FLOWERS

Orchid

"MOM!" Collin Bowler ran down his stairs with a bloody nose running down his face. "HOLY SHIT MOM! I THINK I'M DYING!"

Angella Bowler sat quietly at her kitchen table with a needle and thread, patiently sewing a ripped shirt that she had ruined during a night at the bar. Basically a bar fight ensued between a very drunk Betty Bowler, her sister, and another very drunk woman about a rock band and whether the singer was dead or not. The band was Nirvana and the answer was yes, but her sister swore that the other woman was thinking of Pink Floyd who's singer remained alive so that argument was stupid too. Dead or not, the fight broke out, Angella stepped into the mix and the other drunk lady pulled her shirt, causing a rip that ruined her perfectly good outfit. She, of course, was not happy about this, but her sister had just gotten out of a rather terrible relationship and needed the night out, so Angella happily took one for the team. At the moment, Better Bowler was asleep on the family room couch with a dog at her feet and a cat at her chest. She was attempting to sleep through an extreme hangover, but both her and Angella knew this was a futile fight. The hangover couldn't be beaten, especially when Collin Bowler was screaming about a bloody nose which was probably caused by the dry weather.

This beat against poor Betty's head, just a little too much. "Would you please shut up, Little Shit?!"

"Betty, don't be a bitch. You know this is your fault. Come here Baby. Let me see your face." Angella lovingly took Collin's hand and looked intently at the easily amenable issue. She got up and grabbed a paper towel from the kitchen and gently dabbed the blood off of Collin's face.

Collin, 13 years old, knew for a fact his mother was his best friend. She took care of him and loved him more than any other. His dad was definitely number two, but he would always be a Mommy's boy. She was magical in every way and he loved her the same if not more than she did.

This was not true, of course. Collin was the only baby she had, and after Becka... Well, she would never let anything happen to him, let's just say that. "Now, apologize to Collin, Betty. That was uncalled for and we do not do name-calling in this house."

Betty sighed frustratedly and replied. "Sorry, Squirt. You're not a Little Shit. You're the best nephew ever. Aunties just a little s-"

"Hungover as usual. I know Aunt Betty. Don't worry I forgive you." Collin walked over to the other side of the cous\ch and wrapped his arms around his Aunt.

"Is it that easy to tell? Maybe I am becoming an alcoholic."

"Becoming? No, the becoming process ended a long time ago. You are an alcoholic." Angella chuckled, hiding her more worried feelings for her sister deep into her subconscious. "Maybe you should do AA?"

"What's AA Mom?" Collin asked.

"It's where adults go to fix their shitty decisions," Betty responded. "And it's really scary and stupid and I'd rather die."

"You might get that wish soon, if you're not careful."

"Shit Angella, you sound like Zach. I promise, I'm not gonna be an alcoholic forever."

"Cross your heart, Aunt Betty?" Collin said sternly.

"Cross my heart, Squirt." Betty did mean it, but she didn't know if she could actually follow through with something like that. The thought of not depending on a drink to get her through the day scared the hell out of her. She didn't know if she could handle emotions like that on her own or not. Maybe... But she didn't know for sure.

"I'm going to Jesse's, Mom." Collin grabbed a jacket from off one of the chairs in the kitchen.

"You need a ride, Baby?" Angella paused her sewing for a moment and looked up at Collin. "You just had a traumatic experience."