Robbie Kay Short Stories

Neighborhood Watch

Part 1

“Those two, those are mine” You point out your luggage coming down the conveyor belt to your dad. You each grab on to one as they make their way to you and extend their handles once they are by your side. “Alright, these are all the bags honey, lets pick up the car and then we’ll be on our way” Your eyes scan the crowd as you and your dad make your way through Dallas Texas international Airport. My friends had lied, not everyone wore cowboy hats here. I smile sadly, missing them already. I bite down on my lip quickly when it begins to tremble at the thought of them and line up silently next to my dad at the Rent-a-Car booth.

About 20 minutes later, we have the van packed up and I stretch out my legs before getting into the rental; knowing it would be at least another 3 hours until you reached your new home in Galveston. You guys had no intention of stopping until you reached home, both of you missing your mom’s cooking and your older brother’s company. Everyone was always surprised to find that you got along with your 18 year old brother. You were about 2 years younger but you guys were really tight.  If traffic was agreeable you’d be in your new kitchen by lunch time, listening to him give you a play by play of his most recent Rugby game. Your stomach growls. “Thinking of that lasagna already, aren’t you?” My dad asks adjusting the rear view mirror. “Haha.” I respond dryly. Clicking in your seat belt you wiggle in your spacious seat and recline it back a bit. “You know, I never had you pegged as a mini-van type of dad. This ain’t so bad” I tease him, knowing he absolutely hates mini-vans. “Your mom reserved the car for us, don’t get too comfortable, teenager.” You smile to yourself and pull on your aviators, the sun hitting your face as you drive out from the airport parking lot.

The traffic was not agreeable. Over 4 hours into the drive and the two of you are just over halfway there. “Dad, you seriously need to pull over. I need something decent to eat.” My head is throbbing with hunger. “Sweetie, we just need to pass this little snag in traffic, and it will be smooth sailing.” He’s testing my patience and I hate that. I turn my head to look at him. “I need to change my tampon” I lie. “Next exit it is!” he replies.

Lucky for me the next exit was home to 5 Guy Burgers, one of my favorite hamburger joints. Feeling satisfied and with my headache gone, I quickly wash up in the bathroom. My dad is on the phone with my mom when I reach him back in the van. “It’s mom, the U-Haul just got there.” He hands over the phone to me and pulls back onto the freeway. “Hi mom.” “Hey sweetie. Your dad just told me you guys are still a long ways out. Listen, the U-Haul just got here. Do you want me to leave your boxes in your room? Do you want me to start unpacking your clothes for you?” I sigh, my mom is always trying to look for excuses to go through my things. “Thanks, but that’s okay. I want to unpack on my own.” “Okay, alright I’ll just leave them there then” I can hear her pause and I know she’s not done. “Mom, spit it out” I coax her. “Oh nothing. I was just wondering if you were okay…” she trails off and I feel badly.

My mom and i had fought a few days ago on the phone about the move and I had said some pretty bad things to her out of frustration. “I’m fine, really. Dad fed me” I play with her. “Your dad stopped the car for food?!” she exclaims in surprise. “Yeah, because I had to change my tampon” I reply looking at my dad again, watching him shift uncomfortably in his seat when I said that word. “You have your period again?” my mom asks nervously. “No, I don’t have my period. But the burger was really good.” My dad snaps his head back at me. “Say bye to your mom now, you little bugger.” My dad pulls the phone out of my hands and I’m doubled over in laughter. “That’s not funny.” He says, snapping the phone shut and shaking his head.

I feel a soft shake on my shoulder and open my eyes, first noting how the sun is already setting behind the houses on the residential street we’re driving down. “Sleeping beauty, we’re here.” I sit up groggily and crack my neck. “That’s gross.” My dad says as we pull into our driveway. I roll my eyes and take the new house in. It’s definitely bigger than our old one back in California. “Excited?” my dad asks, getting out of the car. I sigh a bit too loudly. “Not really.” I say under my breath and stay seated in the car, trying to shake off the sleep. The front door opens and my brother steps out of the door and walks towards my dad. And then an unfamiliar boy steps out behind him. I release  my seat-belt, not surprised that my social butterfly brother already had friends. I look up again and notice the boy is looking into the van, straight at me. He smiles and the corner of my lips turn up involuntarily in response. I scan his face quickly and register his messy brown hair and nice build. His Abercrombie shirt  is fitted nicely around  his arms and his shorts expose thick defined calves. ‘Rugby player’ I think to myself, turning my attention to my purse as I put my aviators back in their case. By the time I look up again, the cute boy was already down the driveway. I watch him walk into  the house across the street. ‘Really cute’  I think to myself and shift my eyes back to my house in front of me. My brother Eric, mom and dad are all standing in front of the car watching me. “God, she likes the van.” My dad shakes his head in disappointment. I laugh and scramble out of the car, hugging my brother and kissing my mom’s cheek. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s the van she likes” my brother quips in. I smack him across the head and he pushes me up the driveway. “Mom opened your boxes” he whispers in my ear. “MOM!!” I yell out. “Eric, you have such a big mouth. All of you take off your shoes please.” We all groan, stepping into the half empty house.