Age Gap

Chapter 2

"I'm back" I whisper to myself. I leave the groceries on the kitchen island and go check the noise coming from the living room.

"Hi" they say without even looking away from the TV.

"Hi. I got your cupcakes, why are you still awake?" I say still standing at the doorframe.

"I couldn't sleep. I was afraid I'd wake up in the morning and you'd say you weren't able to find them."

"Your trust in me is moving. You're the one that told me too late."

"Sorry, it slipped my mind."

"Sigh, it's fine. Just try for it not to happen again."

"Why did you take so long? I was starting to worry" I sit with them on the couch.

"I ran into a bit of a problem with someone. What are you watching?"

"Modern Family. Wanna watch with me?"

"Hm, nah, I'm kinda tired. It's been a bit of a long night, I'm going to sleep. You go to sleep too when you finish the episode, ok?" I pat their head.

"Alright. Night, mom."

"Good night, honey."

I walk up to my room, ready for some well-deserved sleep. I'm taking off my shoes when I hear a notification on my phone.

Back in one piece. Thanks again for the help!

No worries. Sleep well.

And now I can sleep in peace.

...

Agh, stupid alarm clock. What was that? Like two minutes? I wanna go back to sleep! Actually, why not? I'll just call in sick at work... Wait. Right, I have children, I can't do that.

"Wakey, wakey! You got school!" I yell while knocking on their doors on my way to the kitchen.

Scrambled eggs and toast, I don't have time to be creative. Eat, drive, drop kids, go to work, then back home and... Relax!

Finally, some well-deserved rest.

Hm...

Alright, I'm bored.

What's the point of having free time if I have nothing good to do with it? I need hobbies... or friends...

No worries. Sleep well.

Hi! Have you had a good day today?

Hope your hangover wasn't too bad

I'm still a bit worried about this kid. Drunkness aside, she didn't really seem fine. What's with teenagers these days and binge drinking? Do they not know it's illegal for underagers to drink? And how irresponsible of her parents to let her walk around drunk and alone at such hours in the morning! 

Sigh, I should probably stop taking out my frustration on this cake. I guess it's not really my problem what other parents do with their children. Talking about children, where are mine? Camilo said he'd be here an hour ago. These kids are gonna take away my right of judging other parents if I can't keep track of them. Maybe I should call him...

"What, mom?"

"Where are you? You said you'd be here an hour ago."

"Geez, calm down, it's barely 4 P.M. Besides, I'm only late because Morgan asked me to pick them up and we got stuck in the traffic. I thought they told you."

"Morgan did what? Are you with your sibling right now? Pass them the phone."

"Hi, mom."

"Honey, what happened? I thought you'd sleep over at your friend's tonight."

"Yeah, no... I just... decided not to..."

Sigh, this kid is starting to worry the shit out of me. What's with all the secrecy? I want the toddlers that told me everything back.

"Sigh... Alright, suit yourself, I guess. I'm making a lemon pie, it should be ready by the time you guys get here. Eat as much as you want, I'm going to the supermarket. See you guys later, okay?"

"Yeah. Bye, mom."

...

"Bye, guys! Have fun with your mother!"

"See you, mom!"

"See you, Marisa."

"See you."

We finally in talking terms again? Agh, stop looking at me like that, it's been three years. What an asshole. Why did I ever marry that woman?

Alright, time to clean this pigsty.

Hope your hangover wasn't too bad

Hi, sorry, lost my phone and just got it back

I'm fine, thanks

How are you?

Oh, it's her. And here I thought she was ignoring me.

Sigh, should I call her out for her binge-drinking? 

Hm, no, Marisa. Stop it, it's not your place. You can't take responsibility for everybody else's actions. Let other people make their own mistakes.

I text I'm fine and we keep talking for some hours while I clean the house until she doesn't write back. Maybe she went to sleep. It's already 10 P.M., I should probably go to sleep too. But I'm not tired... I have nothing left to do though...

Sigh, how boring life has become... I still remember those fun years when I was young...

Actually, I don't.

Have I always been this boring? Am I wasting my life? When was the last time I went out with people that weren't parents of my children's friends?

I really am a boring old bag, aren't I?

Sigh, no. What am I thinking? My life is wonderful, I have my two beautiful children and...

Stop it, Marisa. I'm probably just tired so my mind is wandering, I should go to sleep.