The velvety tones of Ma’s voice seep out into the hallway as Ethan lets himself into the apartment after school. Though he would prefer if she were out applying for jobs, he can’t help feeling comforted by Ma’s flawless rendition of Cry Me a River.
She smiles at him and continues practicing her favorite songs, while he goes to his room and gets cleaned up for his first day on the new job. He puts on his plaid button shirt that doesn’t need ironing, his newest jeans, and his hardly used gray rain jacket. When he comes out of his room, Ma steps away from the keyboard and raises her phone.
“Look at you. Let’s take a picture,” she says.
“No time. Gotta get to my job.”
“I know, baby. Your first day is a big deal. C’mon now. Stand by the window.”
He rolls his eyes before moving in place.
“It’s too bright,” she says. “Try the wall.”
He hurries to the new position. “Ready.”
She snaps his picture. “You look too worried. Big smile now.”
He’s too nervous to pose. She takes several more photos till she gives up on getting a proper smile out of him and sinks down into the armchair. “All that singing wore me out. Will you get me some cheese and crackers before you go?”
“You’re making me late, Ma.” But still, quick as possible, he prepares her plate and brings it to her with a glass of water.
“Thank you, my lovely son. Now go, make your mother proud.”
He grabs his backpack and rushes out. It might be that she calls out for him as he heads down the corridor, but it’s too late, he barely has time to get to the train, and she’ll manage fine without him. He just hopes she doesn’t hit the booze again.
Outside, the drizzle that started earlier has transformed into pelting rain. He jogs toward the station, splattering puddle water all over his good shoes and pant legs. Meanwhile his phone buzzes and he looks to see if it might be a text from Ms. Paladino telling him not to come because of the downpour. But he doesn’t have a solid grip on it, and suddenly it’s sliding out from between his wet fingers and flying into the street. He leaps out to get it but a car speeding toward him forces a retreat to the sidewalk.
By the time he’s able to retrieve it, more than one car has run over it. The phone is smashed. He shoves it back into his pocket and runs the rest of the way to the station, arriving in time to watch the train leaving without him. It’ll be fifteen minutes at least till the next one comes.
He looks at his phone but it’s beyond repair. He can’t get even the simplest function to work. This day has gone from shitty to complete disaster. He can’t even call to let his new employer know he’s going to be late. He leans against the wall, drenched and shivering, while he waits.
The train doesn’t come for twenty-five more minutes. After it arrives at his stop, he sprints all the way to Ms. Paladino’s house. At the front door, he stares down at his bedraggled self and prays she’ll understand. Over here, the sun is shining and the streets are dry like it hasn’t rained one bit. Rich folk even get the best weather.
His new employer takes a few minutes to answer his ring. The dogs must be in another room because he doesn’t hear them bark.
“Yes?” Ms. Paladino says, looking like she doesn’t even know him.
“I’m really sorry. The train was late and my phone broke so I couldn’t call you.” He shows her the pathetic instrument.
She squints at him. “Looks like you just got out of the bath too. I can’t let you in here like that.”
“Can you bring the dogs out? I can walk them.”
“Sorry, but this isn’t going to work. I’m in the middle of a meeting. You should have come earlier.” She starts shutting the door.
“Ma’am, please, I really need the work.”
“I understand, but I can’t just have you popping in any time. I need someone who can be here at the same time every day. The train just isn’t reliable when it comes to timing. I’ll have to hire someone in the neighborhood.” She closes the door before he can say another word.
When Ethan finally gets back home after his miserable day, he finds the apartment looking like a tornado just whipped through it. Drawers pulled out and upended on the floor. The carpet flipped over in the corner. Kitchen canisters tipped onto the counter.
Banging comes from his mother’s bedroom. “Ma?” Not till after he calls her name does he think this might be the work of a burglar or worse. His gaze shoots around the room looking for a weapon to defend himself.
“In here!” she shouts back, relieving his worry over an intruder but introducing all new questions regarding her sanity.
He approaches her door and looks in. As he feared, her bedroom is like the rest of the apartment. While he watches, she empties the top drawer of her dresser onto the bed.
“What you doing, Ma?”
She bursts into tears. Throws herself down on the bed. “We have to find all our cash,” she says between sobs. “You know how I hide it sometimes? We have to find it.”
“Why now? What’s going on?”
“They called from the unemployment office. Said I’m not getting shit.”
“That can’t be right.”
“My boss told them I stole from him. I got fired for cause. That means I can’t collect unemployment.”
“Giving me a few extra fries? That’s not fair.”
“I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
“You gotta settle down. We’ll figure something out.” But inside he’s thinking, why have I always got to be the adult? On the surface, he’s calm, but inside it’s like all his nerves are tingling, getting ready to do something without having any idea what.