Mr. Tan

Chapter 31: Earl's Moment Of Weakness

It has now been a week since I've been staying with Adrian and her great Aunt Angelia Mae. I slept on their white leather couch and kept my belongings in Adrian's room. Most days were spent going to school, doing homework, helping Angela Mae run errands and help prepare meals, and ignoring Earl's phone calls. I picked up Adrian from work on most nights so Angela wouldn't have to. Adrian and Angela Mae didn't work on Sundays, so on those days they went to church then came home and made a big Sunday dinner. It was now Sunday and we were leaving Bernadette Street First Baptist Church on a party cloudy afternoon. We were all dressed in our Sunday's best and were heading back to make Sunday dinner. The pastor of the church stood at the door shaking hands and thanking everyone for coming to Sunday service. As soon as we got back to Adrian's house, we went to her room to get changed out of our church clothes. My Sunday's best was nothing more but a pair of dark grey leggings and a black wing sleeved shirt and black flats.

"Hey Adrian, why are you giving up on College?", I asked, sliding my leggings down to my ankles.

"My auntie needs my help around here, that's why", she replied, running her fingers through her freshly straightened hair pulling it back into her signature ponytail.

"Why do you think she needs your help around here? She moves fast", I replied.

"I guess she never told you that she had a mild stroke a month ago", she said. That's why I'm giving up on starting college classes for now. I tried to explain that to her but she just brushes it off and keeps telling me that she's fine.

"I'm sorry to hear that", I said.

"It's okay", she said. I just don't wanna have to worry about her while I'm away at College. My great Uncle Dwight passed away and she was feeling lonely, that's why I came down to Mississippi to live with her. Everyone else in my family is too busy to come see about Aunt Angie. So my parents thought it was a good idea for me to leave Chicago for the time being and come to Mississippi and stay with her, plus I volunteered to come back here and stay with her.

"I had no idea that you were from Chicago", I replied.

"Yep, I was born there, me and my older sister Vanessa. My parents are originally from Mississippi", she replied, slipping on a pair of pink pajama bottoms.

She took a seat at her vanity mirror, applying acne cream to her face.

"So what's up with you and Earl?", she asked. You haven't really said much about it ever since you've been here.

"If I talk about it, it'll just make me upset all over, again", I said, slipping an over sized football jersey over my head.