All Mine

Chapter 8

Tim’s POV

“Mum?” Where is she? She better not have wandered off.

“Honey, in here,” Her raspy voice almost relaxes me.

“Mum, why are you in here?” I ask taking the book from her fragile hands.

“I haven’t read this book since 1972,” She said and I rolled my eyes.

“Come and sit,” I say placing her fragile body in the armchair.

“How was your day honey?” She asked as I read the piece of paper on the counter.

“Good actually, I made a couple new friends,” She was silent. I’ve never had real friends so I know she’ll be thrilled.

“What are they like?” She asked fishing for the details.

“They’re nice, Maddy and Harry,” I say hoping she doesn’t bring up that third wheeling thing again.

“You don’t want to be a third wheel darling,” She said coughing. There it is.

“Mum, if the only way I have a few mates is to be a third wheel I’ll do it,” I say putting down the paper.

“Look what happened to you when your cousin married, you were a discarded third wheel, they didn’t need you anymore,” She said. I was beginning to think she didn’t want me to have any friends.

“Mum, I’ll be fine,” I reassured her, “You have to see the doctor soon,” She nods.

“I know, they want me in one of those darn nursing homes but they’ll never get me in there,” She is so stubborn.

“Maybe they’ll be able to look after you better than I can,” I say hoping to God she’ll end up reconsidering.

“Honey, you do an amazing job,” She squeaked from the living room.

“I’m hardly even here, Mum. I have school,” I repeat for the billionth time.

“I love you,” She said dozing off into her chair. That was always the way she ended an argument. I love you.

“I love you too,” I whisper even though she can’t hear me. Mum was older than most parents when she had me. She was about fifty, and Dad died when I was five in a rodeo accident. So I only have vivid memories of him, but from what Mum tells me he was an amazing man. He loved Mum to the end of the earth that I know for sure.

I grab out a pan and watch as the steak sizzles in the pan. I shove pasta in the microwave to cook. I’m not the best cook but Mum isn’t able to cook anymore so it’s up to me. When the steak is done I make sure I give Mum the most tender piece and cut it up on her plate. I place a spoon of pasta on her plate and take it to the table. I shake her, trying to waker her and her eyelids flicker open. “Dinner done already?” She asked.

“Its 7pm Mum,” I say helping her up, this is a late dinner for us.

“So tell me about these friends of yours,” Mum asked and I took a deep breath ready to fill her with details.

“Maddy, she is real pretty, Harry is her boyfriend...” Mum cut me off.

“Yeah I figured that part!” Mum hissed. God someone’s touchy today.

“Okay...” I continued, “Uh Harry is new, he has been here about three days I think...” She cut me off again.

“And Maddy is dating him already! Madness, madness, madness,” She recited. Oh Dear.

“Uh yeah,” I try to finish my sentence, “Harry is from England and doesn’t really fit in...” Again she cut me off.

“Ooh a misfit!” She sounded excited.