Looking After You

(19) Ages: 15 & 12

Ages: 15 & 12

Friday nights. The one night when everyone knew their place. The parents went on a date night while James sat at the Loren’s to look after Jenny. It was something James had been doing for as long as he could remember, but it was the night all of that was going to change. Jenny was attending an all-girls slumber party that night which meant James had his first Friday night to do whatever he wanted, or whatever was allowed at fifteen years old. He had made plans for the parents to drop him off at a friend’s house for the weekend and James had spent all evening, since he got home from school, packing. Granted, most of his bag were stuffed with video games and movies, but it was a long and grueling process, which is why it called for a loud, exaggerated sigh once James finally zipped up his bag.

“That bad, huh?” Denise chuckled from his doorway after watching him the last few seconds.

“Are we leaving?” He asked, his eyes filled with excitement.

“In a few minutes.” She responded somberly. It was obvious she had something to say, something that could possibly destroy that look of excitement in her son's eyes.

“I should go put my bag in the car so we can leave as soon as Uncle Keith and Aunt Alison are ready.” He reached for the strap on his black luggage, but his mother took a few steps farther into the room and shook her head. “I need to tell you something first. Actually, I need to ask you something and I know you’re not going to like it but I also know I can count on you to do the right thing.”

James sighed deeply and could already tell he didn’t like where the conversation was going. Whenever his mother counted on him to do the ‘right thing’, it always ended up being the ‘last thing’ he wanted to do. They both sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Jenny had a rough day at school today.”

“Again?” James turned his head towards his mother and a look of concern flashed briefly across his face. He was never given details about Jenny’s situation at school, but he knew she was upset and even his parents were worried about her.

“She was supposed to stay at a friend’s house tonight but something happened.” She turned to look at her son, a hopeful smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I know it would mean a lot to her if you hung out with her tonight.”

He groaned and fell back on the bed, imitating his previous sigh. “I’m always staying here with Jenny. Tonight was supposed to be the one Friday night I got to hang out with my friend.”

“I’m sure Jenny was thinking the same thing.” James had no response so Denise lied back on the bed as well. “Look, tonight you can do whatever you want. If you still feel like spending the night at your friend’s house, then Jenny can stay home by herself and we are happy to drop you off. But, if you just happen to feel like hanging out with Jenny and cheering her up like you do so well…then, I suppose that would be just fine also.”

Reverse psychology. James knew what it was and one thing he could say for sure, he wasn’t falling for it.

~

“Jenny?” Alison tapped softly on Jenny’s closed bedroom door.

“I’m fine, mom.” Jenny lifted her head from her pillow to answer. “Have fun at dinner.”

Alison opened her door and looked over at her daughter with a sympathetic expression. She was sprawled across her bed with her head face down in a pillow. “Honey, are you sure you’re going to be okay tonight? Your dad and I can stay home.”

“No, I want you to go.” She insisted and flipped over onto her back, hugging the pillow to her chest.

Alison smiled down at her and placed a hand on her knee. “I’m sorry about the party. Girls can be such bitches at your age.” Alison hardly ever cursed but when she did it was usually to make Jenny smile. Sometimes life was just too much not to use the most extreme form of a word, her mother would say. Jenny only ever got in trouble for repeating cuss words when the situation didn’t call for it. “When you feel it, say it,” her mother would say, “but don’t use it so much that you wear out the excitement and power of it.”