Burnouts

There You Go

Scene 1: Madison Street

Leo Rylin

"Good, you're still here," my mom walks in with two bags in her arms.

"Where else would I be?"

"You know where," she says accusingly. "That's why I want to talk to you about something."

"Something? You're not going to make it weird, are you?"

"Why would it be weird?"

"Yeah...I'm going to just-" I point to my room.

"Sit down," she says sternly.

"Mom," I huff, "why do we need to communicate? Why can't we be like every other family and ignore each other until I'm an adult?"

"Because communication is important. And, I want you to know that It makes me happy seeing you happy with Heather. I wish you would've told me earlier, but that's okay."

"I didn't want you to pull that 'keep the door open' thing, and I knew you would."

"I would have done that a long time ago but I respected the fact that you needed quiet to learn and leaving the door open lets noise in. Girls in the room means door open," she argues, and I roll my eyes. "Or it used to."

"...huh?"

"With the way you two walked through the door, I know you're going to continue doing whatever no matter the rules. So, we need to have the talk."

"Nope," I shake my head, "did that with dad, remember?"

"You're older now, you'll be 18 by the end of the year. You need to have a new one."

"No," I say again.

"Leo."

"You can't tell me anything I don't already know."

"I'm sure you believe that."

"You're too late."

"Because you're sexually active?"

"I will pay you to stop."

"Look in the bag," she nods toward the one she put on the counter.

I sigh and take a peek at what's inside.

You robbed the contraceptive aisle of the pharmacy. Thanks, mom. "Why are you doing this to me?"

She empties the bag onto the counter.

"Do you know what these are for?"

"Sex..."

"Here are your standard condoms," she holds the box up like she's advertising them. "These are latex, but some people have an allergy-"

"I don't. Moving on."

She sighs, grabbing something else. "This— is a spermicide. It comes as foam or gel-"

"Not using that."

"It kills the sperm before it can get to the egg."

"Fun," I say sarcastically.

"It needs to be inserted 10 to 15 minutes before sex."