Faith's Short Stories and Terrible Prompts

Short Story #5

"Hey, Mama?"

Ethan's mother was standing over the stove with her dark hair tied up and out of her face. She was wearing her purple apron that Ethan's abuela had embroidered. It was currently covered in flour and egg yolk which made Ethan smile because that meant there was something nice to eat.

"Yes, sweet?" She didn't turn away from what she was doing but he knew she was listening.

"You know how you said I can ask you about anything?"

"Mhm?"

"I was wondering if you could tell me about my dad."

She froze for a second and Ethan worried that he had gone too far. Maybe he shouldn't have asked. He knew that this might've upset her but he still asked anyway. How stupid could he be?

His mother took a deep breath and turned to face him. "If you help me clean up, I'll tell you everything you want to know. I made ginger root cookies."

She gave him a warm but slightly pained smile and Ethan couldn't help but feel guilty about asking her to do this.

They worked together to clean the counter-tops and wash the dishes. Ethan cleaned the table and put his mother's apron on to wash while she cleaned the stove. Once everything was done, they sat at the dining table together.

"So," his mother said, picking up a cookie, "what do you want to know?"

Ethan realised that he wasn't sure of what he wanted to know. Everything? Nothing? Where was he and why had he left their life in such a terrible state?

"Did dad care about me? About us?"

"You meant the world to him hijo. He would hold you in his arms for hours, just admiring your existence. He would sing this song to you - I couldn't recite it if you asked me to because it was in a language I don't understand - and you would giggle and fall asleep." She stared into the distance, as if she could see the past replaying.

"And, what about you? Did he love you?"

"Well, he said he did. He said it quite often in fact but it feels almost empty now. Like a promise he didn't want to keep."

Ethan frowned. He hated that his mother was upset and all because of some dude that decided he wasn't going to be a parent.

"What did he look like?" He didn't know why he wanted to learn all of this but now he was sitting on the edge of his chair.

"Just like you. Your hair, your eyes, the same smile; a perfect match. The only difference was that he wore glasses."

Ethan tried to imagine an older version of himself, tall and wise but it seemed impossible.

"Why did he leave?"

His mother took a deep breath. "If I'm being fully honest, I don't know. I tried making excuses for his disappearance but it hurts more to pretend that he's going to come back than accepting the fact that I'll most likely never see him again."

Ethan felt angry now. That man had left him and his mother alone and without ant help. That man was supposed to be his father and had done nothing to help him through childhood.

He got up from his chair and draped his arms over his mother's shoulders so that he was hugging her from behind.

She placed her hand on his arm and sighed. "It's okay hijo, I don't need pity. Besides, I got the better half of the deal because I got to spend my life with you."

Ethan smiled and pulled his arms away. "I'm sorry, Mama."

"No, no sweetheart." She stood up from her seat and turned to face Ethan, placing her hands on his shoulders. "You should never apologise for the actions of other people. What your father - that man - did is not your fault and you are never to take responsibility for it."

Ethan nodded and blinked back tears. His mother brushed his hair out of his eyes and planted a kiss on his forehead.

"I'm going to visit your abuela for a few days and I know you don't like to see her because she's very, what's the word?"

"Homophobic?"

"Yes, that. Anyway, Quillon's mama has offered to let you stay with them while I'm gone so I said I'd ask. So, what do you think about staying with Quillon and Daisy for a couple of weeks."

Ethan's eyes widened. "Really? You'd let me?"

His mother chuckled and nodded.

Ethan hugged her, tight. "Thank you! Gracias mama!"