Red White and Blue

Chapter 2: Family Reunion

I sit at the table with Steve, taking in all the details of our little place before I go to visit my old lady. There's not much to look at. Our kitchen is small, hardly fitting all three of our chairs at the table, never mind all of us in the little room to move. A wide arch separated the bedroom and living room from the kitchen, where the bed, couch and wardrobe stayed. Frankly, our bedroom and living room were the same, but we separated them with the wardrobe. Steve's art littered the walls, adding some character to the otherwise uninspiring. Other than the small bathroom, I could see the whole place from the squished corner I sat in. It was all pretty squished, but at least our kitchen is separate from the rest of the house! Makes it feel less like a shoe box. Even if it is the same size.

"You're sure it'll only be your ma over there?" Steve asks.

I nod, "If I leave in a half hour he'll have been gone for work half an hour once I get there. The hour walk is worth it to see my old lady," I tell him, "And I know his route. I know he won't be seein' me walking."

Steve nods, "Okay, but keep an eye out. I can't have my best girl getting into bad business,"

"He wouldn't touch me, there's too many black and white 'round his route," I get up, take my plate and walk one step over from the dining area to the kitchen. "I should get ready."

Steve groans, "Don't take too long, we only have one bathroom,"

I scoff, "Not my fault we can't afford a better solution. And heaven forbid you accidentally see me change,"

He crosses his arms and gives me a look. I give him a light smack and head to the bedroom half of the living room. I pull out a knee-length dress and hold it up to Steve who flashes a smile while he nods.

I walk the few steps to the bathroom on the other side of the apartment, quickly changing before applying my lipstick and taking out my curlers. A doll like me doesn't look like this without effort, ya know!

I step out of the bathroom and quickly wash a few dishes, leaving one to soak. I'm not in a scrubbing mood.

~

I hurry down the sidewalk with more moxie than I've had in a while. I need it to go back to my parent's place. Sure, he'd never be there, but the thought still made me nearly chicken out.

A cool breeze kept the hot sun from cooking me alive as I made my way across town. I peer into each shop window, wishing I had enough money to even think about stepping in. Each window display was beautiful. I wish I could stop to admire them all. Instead, I kept my head turned constantly as I hurried along.

The sound of my heels click-clacking along the pavement became a steady rhythm, almost like a drum beat in the back of a song, keeping the other instruments on the beat. Much like such a drum, I stopped hearing my heels, but my pace kept steady as I marched forward.

The sky above was clear and blue, hardly a cloud to ruin the pure blue that stretched forever beyond the tall city around me.

"Hey, Angel!" I hear behind me and turn, walking backwards to see Oscar behind me.

"Hey, sugar!" I greet back, turning around again as he hurried his pace to a job to catch up.

"Where are you off to?"

"Goin' to see my old lady," I share, "How 'bout you, sugar?"

"That explains why you're such an eager beaver. You've never got this much moxie when you walk," He laughs, "But me? I guess I'm rather drip today. Out for a walk, thought I'd enjoy summer a little."

"Yes, it'll be gone before we know it,"

He hums in agreement, "How much you got left to your parents?"