Hickory

Suprise Guest

Hickory dreaded getting up the next morning. He didn't feel like moving the rest of his stuff out, not yet. Reluctantly he rolled off the bed, barely standing up without falling. Stretching and yawning, he gained more awareness. The room was awfully cold now.

Hickory shrugged it off, his skin becoming prickled. Looking through the boxes, he dug out a long sleeve shirt and jeans. For a second he was confused why his discarded clothes were not his night clothes. He then remembered his encounter last night and his face became flushed.

Frantically he dug through the boxes for towels, finding a couple at the bottom of a box labeled bathroom. When he went to place them in his bathroom, he noticed some towels already sitting on the counter. None of them were his though. Hickory set his towels with the rest, figuring Gilbert had had the same thought as him.

Looking back at the clutter of boxes, he felt a bit more eager to start moving his things in. With a skip in his step, he walked out his bedroom and into the open space of the apartment. He had yet to feel hungry, and decided to skip eating to save some time. Besides, his mother would probably have something ready anyways.
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"Hickory! Oh I've missed you!" The frail woman hugged Hickory tightly, as if they hadn't seen each other in years.

Hickory laughed. "I just saw you yesterday mother. But I'm glad to see you too."

She pulled back, clasping her hands together, a bright smile on her face.

"I know", she admitted. "But it felt so different not having you for dinner. I've made some breakfast this morning. Would you like to eat with me?"

Hickory couldn't pass up the offer. His mother had too kind a heart for him to say no, even if he still wasn't hungry. Hickory sat at his usual spot, his mother placing plates on the table.

"I'm sorry your father can't join us right now. He's decided to take apart your bed so it could fit through the door. He's already loaded most of your furniture onto the trailer."

"Tell him I said thank you please", he said.

His father always had a tendency to avoid him. The only time he would see him was at dinner. Honestly, Hickory didn't care too much. Him and his father were never close, despite his mother's efforts to have them bond. Part of it might be that Hickory wasn't into the macho man stuff his dad did, or the fact that him and Hickory looked nothing alike. It might have just been because he looked identical to his mother, but regardless, something had caused a gap.

"So how was sleeping in the new place", his mother asked.

"It was nice. Honestly a bit weird being somewhere new. Gilbert had the place pretty warm, but he turned it down." He decided to spare the details, avoiding any mention of his awkward moment.

"Well it's good to hear that things are doing good. But if things don't work out, you know you can always come back here", she said assuredly.

Hickory took his last bite of food and pushed his plate aside. His mother was still stuck on him staying. He couldn't blame her though. He was her only child.

"I'll be fine mother. Like I said, I promise to visit you. I'll call you everyday if you like."

Her face lit up with joy when he said that. It was as if she expected him to cut all ties with her, but he wouldn't even consider it. Standing up, she came and hugged Hickory around his neck.

"I love you very much Hickory."

"I love you too mom."
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