A Cacophony

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We walked around the block until we got back to our house. "No way I would ever say that. Your memory is messed up," I said laughing as we entered the house.

Dennis quipped, "No, my memory is great. I mean, how could you forget telling me that you snuck downstairs in the middle of the night and ate a whole wheel of cheese?"

"Okay, I have so many questions about this scenario you completely made up just now, on the fly." He shook his head, "No, no you told me this happened."

"Wow, okay when did we ever have an entire wheel of cheese in our house?" He tried to interrupt me, but I continued, "And even if there was, why would I do that and ever tell you about it?"

As we talked we traveled further into the house. "Mom bought it for some special recipe thing and your stomach was upset. I asked you what was up."

I laughed, "Wow, what a terrible liar you are." In the distance toward the kitchen, I could hear my mother's soft voice. As we neared the kitchen, we peeked in through the archway and saw her making hot cocoa over the stove with her phone stuck to her ear.

"Yes, I understand. Can we please discuss this at the meeting tomorrow?" She paused, "I completely understand that, but I'll be so much more comfortable if we converse in person. I want to see all the files and hear everything with you looking me in the eyes, Mr. Norman. Okay, thank you, I'll see you in the morning." She placed her phone on the counter with more force than usual and hung her head over the stove.

Gently, we walked in, "Hi Mom," I said.

"Oh, I thought I heard you two come in," she said looking up at us with a false smile.

"What was that about, if you don't mind me asking?" I said with a serious look plastered over my face.

She wiped her brow. "Just a meeting with Mr. Norman tomorrow. Nothing to worry about, I promise."

I sat on the island in the middle of our kitchen, "Here I was thinking we were done lying," Dennis said intensely eyeing our mom.

"It's minuscule really, I have a meeting with my lawyer tomorrow. It's just a lot of legal trouble, especially with you kids being involved. Your father is determined to make this dif- challenging. It's nothing to wrack your brains about. Let's just leave it there for now, okay."

Denny and I both exchanged looks, "Yes ma'am," I said holding onto his shoulder.

With frustration, she said, "I made hot chocolate for you. It's so cold outside. I don't know why you choose to go out there."

"That's what I said," he looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"It should be ready to drink now," she declared, starting to pour the delicious drink in our favorite mugs.

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