CapitoloCuatro
Rhythm surrounded me. The rhythmic beat of Bachata as I jogged past a Colombian restaurant, the rhythmic flow of sweet air traveling in and out of my lungs, the rhythmic thump of my white, beat up running sneakers on the hard pavement and the rhythmic steady thump of my heart all surrounded me.
I love everything about running. I love the feeling of the breeze running its fingers through my hair and against my face. I love how satisfied I feel after an evening or early morning jog. This feeling is right up there with eating your favorite food, falling in love and having sex for the first time. Two of which I’ve done already. You could probably guess which ones.
I slowed down next to The Cheesecake Factory and glimpsed into the window. It was a slow night, only six tables were occupied. Among the occupants sat my blushing mother and Emma’s smirking father. She was gazing at him like a lovesick puppy and he was sneering at her arrogantly. She said she was going to get some milk; turns out she went to get some other white stuff.
Anger surged through me and I felt it almost bubble over. Before I could act rashly, I registered a persistent honking. I turned around to find a pink Volkswagen with a hot, peppy girl screaming “Donald!” and waving excitedly. I was still focused on the dishonest creep leering at my mother’s chest and didn’t realize who it was.
“Donald! Come here!”
The girl seemed to be addressing me. My eyebrows crinkled together in confusion and I pointed at myself doubtfully. The girl giggled and somewhere in the fog of confusion, I realized it was Meenah. I ambled my way towards her car temporarily forgetting my whorish mother.
“Oh my Gosh! What are you doing here? You looked so confused and mad when you were staring into that window! You look hungry. Is it because you can’t afford to go in there? I can buy you some food!”
“What? No Meenah, that’s not why, I’m not hungry.” My stomach grumbled in defiance. She tilted her head and looked at me.
“Come eat with me. My family and I are going to this cute little Japanese restaurant that just opened. I can actually introduce you!”
“No, thank you. It’s okay. I’m really sweaty and tired at the moment.” I politely declined.
“It wasn’t a question and I don’t care, now c’mon!” She unlocked the passenger side of the car.
“Aren’t you glad I found you?” She teased as I obliged.
“Ecstatic.” I mumbled.
“Whoa!” She suddenly braked. “Is that my uncle? Gasp! He’s with another woman!”
I burrowed into my seat trying and failing to disappear into it and ignoring that she said the word “Gasp” and didn’t gasp. She glanced at my red, angry face then back at the happy couple then back at me again.
“Do you know her?” She inquired.
“Yeah,” I couldn’t lie to her, “She’s my mom.”
Her eyes widened then she put the car on drive and started driving away. “At least she’s hot.”
I stared at her not believing what I heard.
“So wait, you don’t think that it’s weird that a married man is cheating on his wife?”
“It’s understandable; Maybe the sex just isn’t good anymore, maybe she’s giving him problems, maybe he just doesn’t like her anymore. Cheating isn’t completely a horrible thing. You might not want to hear this but he’s most likely just using your mom for his entertainment. It’s most likely just a phase that he’ll get over.”
I just stared at her. How could perfect Meenah Jones think like that? She glanced at me then back at the road and chuckled.
“You probably think I’m weird, but you should just look at it from another perspective.”
I nodded. IT’s really all I could do trying to wrap my mind around what she was saying.
“So wait, you’re saying after this phase is over…” I couldn’t finish my sentence.
“He’ll dump your mom like I did last season’s clothes: Without even taking a second look back.”
I silently seethed with anger as Meenah hummed All of Me by John Legend jovially. We stopped at a small but chic looking Japanese restaurant. It looked like a silver upside down Japanese takeout box. Red Japanese letter were scrawled in the middle.
“日本製”
“That means Made In Japan” She whispered in my ear.
“You know Japanese?” I exclaimed clearly awed.
“Nope! That’s just what my dad told me. Let’s go!”
She grabbed my hand and dragged me inside as my heart lurched. We meandered through a few packed tables and finally landed at a counter serving what looked like small ice cream soups in bowls. I looked at the sign.
‘Wasabi: $15’
‘Well that’s a lot of money for such a small scoop of ice cream.’ I thought.
“Hey, choose whatever you want it’s on us. We’ll be at that table over there.” Meenah patted my arm and skipped to a table in another more private room. I looked at the person at the counter. Normally, I wouldn’t eat much with someone I barely know but I decided to be a little adventurous.
“Can I have that please?” I asked.
The Asian guy handed me one of the bowls.
“More please.”
He added another small scoop and paused.
“More!” I said. Gosh, these people were stingy. The guy looked at me like I was crazy and added another small scoop.
“More!” He added seven more scoops then stopped. I decided that was enough and grabbed my bowl and made my way to the table. As I arrived I put one large scoop of the Japanese Ice Cream in my mouth.
“Hey, you’re back! Dad, this is Damon.”
Before I could correct her, my eyes started to water and my nose started to run. My mouth was on fire!
“Hot! Hot!” I fanned my mouth.
Meenah’s dad looked me confused. Meenah chuckled nervously.
“He’s gay dad, I guess that gym membership is working out for you!”
