The Mute Mate

The Mute Wolf

I got out my car and pulled my backpack out of the passenger seat. I heard the locks on my car click and I fumbled with my keys to unlock the door to the house. I already saw TJ's car out front so I know at least he was home. I put my bag in the front hall of the pack house and took off my shoes, putting my keys in the key bowl next to the door. The house was rather quiet at this time of the afternoon. Dad should be wrapping up his stuff for the day and I could smell food cooking in the kitchen, so of course, Mom was home.

Mom was cooking a chicken stir-fry rice tonight. I could smell the sweetness of the bell peppers, and the hint of tart garlic and onions in the air to add flavor to the whole dish. I knew I was gonna miss Mom's cooking when I went off; either to college or in an arranged marriage. I know I have to come back often.

I meandered into the kitchen, finding Mom there, humming her usual tunes to herself like she was in her own little world. She hadn't heard me walk in because she was having her own little concert. I couldn't help but let a laugh slip out. Mom was pretty good at keeping face most of the time, but this is the mother I knew when I was a younger child. She was playful and always knew how to have some fun. I guess since her youngest child was about to leave the cave, she could finally get back to being the fun parent again.

I stood in the doorway, contemplating for another moment before I knocked on the wall to let her know of my presence. She glanced over her shoulder at me and smiled before tending to the sizzling dish. "Hey, sweetie. How was your day today?" She asked me, chipper as ever.

I waltz up behind her and kissed her on her cheek, a daily ritual I've known as long as I can remember. "It was good, Mom."

I saw her glance at the time, her eyebrows furrowed together, "Did you stay after school today? You're home a little late." She noted.

I quickly dismissed it, "I was just staying after with Miranda to help her with some calculus work. It's no big deal. " I crossed the kitchen to the basket of fruit on our counter, grabbing a banana, peeling it and quickly biting into it.

"Did you tell somebody you were gonna be late? I didn't hear anything from you." She sounded cautious and concern. I knew she was leading into some sort of scolding of what I've done.

I shrugged as I chewed my banana, not even sure if she could see it or not, but regardless, I knew I was in the wrong, "It was just 45 minutes after school. I thought it was fine."

Mom sighed and I could hear the annoyed tapping of her foot on the tile floor, "Ke'aysha Moore. Your father and I already told you, you need to be careful with-"

"Yeah, Mom." She was displeased by the interruption, I could feel it radiating off of her. I threw the banana peel into the trash can and started to make my way out of the kitchen to avoid a lecture, "Do you know where TJ and Lamar are?"

There was a moment of hesitation until she answered me, "They're in the meeting with your father. They should be getting out any minute now."

"Thanks! Love you!" I skipped my way out of the kitchen and down the hall to the meeting room in the house. I hadn't seen TJ in a couple of months and I couldn't wait to laugh at his dumb jokes or mock him for the stuff he does or talks about. He's a dork.

Almost as if on cue, the door to the meeting room opened before I could even reach it. The first to walk out was Dad with a manila folder in hand, his eyes had rings of bags around them, but when they landed on me, they lit up with a comforting recognition. His wrinkled face curled into a smile, "Hi, Daddy!"

"Hey, Baby girl." His voice was rougher than usual, almost as if he had been sleeping for most of the day. We shared a hug in the hallway. I was trying to squeeze all the energy and love I could into the hug so it could transfer over to him. He recuperated and shifted the folder to his other hand. "Where's your mother?"