Patience is a Virtue (Promo Sample)

Callused

The fire crackled as Elton shoved another piece of wood into the middle, he was never a patient man. A spitting imagine of his father that left years ago, curly hair like the boys in the old mafia movies and dirty fingernails proving he took that path willingly. Patience knew not to ask even though his mother seemed to be coherently ignorant. Asking every visit how college was and if his grades got any better.

He would smile at her like any good son would do and lie through the gap in his teeth, smoke escaping as well as he let his breath go hoping that would be the end of that, it never was and she would go on to admit how proud she was of him. Patience only watched the fire grow as it engulfed the new fuel and hoped the questions would stay on him. "Your grandfather would have been so proud of you Elton, the first one in our family to go to college." Yolanda's smile rose with her shoulders as she took a cigarette from her son and handed one over to Patience.

"Thanks ma." Elton locked his lips as he took another drink of his beer, something he did to avoid his guilt Patience assumed. "What about you munchkin? Heard you got a job."

"I heard you got one to." Taking her lighter out and watching it burn the end Patience waited as Yolanda looked over at her son confused before he somehow convinced her to go get some more beers from inside. He stayed seated even though he was obviously worried about her words, his left leg bouncing as he wiped his nose. "Watch what you say alright? It will kill her if she knew."

Patience flicked the ash away. "It's nothing different from the fake purses she sells."

"It is and you know that." He leaned back in the tearing green outdoor folding chair. "When she found out pops was lifting cars she gave him two black eyes P."

"He did a lot more than just lift cars." Patience whispered throwing her finished cigarette into the fire and opening her canned beer. The popping sound the perfect way to relax her mind as she tilted her head back and drank the cool liquid, it's effects not even settling in like it used to. She missed when it did that. "You should tell her you at least work out a lot. You reek of oil." Letting her eyes finally raise up to meet her so called brother she only sighed at his pitiful smile.

"What's on your mind?"

Before she could answer Yolanda came out with her rolling cooler that was somehow missing a wheel and a smoking tray of pizza she had thrown together while smoking the lettuce she was adamant about not having. "Patience saw her new therapist today!"

"No shit." Taking a piece of food he leaned back with a smirk, like he suddenly knew why she was suddenly so quite and reserved. It made Patience angry because that wasn't out of ordinary for her, she was always quite and reserved. "What did the quack blame your issues on this time?"

Swallowing another large gulp the younger girl waited until her companies mouth was full of pizza. "She said I should ask about my childhood."

They looked at each other and then back at the girl who stared at her own slice. "What about your childhood?" Elton took another bite as he watched his sisters face through the flames.

She shrugged.

"You were the easiest baby, almost never cried." Yolanda smiled, "And the cutest little mouse in your fourth grade play."

"Fucking temper though," Elton suddenly remembered the story and sat up. "Remember that time she chased me with pops knife because I stole her pillow."

"A little temper never hurt anyone." She eyed her son down. "The doctors said you were callused but honestly I don't think proffesionals know what to do with a girl who doesn't act like a girl. So what you burned your barbies and got in a few fist fights. Your brother taught you how to protect yourself and that's all that matters." Her accent got stronger as she finished of her point with another bite. "Some girls like to wear make up and play princesses. You liked to wrestle and eat dirt."