Chapter Five
1122 Words
Lucas resumed his regular life the very next day. The only exception was the absence of Frederick in his usual corner. It hurt somewhere within him whenever he passed his spot.
Someone had gathered his clothes and blankets and placed them neatly folded at his doorstep. He had picked them up and wondered if he should burn them. He placed them in the trash bag instead and tried to push the thoughts of how the loss of Frederick had created a hole in his heart. That was the only way he survived, tucking in his pain, hoping that one day it would not blow up in his face. It has not, so far.
He got dressed for his shift in the garage. He moved with his head low, trying to be as invisible as he could.
While his coworkers chatted at lunch, he sat in the garage, using his time to tinker with an engine, preferring to be alone.
“It's good to have you back, Lucas,” his boss, Mika, said. She gave him a wink that looked more like a blink. Lucas nodded, amused at her poor attempt at flirting. “If you need anything, don't hesitate to step into my office."
"I will not, Mika." He gave a polite smile and put his head back down. He stayed long after everyone had left the office. He wondered why he was stalling from going home. He did not want to go home and be reminded that things were no longer the same. His phone began to ring. It was Neil.
"Hey."
“Where you at, bro?” Neil sounded like he had just completed a marathon – on someone's body no doubt.
“Still at the shop. But I'm heading out soon. "What's up?” Lucas said as he grabbed his work bag off the table.
"Your mom is creating chaos at that party Amy has been crazy about for weeks."
"Mom? What party?"
Lucas began to pack his stuff faster. He knew what his mother could be in search of at a teenager's party. She had run out of things to inject into her body, and now she was desperate to get her fix.
"You know the party happening at ol' boy Chris' house. “Just go get her before the cops arrive. "I gotta go, man." Neil hung up the phone.
Lucas slung his bag across his torso and walked out of the building. He securely placed his helmet on his head and started up his motorbike. He drove straight to ol'boy Chris's house.
It was the only home filled with teenagers and young adults walking in and out, with red cups filled with spiked drinks. He trudged in with quick strides, anger bubbling in his chest slowly.
He began to search for his mother. He walked through the living room, then the game room. She wasn't there. He checked in the kitchen. He could not find her there. He turned to leave when he locked his eyes with the brown-haired lady from the hospital. She looked like she had grown prettier within twenty-four hours.
He began to walk towards her; thoughts of his mother now evaporated. He stopped in his steps when he heard a loud yell. He turned quickly, and his mother was standing on the kitchen island with her soiled platform slippers. He exhaled the breath he did not know he had been holding all this while.
He turned his head to see if she was still there. She had not left. He had to take his mother out in front of her.
"Okay, okay, Mom, the party's over for you. "Let's get going," he said in a stern voice. Alice shook her head like an infant and stood up there, gyrating.
"Whose grandma is this?" "Doesn't look too old for me." "You know Mikey likes them thirty and over." The boys said among themselves. Lucas gritted his teeth and swallowed his pride. He could feel her gaze on his back still. He walked closer to his mom and tapped her ankle.
"Oh hi baby. "What are you doing here?" She asked with a wide smile. He reciprocated with a small smile of his own.
"I have something for you," he said, with a promising tone. Her eyes widened like a child who had been promised candy. He nodded gently with that easy smile.
"You just have to come down here, and we can get them for you." He raised his hands to signal her to step down. She nodded and went down. The brown-haired girl was still there, standing in the shadows, watching him. He tried not to look for her in the crowd again. He held his mother by the arm and tried to walk them out of the party. She started playing with his beard.
"My dear baby. You want to help mommy. That is so…"
She could not complete her words when she puked all over his shirt. Everyone in the kitchen chorused "eeewww". He sighed and dragged his mother faster out of the house.
"I'm so sorry, my little baby boy." She blubbered. Her eye makeup was now ruined, and her hair was a bird's nest. He couldn't drive the motorbike with his drunk mother. He left the motorbike somewhere secure and decided to walk home with his mother.
He got home with his mother half asleep. He jerked her awake, so she could get cleaned up for bed. He lent her a pair of his pajamas. Neil had set up the pull-out couch for them. He was used to this routine.
"I met her again," he said quietly. Neil looked up from the soccer match he was streaming.
"Met who?"
"I met the lady from the hospital."
"Oh, the Smith princess? "What could she be doing here?" Neil wondered. Her mother would probably be livid if she discovered her daughter had spent the night in this part of town.
"I don't know. "She was not supposed to be there!" he almost yelled. He could hear the shower turned off. His mother was done bathing. She would be asleep in minutes. Lucas went to the fridge to get a beer.
"Wait, were you mortified?" Neil asked in surprise. Lucas was never embarrassed, especially by his mother's antics.
"Just a little embarrassed," Lucas admitted, and Neil let out a laugh.
"Forget about the Smith girl, Lucas. She is going to be a tough sport."
"You think?"
"I know. "She's not in your class, man. "Count her as one of your losses." Neil tapped Lucas' chest playfully and turned off his phone. He tucked himself in and prepared for slumber.
"You tapping out already?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, long day tomorrow." Neil responded
- Writer
