Campus King | 18+

Chapter Six

Saturday family dinner nights always came with a headache.

They only happened once a month, but they were a great reminder of why I opted not to live at home and go to the local Christian college like my mother originally hoped I would. Staying two hours away sometimes meant I could come up with an excuse not to come, like studying for a test or feeling sick — but that didn't always work.

Take yesterday, for instance. I told her my car was broken, only to have her offer to drive down and pick me up. I quickly backpedaled and said I'd get it to a mechanic that afternoon, even though my car was perfectly fine. Being in a car with my mother was just... painful.

"I worry so much about you living in that awful house, it's practically falling apart," she said, doling out a modest scoop of mashed potatoes onto my plate. "But at least you don't have any male roommates. That's the only thought that lets me sleep at night."

Sure it wasn't all those sleeping pills?

I looked at my plate and then at the huge mound of mashed potatoes on my brother's plate. "Could I please have some more, Mom?"

"Absolutely not, Hannah. You should watch your figure while you're still young," she chided, giving me a disapproving glance.

Rather than getting into an argument with her, I offered a tight-lipped nod and shoved a spoonful of mash into my mouth, hoping that it would stop me from saying anything more. My wish came true because the unseasoned starchiness nearly choked me before I somehow managed to swallow it down.

On second thought, I was glad she hadn't given me more. I glanced at my brother, wondering if he was having the same struggle, but he seemed unperturbed and kept eating, having grown accustomed to our mother's cooking. Maybe college was spoiling me because it was getting harder and harder to want to come home. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here right now.

"Good?" My mother inquired, raising one thin eyebrow inquisitively.

I forced a smile on my lips and nodded. She beamed with satisfaction and pride before taking a bite of her own meal. Her happy expression showed me that she didn't have any taste buds left.

Tonight, my mother was dressed in a pale pink cardigan, paired with khaki pants and sensible white flats. Her mostly gray hair was pulled back in its usual neat bun and she wasn't wearing any makeup except for a transparent lip balm, which was probably some natural lip something her church friends had gifted or sold to her.

"So, any news about your internship?" My mom asked, lifting a small forkful of slightly charred and very dry roast into her mouth.

I winced. "Nope. Not yet."

I'd accidentally mentioned that I would be interning somewhere as part of my degree's requirements for my third year. The reason I regretted telling her anything was because I didn't want her influencing any decision I made in regards to where I was planning to go. Thankfully, I still had time before my decision had to be made. I didn't even know what options I had, but I would be finding out on Monday morning when I went to see my college adviser.