What I Would Give

Did You Just Gibbs Him?

I decided to play along with my mothers games since she changed a lot from when I was younger. At first I thought her smile was sweet and genuine, but now it seemed forced. I tried to force the thoughts to the back of my mind and enjoy the fact my mother wasn't dead all along.

My mother told me about her time in witness protection; how she traveled from state to state in an attempt to escape the triads until the trial. After many years bouncing around from place to place, my mom gave her testimony on the stand and the yakuza leader was finally put in jail. Tadao was there along the way and served as her bodyguard ever since. The entire story seemed perfect.

I noticed Tadao was awkwardly rubbing his arm as my mother spoke. I shifted my head over the tattoo on his arm, "What does the dragon head mean?"

Tadao looked towards my mother for approval and answered, "it means strength."

"Oh," I nodded my head understanding. Where have I seen this before? My mind went a dragon tattoo, but I couldn't get to the persons face. When looked down they were holding my hand and small heart shaped birthmark laid in the crevice of the thumb and index finger. But, no matter how hard I tried my eyes couldn't get above their arm.

"Is everything okay?" my mother cooed. She put her hand on my shoulder and saw a heart shaped birth mark in between her thumb and index finger. It was her tattoo. "Oh no! I forgot, I have to get you to school. If you don't get to school Josh is going to freak out. I'm sorry we can't spend more time together," she hugged me tightly.

"But-," I stopped myself, after all she was right.

My mother grabbed a set of keys and led me to a dark SUV. Tadao grabbed the door for me and shut the door when I got comfortable in the seat. He did the same for my mother, then he climbed into the drivers side. We peeled out of the abandoned warehouse and traveled through the cryptic shipping yard. After a twenty minute drive we pulled onto campus.

"I don't really know what to say... This is the first time a dead relative fakes their death and kidnaps me. I loved you so much and I can't put into words how happy I am that you're back," my voice broke.

"Haha, I know what you mean it's awkward for me too. I never stopped loving you and I'm glad you don't resent me for everything I put you through. You and Josh are the most important things in my life and I would give anything for you to love me again as much as I love you. Oh! I'm sorry, you should probably get to class," she hugged me tightly one last time.

I walked onto campus and checked in at the attendance office. The hallways were completely void of life during 5th period. When I walked into the classroom Ms. Davis gave me the dirtiest look. But when I looked over to my friends' direction they all grinned like Cheshire cats.

I handed the attendance slip to my English teacher, but she sighed and raised an eyebrow.

"Take a seat Ms.Barton we're reading Of Mice and Men. Read up to chapter 5 tonight and write a two page report due on my desk tomorrow, she stated unenthusiastically. I took my seat right next to Taylor and she elbowed me.

"What happened?" she mouthed.

"I'll tell you later," I mouthed back.

Before the end of the day I managed to write the rest of the report. My mind immediately drifted to going home and just taking a nap.
"Josh is home," I panicked. I was supposed to surprise him, but the one thing I wanted to surprise him with, I couldn't. My mind raced with ideas but only one desperate one came to mind.