A Break Apart

CHAPTER 6. Bonding

My first Sunday Mass in St Paul had just ended. The entrance door to the parish, as well as the staircase of the vintage-like building, provided enough space for all parishioners to flood in and out of the church without any body contact.

I left Mum behind to wait by the car as she didn't mind stopping for a meet-and-greet with every parishioner, and with the population of St Paul, that could take the whole day.

With my arms folded across my chest and my back against the car, I entertained my eyes with the colourful view of parishioners in their Sunday-best outfits around the vicinity, and the others that were passing by. A lady walked as though she was trying out heels for the first time. Another lady walked past in a tight dress and face heavy with makeup, alongside a guy with crazy dreadlocks. I cringed at the neckline of her dress that revealed a bit of her cleavage, and then switched to a smile at the sight of a little girl in pretty tutu, whose hand was in the hold of her mother's. Beside them was a man with two older boys, and they were all heading in the same direction. The youths looked modern, and the elders looked traditional.

I heaved a sigh of relieve when I spotted the familiar print of Mum's Ankara dress, and reminded myself to take the car keys next time so that the sun doesn't leave me with an uneven brown skin.

"Sorry, dear." She hurried over to the driver's side while I turned around, holding the handle of the passenger's door.

The car beeped, and we both got in. Mum wasted no time to start the car and turn on the AC to quench the furnace inside.

"What time did you arrive home from the gym yesterday?" She looked at me, her hands on the steering wheel.

I looked down, suddenly admiring the white polka dots on my black maxi skirt. "Uh, around seven, I think."

I heard her sigh. "That was late."

I'm old enough, stop treating me like a kid. I get it, I'm an only child, so what? I"m not the first, and I won't be the last.

"It won't happen again. I'm sorry," I said instead, saving us both the drama.

"Good, now put on your seatbelt."

I did that while she looked ahead, and soon the car began to move.

We arrived home and separated to our rooms to relax for a bit, and met again in the kitchen when it was time for lunch. While I grilled the chicken that Mum had marinated and kept in the fridge to sleep overnight, she prepared rice and stew.

We set the dinning table after we finished and sat across each other. The fact that I could use my hand made eating chicken enjoyable at home.

"My store is set. I'll start work tomorrow," Mum said, and I procrastinated a bite of my spicy, grilled chicken breast and looked up.

"Wow. Congratulations," I beamed, but then I realised how quiet it would get from here on.

"What's wrong?" She stopped making the clinking noise she made as a result of stirring her food and fixated her concerned eyes on me.

"It'll be lonely without you around."

She chuckled. "That's nothing to worry about. There's your school project to keep you preoccupied, the gym—and you need to start making new friends." She went personal with her last statement.