Stitches of Survival

I'm Only Bleeding

Chapter Sixty-One: I'm Only Bleeding

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Christopher's babbles filled the room as he sat in his highchair, seemingly chatting away to himself as he watched me move around the kitchen to get Mellie a bowl of cereal, Joel having already helped himself to a Poptart. I couldn't stop the small smile that filled my lips as I looked over at the table to look at my three children sitting around it. This was always one of my favorite parts of the day, just having all of them in the same room. 

"Here you go, sweetie." I placed a bowl of Lucky Charms down in front of Mellie before then turning my attention to Christopher and poured some of his apple puff cereal onto his tray. "Here you go, bubba."

"Hey, Mom, is it okay if I hang out at Cody's house after school?" Joel asked as I sat myself down at the table with them, returning to the now lukewarm coffee I had poured for myself before the kids had all woken up. 

"Sure. Just make sure you're home in time for dinner," I nodded. "How is Cody doing? I haven't see him around here in a while."

"He's fine," Joel shrugged as he slipped out of his seat and disappeared down the hall, likely retreating back to his bedroom until it was time to leave for school. It was only a couple of minutes afterwards that Mark joined us in the kitchen.

"Any reason in particular for the moody teen blasting Eminem in his room?" Mark toyed with the watch resting on his wrist before moving to pour himself a cup of coffee. 

"Your guess is as good as mine. He's been like that for a few weeks, I don't know what's bothering him. Every time I try to talk to him about it he just shuts me out," I pursed my lips at the thought of my oldest son. For nearly a month he had been moody and seemingly trying to avoid any 'family time' possible. "Maybe I should drive him to school today; try to talk to him again."

"He's a teenager now, Beth," he reminded me as he took a seat on the other side of Chris. "Moodiness comes with the territory. And, trust me, it'll only get worse if he has to tell his friends that he wasn't on the bus 'cause him mom wanted to talk. Do that and we'll be at risk of having him throw himself out of a moving vehicle."

"I just wish he'd still talk to me like he did when he was little," I forced a smile onto my lips as Chris held a piece of his cereal out for me. I leaned my head forward as if I were going to eat it before the little boy quickly pulled his hand back, shoving the food into his own mouth with a laugh. "Haven't they built a machine to freeze them as babies forever yet?"

"I don't think that'll be as appealing as it sounds," Mark chuckled at the idea. "I mean, I love the kids, but I'd rather not have to be changing their diapers when it comes time for us to have our own. There's a reason our kids grow up-- So they can get a piece of karma and take care of us when we're old farts. Make them pay for all the crap they gave us."

"Charming," I rolled my eyes. "Well if I'm not allowed to talk to him then can you? Maybe he'll be willing to talk to you about whatever's going on."

"I don't--" He started to shake his head.

"It's either this or you're dealing with Mellie after her first break up," I threatened.

"I guess he could help me grill tonight," he quickly changed his tune.

"And this is why I keep you around," I joked, a satisfied smile filling my lips as I sipped at my coffee. 

"I thought that was for my looks?" He feigned offence.