The Cusp of 30 (Working Title)

Chapter 11.5 (An Addition to Chapter 11)

I kept silent for about thirty seconds before exploding.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" I asked, pulling down the sun visor so I could see my mother through the mirror. "Why? What do you need that I don't already get you?"

"Listen—"

"A tomato? I get fucking tomatoes for free at work all of the time!" It was then that I noticed how tightly Antonella's hands were on the wheel, and so I lowered my voice. "Why did you steal a fucking tomato, Mom?"

My mother mumbled something under her breath.

"That's what I get? A mumble?"

She mumbled something else.

"Pst." I shook my head and pushed up the sun visor. I didn't want to look at her anymore. "Pathetic," I said.

"I said no one wants your fucking bruised, almost-rotten tomatoes."

Although I didn't turn around, I could picture the smug smile on her face. I chose to just keep my mouth shut and take a few deep breaths, mostly because Antonella was driving and I didn't want to embarrass myself anymore than my mother already had.

But then she added, "And your nigg*r boyfriend is a bitch cop."

Antonella screamed when I pulled on the emergency break, and we all fell forward. She should have been wearing her seatbelt.

I got out of the car and opened the back passenger's door.

"Get the fuck out of my car right now."

She was rubbing her forehead as if she had hit it on the back of my headrest. It couldn't have hurt that badly. "Relax," she said.

"No. Out. Now."

She didn't move.

"Okay," I said.

She struggled as I pulled her out by the hair. I didn't pull as hard as I could have.

"You are so ungrateful!" I shouted. My voice was shaky, and this time I knew that I was definitely crying, and then I was angry at myself for allowing her to get me to this point.

"See, you're not that tough," she said.

I lifted both of my arms in the air. "Why do I have to be?"

She was quiet for a moment. "I'll walk."

"Yeah, you will," I said. I turned around and got back into the car.

This time Antonella waited for my instruction to start driving home.

"Take me out of here," I tried to command her, but it sounded more like a beg.