Woes of the Wingmen

№ 11:

White painted the neighborhood in sparkling snow. And Vance was going to freeze to death if someone didn't open the goddamn door.

A shorter Asian woman who could only be the mom of the house opened the door. "Oh, Vance, Bruce has been waiting for you. Come on in, I don't want you to freeze to death out there!"

"Thanks, Mrs. Yamada." He stepped in, taking off his coat to reveal a gray-green sweater. And shaking off the snow on his combat boots.

"Oh, please call me Martha." She took her hand out for him to shake it. He smiled and shook it.

He found him in the kitchen, with an apron on. A cookie sheet on the counter.

"Oh, hey Vanny. I thought we could make gingerbread cookies."

He grew excited at the thought. He not only had a sweet tooth but liked to bake, at least when it was easy. But Bruce was here, so nothing could go wrong!

"Yeah, I would love that. Let me get a hair band."

He took a green scrunchie out of his pocket. One that he grabbed from his mother's vanity, which he almost never touched. Primarily because his father valued each part and piece of it.

"I didn't know you had scrunchies?"

"I don't, my mom did."

"Did?"

"Yeah, she, uh, she was murdered when I was really young."

"Murdered? I'm so sorry, Vance. I didn't know."

Vance grabbed an apron from the door, it clashed with his green sweater being white with a red outline.

"That's because I didn't tell anyone. It's a really personal subject for me."

"Did she, you know, get justice?" Bruce asked, as he got the cookie cutter and the other supplies.

"No, actually. We all know what kind of man did it. A creepy drunkard that couldn't take no for an answer. He probably didn't take her relationship with my dad seriously because they weren't married."

"They weren't? That's a little surprising, were they going to?" They got to work on making the gingerbread cookies as they talked.

"I don't think so, I mean I don't know. They weren't the type to care about that."

"Yeah, my dad didn't even get married until he was 23-24. But my grandparents set a lot of expectations when it came to studying and college. Hell, they were surprised to learn I wanted to play baseball professionally."

"I mean you're good at it and it makes you happy. But you're not like dumb or anything. Not like I am."

"Don't say that, Vance."

"I am, I got held back twice. Billy and Finney are my saving graces."

"Mine too."

Vance stopped what he was doing and looked at him, "What? I thought Asians were supposed to be good at math."

"Most are, but I'm average to be honest. I'm much better at science and history."

"Those are actually kind of easy to understand. It's math that f-" He paused, remembering Bruce's parents were still here, "screws me up."

"Pinball Vance, being considerate of adults? No way."

He laughed, "I actually like your mom, so I'll push down any cusses that come out of my mouth. And I don't want you to be banned from me or something."

"Never, she likes all of our friends. Even if you're one of the first ones she's met."

"Really? That's surprising to learn since you and Robin are kind of close."