my face in both hands. She seemed to notice my puffy eyes, and her eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Now why has my baby been crying?"

I shrugged my shoulders, knowing that as soon as I opened my mouth I would cry. My mom just nodded in response. Normally she would have chastised me for shrugging at her, but she could tell I wasn't ready to talk. She could always tell.

"Why don't you go upstairs and dry off and I'll have the gumbo ready for you."

"You made gumbo?" I asked, my eyes widening as it always did when I was a kid and heard the word "gumbo".

"Of course I did. Like I said, I knew you were coming today so I made my baby's favorite. Now get upstairs, child, you're dripping everywhere."

I ran upstairs to my childhood bedroom and closed the door. The room was how I left it in high school, and I instantly felt comforted by the memories. I changed into sweats and a sweatshirt that I had left behind and sat down on my bed.

I looked down at my nightstand where there was a framed picture of Kat and I. The picture was from when we very first became friends on the playground. We were covered in mud and both of us had found worms and named them "Spongebob" and "Patrick". We thought it was super cool at the time and brought them home to my mom. She was angry at first, seeing us so dirty, but she quickly found it cute that I had finally made a friend so she took this picture.