The narrative centers on a young African American man named Max Knight who relocates to San Francisco with aspirations of pursuing a career in journalism. However, his circumstances take an unforeseen turn when he encounters his new cohabitant, Kati...
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I was helping Dusty get dressed in his suit for Thanksgiving at his aunt's garden house. His aunt, my twin who had recently dyed blonde hair, wanted to ensure people understood. I decided to teach Dusty how to tie a bow tie by watching tutorial videos on YouTube. I followed along with a woman in one of the videos, but it was challenging because she sputtered, almost like a chipmunk in the Alvin movies. In my frustration, I accidentally blurted out "Shit!" in front of Dusty.
"Mom, you said a curse word." Dusty fingers are on his ears.
I hugged Dusty. "I'm sorry, buddy. I won't curse again, I promise. Mommy's just a little tired this morning," I said to Dusty.
Dusty nodded sadly. "Are you okay, Mommy? Did I do something wrong?" He asked.
I kiss Dusty on the forehead. "Aww, my baby boy. Yeah, I'm doing okay. I have some stuff on my mind right now and need some alone time. I forgot about this bow tie and ended up watching something on TV while getting ready. Okay." We fist bump, and I switch on the TV. "What show do you want to watch?"
"Elmo World!" Dusty shouted with both his hands raised.
I grabbed the remote and changed the TV channel to play Elmo's World, Dusty's favorite show. While Dusty was engrossed in the program, I quietly returned to my bedroom. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Max, asking if he would like to join Dusty and me for Thanksgiving.
ME — Happy Thanksgiving, Max. I hope I didn't text you this morning, but I am texting you because I wonder if you would like to celebrate Thanksgiving with me. It's okay if you have plans or you are already doing Thanksgiving.
When I sent the message to Max, I felt a considerable amount of anxiety on my shoulders, and I was so afraid of how Max would reply to my message. But when the three dots appeared in Max's bubble, it gave me a little hope that he would say yes and that I would not be depressed for the rest of the holiday.
MAX - Hey, Katie 👋. It has been a while since you texted me or gave me a voicemail. How have you been? And how is Dusty doing lately? I hope you are still upset with me.
A single tear rolled down my cheek as I read Max's message. His supportiveness and concern touched me deeply. His inquiry about my well-being and desire to maintain our friendship moved me. It meant a lot to me because it had been quite a while since I had spoken to Max. The last time we had a meaningful conversation was when I confessed my feelings to my roommate, only to be rejected. That day marked a significant shift in my perception of our relationship. I had harbored feelings for my roommate since we first met, but that rejection made me reconsider. It also made me reflect on my lack of serious relationships, especially considering my estranged relationship with my father, who has been absent from my life for a long time.
