The week passes slowly.
All I can think about is Mom leaving. I’m dying for her to go to rehab. Such a son, huh?
The only break comes in seeing Lily at school. And having conversations with her on the phone. Or texting her.
A text comes from her asking WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
NOTHING.
YOU LIVE AN EXCITING LIFE.
IT WAS A LOT LESS EXCITING BEFORE YOU MOVED HERE.
WANT TO COME OUT?
NOW?
SURE, WHY NOT?
There’s a pause.
HELLO???
IT’S A WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
AND YOU’RE UP.
MY MOM MIGHT NOT APPROVE.
DO YOU ALWAYS OBEY THE RULES?
DO YOU?
UM—DO YOU KNOW ME?
KINDA.
YEAH, WELL, THEN YOU WOULDN’T ASK THAT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? I ask.
EVERYTHING.
STOP IT.
I’M JUST SAYING.
THAT’S NOT FAIR TO TEASE LIKE THAT.
I DO—I MEAN IT.
YOU MEAN WHAT?
I MEAN I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING. I WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING. I WANT TO EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING I CAN.
One minute I hear nothing from her. Then she texts me that.
OH.
WHAT’S WITH THE LITTLE TINY “OH”?
NOTHING.
STOP.
WHAT?
STOP SULKING.
I’M NOT SULKING.
YES YOU ARE.
YOU CAN’T EVEN SEE ME.
OH, I CAN SEE YOU AND I KNOW THAT LOOK OF YOURS.
CAN YOU SEE ME NOW?
YES.
AND WHAT AM I DOING?
SMILING.
Pause.
I’M RIGHT, HUH?
YES I answer.
I’M ALWAYS RIGHT.
YES, YOU ARE.
SO ARE YOU GOING TO COME OUT TONIGHT?
I GUESS.
DON’T GUESS WITH ME.
YOU KEEP ME GUESSING.
AS I SHOULD.
THAT’S NOT FAIR.
YOU THINK LIFE IS FAIR?
NO.
GOOD. GET ON THAT BIKE AND ACT LIKE A MAN.
I SENSE SARCASM.
PROVE I’M WRONG.
MAYBE I WILL.
MAYBE I’LL LET YOU.
Pause.
YOU THERE?
Pause.
GOOD.