Take Me Away | ✔️

1. REINVENT

THERE WAS SOMETHING about today that had mom and Sean in an awfully good mood. Usually, I would be the one waking up early to start on breakfast since mom has been having a bad time cooking lately when the effects of chemotherapy were hitting her hard. But, unusually, I wasn't woken up by my alarm and when I checked to see if I had slept through all of them, they were all turned off.

          As I got ready for this morning, which was me just wearing cargo shorts and sweater because I didn't have anything to do, the smell of bacon and pancakes forced me to stop dead in my tracks when I got out of my room. Walking down the stairs, I heard my mom and brother harmonizing their humming.

          Mom never hums about something unless she's really, really in a good mood.

          I used to remember Mom dancing to whatever she hummed. She was so lively and heathy; her short bob of a dark hair was bouncing each time she jumped in delight and her eyes were bright and shining.

          "What's going on?" the smile creeping on my face was obvious, and I couldn't remember the last time that I genuinely smiled. "And why are the two most dangerous cooks in the same kitchen?"

          "Hey!" They both said in unison, wearing the same sly grin.

          Sean and I are fraternal twins so we didn't look alike. He looked, talked, and walked around more like dad—the blonde hair, round green eyes, long nose, their upper and lower lip are the same size—and me, on the other hand, was like mom with the doe light brown eyes, thin, upturned nose, small lips. The only similar between the two of us physically is we both have square jaws.

          I raised my hands up in surrender. "You know, it's true!" My eyes moved to the plate full of bacon and pancakes on the table. "Okay, maybe you have improved a little."

          "A little?" Sean raised a brow, urging me to say more.

          I pointed at one of the bacons on top. "That one's end isn't even cooked halfway."

           "Shit!" Sean ran to it, grabbing it with tongs and placing it back at the pan while Mom turned to him with a disappointed look and slapped him at the back of the head. "Ow! What was that for, mom?"

          She glared at him and I couldn't do anything but be happy to see that look—that "motherly look" that we all get from our moms. "Language." Then, she walked to me and grabbed my hand, pulling me to a chair, sitting beside me. "Now, let's eat."

          Sean went for the pancakes. I went for the bacon. After he finished taking four of it, I grabbed two and placed it on mom's plate. She rolled her eyes, shaking her head, which usually was a sign that she didn't want me helping her get her own food. But, of course, I went ahead and did it anyway while Sean poured some water on her glass.

          "You kids always take care of me," she smiles weakly. "I'm supposed to be taking care of you, you know."

          I nodded. "I know you do but we're built like this. Besides, isn't that what kids are supposed to do? Make sure that their moms are healthy so they can see their children graduate, marry, and have kids."

          They both stopped, gawking at me. Automatically, I rolled my eyes. "The graduate part was for the both of us. The whole family imagination was for your son. Well, unless somebody gets past the disgusting stink of his feet and his huge ego."

          Right after I said that, Sean stood up, removed his shoe, and threw it at my shoulder lightly.

          "Ow!" I picked it up and threw it back at him. He caught it easily before it dropped at his plate. Stupid sport reflexes of his. "It's true, we all know it's true. I'll continue insulting you, by the way, if one of you tell me what the two of you are planning?"