Running Into You

Chapter 6

Emma

"Did you get out of taking showers in P.E.?" I hear Mom ask behind me as I put a pork chop at each of the five plates on the table.

"No, he said the note had to be from a doctor."

"Oh, I'm sorry, baby, maybe it won't be that bad. There is only two more months of football left and then you will get hot and sweaty. You'll probably need a shower after all," she predicts optimistically as she goes behind me and puts a roll on all the plates.

For some reason talking about being hot and sweaty in gym class and taking showers made me feel uneasy.

"Um, how was work?" I ask as I walk behind her to get the bowl of mashed potatoes.

"It was busy. We have a big case coming up next week. I might have to work some this weekend. Do you have anything planned?" she asks as she puts green beans on the plates.

"No, I was thinking of going down to Grandpa's and doing some homework on his computer."

"That will be nice. That way the boys can see him too. I think sometimes he gets awfully lonely all by himself."

I put four glasses and one sippy cup in front of the plates while Mom fills them up with milk.

"Yeah, I know."

"Are you going to spend the whole weekend studying?"

"I don't have anything better to do."

"You are eighteen. You need to get out and enjoy life a little before you are old like me and all you do is work. What about Caleb? You guys should go out on a date or something."

"Mom, we are just friends. Besides he has that football game on Friday."

"Well, that is only one day. You should go see him play. I know he will appreciate it."

"Mom, he is on the team. He wouldn't even know I was there and besides I only tutor him."

"I know he is on the team, but I promise you he will know you are there and would like all the fans he can get."

"I don't know. I guess."

"Well, think about it. I'll be home so don't worry about the boys."

"What about you, huh? Isn't there some hot lawyer you could be dating."

"Umm, we are not talking about my dating life and besides you kids are all I need now."

"Oh come on, it has been three years now. You are not an old maid, you know. You still got it."

"Boys, it's time to eat." Mom yells up the stairs, ignoring what I just said. You can hear feet pounding as they start running down the stairs. I go and pick Seth up off the floor and take the blocks from his hand.

"Look, Em, it's a robot."

"It's brilliant, Seth, now let's eat."

As we all sit down at the table we bow our heads and Mom says a small prayer of thanks before we start to eat.

"Hey Mom, I want to play football next year." Scott announces. I cough and take a big gulp of milk.

"What brought this on?" I ask. Scott is thirteen years old and is nothing but skin and bones. At five foot he's almost as tall as me, but still shorter than a lot of his classmates. I could not imagine him playing alongside big guys like Caleb.

"I think it will be fun. Besides Caleb really likes it, and he can help me practice."

"Sure, baby, if that is what you want you can start next year." Scott has a big grin on his face like he won a prize or something.