Class of '97

3. Corey

Coreyslipped through the front door and threw his school bag onto thecouch. He looked around the house for his mother, hoping she washome.

"Mommy?"he called out innocently into the seemingly empty house.

Shedid not answer but he saw that her bedroom light was on, peakingthrough the door that was open just a crack. He walked down the halland pushed it open. His blonde haired mother was lying in her bigempty bed, under her brown comforter. She had tortoise shell readingglasses on her nose and a book in her hand. She looked up lazily fromthe pages to Corey who stood in the doorway.

"Wherewere you?" she asked wearily.

"Iwas at Kyle's," Corey replied.

"That'swhat I thought." She returned her attention to the book she held,ignoring Corey's presence in the doorway.

"Mommy?"

Corey'smother rubbed her eyes. "What?"

"What'sfor dinner?"

"Um,"she placed her book to her side to yawned and stretched briefly."Whatever is in the fridge, you can help yourself to. There may notbe much but you'll be at your father's house tomorrow anyway. Are youpacked?"

"Yesma'am, always."

"Good.Go on now, I'm tired. I'll see you in the morning."

Coreyslowly closed the door and stepped down the hall towards the kitchen.He was lonely as he prepared himself a cheese sandwich for dinner.Deciding to end his loneliness, he grabbed the phone and dialedKyle's phone number.

"Hello?"Kyle's mother answered in a sweet voice.

"HiMrs Holland, it's Doom. Is Kyle there?"

Shelaughed. "Oh Doom is it? Corey, dear, you just left and you'realready looking to call Kyle up huh?"

Coreylooked down at his cheese sandwich sadly and said nothing into thephone.

"He'salready asleep, dear, you know how he gets so worn out."

"Yea,I know," Corey said glumly.

"I'msorry dear. I'll have him call you tomorrow when he wakes up."

"Havehim call at my dad's place," Corey said.

"Iwill dear, I will. You take care now, all right?"

"Yesma'am."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnightma'am." Corey hung up the phone and finished eating. He knew whatCorey would say when he called tomorrow. He could hear his voice andeverything.

"Doom,what's so fucking important that you have to call and bother mymother and nine in the fucking night?" Corey imagined Kyle saying.

Coreywished he could be more like Kyle. Kyle did not get lonely, as far ashe knew.

Hestood from the table and placed his dishes in the sink. He went offto his bedroom which was nearly empty except for a bed and a dresser.He did not have much here, and it was not because he was poor, it wasbecause he spent alternate weeks at his mother's house and father'shouse. Half of his things were in his father's basement, and theother half, mostly his clothes and shoes, were in his bedroom closetat mother's.

Afterhis small meal he kicked off his shoes and crawled into his bed. Hewas not tired when he pulled the sheets up to his neck, but he fellasleep almost immediately.

Morningcame quickly and without warning. Corey woke up suddenly to hismother opening his door and saying "let's go Corey!"

Hastily,he got out of bed and slid into a fresh pair of clothes, acomfortable pair of black chinos and a black tee shirt. He grabbedhis backpack and put his shoes, that were lying by his bed from thenight before, on his feet. Finally he was in the kitchen with hismother who was trying to get ready for work.