Just Try It

Chapter 22- Still in Control

Monday, February 13th 9:00pm

Swisher Street Apartments

Moe hurried through his apartment door and dropped his things as he had a small panic attack.  His wild eyes looked back at him from the hall mirror, and he almost didn't recognize himself.  How his friends would laugh if they could see him now.  Flirting had gotten him tons of dates in the past. However, that was because they didn't really matter, he reminded himself.  Sondra mattered, and he didn't want to mess up something that meant the world to him by confusing dreams and reality.

Tonight, the line had blurred, kinda.  Even in his dreams he hadn't kissed her on the street while cars honked at them.  He blew out a deep breath and firmly told himself that he hadn't ruined things.  Sure the honking of the car had helped, but he was still in control.  He had stopped, and Sondra probably didn't even realize anything was different.  In fact, she had even hugged him back.  As his fear eased away, Moe calmed down enough to remember that Sondra was waiting for him, and he had a project to finish.  A few more deep breaths, and he thought he looked close to normal.

Moe knocked on Sondra's door, and it swung open to show Sondra talking on the cordless phone.

"I got home a little bit ago, Grandma.  We helped clean up Jamie's place, and then I helped Moe with a school project," Sondra said calmly.  She then was listened to her grandma as she led the way to the study. 

Moe hesitated, and followed Sondra to a small room that had a whole wall of shelves that were stuffed with supplies.  Near that was a large old desk with a computer and printer.  A couple of file cabinets were close at hand to the chair, and squeezed into the opposite corner sat an overstuffed loveseat that had a lamp positioned just right for reading. 

Sondra curled up in the corner of the loveseat, and waved toward the computer while she wrote in a notebook, and talked on the phone. 

Moe booted up the computer while he wondered how she could multitask like that. 

She said, "Don't worry about me.  Have fun with your friends.  I'll see you later.  I'm just going to be in the apartment working on a school project.  It doesn't matter if you are a bit late.  I'll probably still be up." 

After another short pause Sondra added, "I haven't seen her all day," and a few minutes later she was saying goodbye.

When she finished her call Moe asked, "Is your grandma okay with me working over here?"

Sondra frowned and asked, "Why wouldn't she be?  Danica comes over all the time.  You used to run in and out like it was a second home too."

Moe could think of several reasons it wouldn't be okay anymore, but he just said, "I'll get started right away.  I don't want to take too much more time.  We'll need to get up early to practice."

Sondra didn't look up from the paper as she frowned and said reluctantly, "I guess I'll have to set my alarm earlier."

Moe smiled and suggested, "If we leave by 6:00am we can get in almost an hour at the courts in the park, and still be back in time to get ready for school."

Sondra nodded and agreed, "That should work."

Moe frowned and asked, "It won't interfere with time with your mom?"

Sondra continued writing and gave a short bitter laugh before she said, "She is doing good to be up before noon.  Besides, I haven't heard from her all day. I'm not sure I want to talk to her yet."

Moe nodded and answered without thinking, "I don't blame you.  My life is better without my mom in it."

Moe realized his mistake immediately and glanced over to see if she had noticed he had opened up the taboo topic.  Sondra had stopped writing and was just staring at the page in front of her.  Moe knew it was too much to hope for that she was struggling to remember what to write next.  She confirmed his fears when she said cautiously, "You never talk about your other family. I guess that I always thought that they all died in an accident."