Boy Charming

Chapter Twenty-Two: Aunt Millicent

I called my Auntie last night. She’s older than my mom, not just by age, but by the way she acts. Her name isn't Millicent. I just think it's a great Aunt name. Anyway, after my Auntie's husband died she jumped right into the church widow thing and now she's super religious. She doesn’t have any kids so all she does is go to church.

I was desperate and out of food so after rehearsing all my responses to possible questions she might ask about my life, I finally gave her a call. I used a pay phone at Walmart.

  “Hello?” she said, not sounding like her usual chipper self.
  “Hi Auntie it’s Alanna.” I felt uncomfortable, calling with ulterior motives and not just to talk.
  “Alanna!” She cheered up a bit then. “How are you?”
  “Good.”
  “Where are you calling from?.”
  “We’re shopping at Walmart. Mom didn’t want me to use her cell phone.”
  “How is your mom? She never calls anymore.”
  “She’s busy with all her new house cleaning clients.”
  “Oh that’s good.” There was a pause as I took a moment to plan my words.

  “I wanted to ask you when confession is, because it's Easter time, I mean Lent time, and I haven’t gone in a while.”
  I could tell by the pause that she hadn’t been expecting this.
  “Oh, well there are lots of reconciliation services this time of year. The church near your place has one every Friday until Easter.”
  At this point I was feeling like a total jerk, because I had no real intention of going to confession I just needed an excuse to call Auntie. I wanted to get her thinking about my birthday so she’d remember and hopefully give me money.
  “My friend Emma might come with me. She’s new at school and she’s Catholic too. She came to my birthday party last weekend.”
  “Your birthday! How could I have forgotten that?”
  “It’s okay, Mom made a cake and I had friends over.”
  “Oh, no it’s not okay, I’m sorry…” She went on, sounding like she felt guilty, while I stood there feeling even more guilty. “I’ve been all wrapped up in things happening at the church… how about I take you to a movie?”

  Not exactly what I was thinking but I at least I could buy chocolates and popcorn at the theater, not to mention sit in a nice warm place for a couple of hours. And I could save the chocolate bar for later. They make great meals when you’re starving. There’s just enough sugar and fat to keep you going.

  “I’m sorry.” My Auntie was apologizing again. “So what do you think? There’s a film all the kids are talking about.” (My Auntie’s a part-time grade school teacher) “The Legos?”
  “The Lego Movie? I don’t think its playing in the theaters anymore…”
  “It is! At the discount theater. Have you seen it?”
  “No.” I was thinking of all the ways I could switch this movie plan into just getting cash.
  “That’s settled then. But we can’t wait until Friday because that’s when they change the movies.”
  “Okay.”
  “I will pick you up tomorrow night. I haven’t seen your mom in…”
  “Can I just meet you at the mall Auntie?”
  “I don’t mind picking you up…”
  “Yeah but I want to go earlier with Emma and… get some ice-cream.”

  Ice-cream? The Lego Movie? What am I like 7? And suddenly this Emma girl I had made up was my new best friend. I’d have to write her name on the back of my hand so I don’t forget it.

  “Alright. I’ll just meet you there. And your mom can join us too.”
  “Thanks Auntie I’ll tell her.”
  “And your friend Emma if she’d like.”
  “She’s already seen that movie but I’ll ask her.”

  We finally picked a time and meeting place then she said bye. That was last night so I guess I’m going to see a kid’s movie tonight. I know it’s totally lame, but I’m actually looking forward to it. It’s such a ‘normal’ thing to do and lately I’ve been feeling like I need something normal, even if just for two hours.