Through the Break in Her Hair

Chapter 16

"Don't even know why he would have said yes. He didn't even ask me!?" Mom muttered, gripping the wheel tighter than necessary. Her pale knuckles were all but translucent, showcasing the angry blue veins that traveled down her fingers.

Mom was irked. Dad had completely jostled her off track when he said, "Sure, you can go downtown. Just no smoking, or vandalism." Then, he returned to his office, leaving mom and I speechless. But trust me, it didn't take too long before mom got her voice back, and when she did, woo buddy, dad better watch out.

In times like these, ahem when mom's vocabulary was not at its finest, I normally kept my thoughts to myself. But I could only stand listening her to griping for so long before it finally wore me down. That and a headache started to form under my left temple, so my patience was already running a little thin. "Mom, relax," I sighed, massaging the side of my face.

"I am perfectly relaxed, John," she seethed.

Whoops, shoulda kept my mouth shut. "Ok, ok. You just seem a little on edge, that's all."

She shot me a fierce glare out of the corner of her eye. She had been working really hard on not taking her eyes off the road since she almost wrecked the car, and us, last night. Well, as diligently as one could manage in the two proceeding instances of automobile operation. Not really all that much to go on, I know, but I was giving credit where credit was due.

She ground her pearly whites together, and sucked in a breath, attempting to calm herself. But I knew that it would take days for her to finally let go of the grudge she was holding against dad. And that's if nothing, God forbid, happened to me while I was at the park.

If something bad did happen—a mugging, a mass shooting, a contraction of an incurable disease, the second coming, you know—then dad might never get off the hook. Poor guy. But he chose her, and she was my mother so I should probably cut her some slack.

Mom turned the car onto the gravel field surrounding the old town square and let it idle there. The parking lot, and park itself, was empty. Just as expected. If there was going to be any traffic, foot or otherwise, it would be during the week when the elementary school brought the Kindergarten through fourth grade classes here for field trips.

I remember going, touring the schoolhouse and general store. I didn't care for the town hall much. Too many rooms with too many shadows and ghosts for my comfort. I pretended to have a stomach ache from my peanut butter and tuna fish sandwich just so I could get out of walking in that building.

"Remember what I told you at home," mom shoved her finger at my nose. "Do not leave this park, do not sneak into the old buildings, and do not ignore my phone calls. You got it?"

I slid down into my seat to escape her razor tipped nail. "Got it," I said.

"Good." Mom rammed the car into park and the locks flew up with a heart stopping click.

I eased myself out of the car taking my time. I didn't want her to think I was super eager to get away from her. She might veto dad's approval and drag me back home if she thought I was up to something. "Bye, mom," I said semi-cheerfully.

"Hmph," she nodded and put the car in reverse before I could even get the door shut. Then, she backed out of the parking lot, the car's tires kicking gravel up at me. I tried to shield myself from the debris but I could still feel the sizzling ping of a rock or two on my shin.

After I swiped the dirt from my jeans, I waved at the back of the car. I knew without a doubt that she'd be watching me through the rear view mirror. But she didn't wave back. Not even a tiny one. She must have been really ticked. Guess who wasn't making dinner that night.