Welcome. This is my first attempt at a story and I have no formal training. Feel free to send feedback, but remember that statement.
I plan to write more, but I don't get a lot of time for it, so if you like it, please be prepared to wait.
Get to know Tommy; he should have a very bright future.
* * *
Tommy looked up at the clock on the wall, nearly home time. Another Friday gone and then on to the weekend. He was especially looking forward to this weekend, as his best friend Brian Cherry had invited him to a sleep over. They were going to stay up really late and play video games, and maybe watch a couple of their favourite movies.
The class started sneakily packing their belongings, knowing how close it was to home time. Tommy joined them, knowing Miss Bush wouldn't tell him off even if she saw him, as he was one of her favourite students.
As he looked at her, she reacted to the rustling of the class as they packed backpacks, looking up her eyes immediately found Tommy's and she smiled at him for a moment before returning her attention to the work on her desk. After another moment she checked her watch and dismissed the class, "Okay, you might as well all go now, I can see you won't be doing any more work anyway," and then returned her attention to the work on her desk.
Various thanks, goodbyes and well-wishes for the weekend drifted to Miss Bush as the class filed out. Soon Tommy was walking past her to the door, "Goodbye Miss Bush, have a nice weekend."
She looked up at Tommy, not far though, as he was not very tall, only about 5 feet. "Thank you Tommy, you take it easy and have a good weekend too. Don't forget the assignment is due Monday week."
"Thanks Miss Bush, I won't." With that Tommy walked into the hall, and began his routine of trying not to get knocked over by the rest kids in the hallway, at least half of which were taller than him, despite the fact that he was in his last year of High School, and was already 19 years old.
When Tommy was young, he had a disorder that had affected his growth. From age 5 to 10 he had not grown a great deal, and ever since then his body had lagged. He was constantly told by doctors and his mother that he would have a growth spurt anytime that would make up for the difference, though it hadn't yet arrived. He'd also missed enough school that meant he'd been held back, making him a year older than his peers. He'd worked hard at school to make up for it and his mother was now very proud of how good his grades were.
Reaching the parking lot Tommy looked around enviously at the kids hopping in their own cars. He had his licence, but not enough money to buy a car. Instead he looked around for his friend Brian or Brian's Mum's car, as they usually gave him a lift home. He would then get his stuff together and ride his bicycle over to their place.
He hoped his Mum was home, but he didn't expect it, as she'd probably still be at work. She worked hard to support Tommy and herself as a single parent. Tommy had never known his father; he'd been killed in a car accident before his mother had even known she was pregnant with him.
He spotted Brian waving to him, and he hurried over. Brian was much taller than Tommy, above average for his age. This was quite often a topic of ridicule among the rest of the school, the two geeks, a giant and his midget friend. Tommy and Brian had been good friends for years though, having the same interests.
Tommy got in the BMW Mrs Cherry drove. Brian's father was some kind of banker, and flew around the country quite often doing something complicated for banks, Tommy had never really known. He'd always taken care of his family's financial needs though. A few years back Brian's Mum, Vicki, got wind of her husband's interstate activities, and was quickly divorced, receiving the house, car, and a healthy amount of money to live on, according to Brian. As he climbed in she asked, "Hi Tommy, have a good day?"
Tommy couldn't really see Mrs Cherry sitting up front in the driver's seat. "Hi Mrs Cherry, it was ok, Friday's are always better, they seem to go fast, but it's never fast enough." Brian then interrupted to tell Tommy about a new game he'd gotten a couple of days ago, and Mrs Cherry let them chat as she drove Tommy to his house.
Arriving home, Tommy hopped out of the car, waving to Brian and his Mum, telling them he'd be over soon. He entered his house and called out for his Mum. The garage was always closed, so he never knew if she was home. She was apparently still at work. He went to the fridge and found a note.
'tommy, I'm sorry I won't be home when you finish school and I know you're off to brian's tonight, have a good time and call me if you need anything. I'm going to see your aunt pam, I should be home about 6, I'll miss you tonight, love mum'
Tommy knew what a Mummy's-boy was, and wondered not for the first time if he was one. His Mum was very attached to him and protective, and always missed him even if he was only away overnight. They would always hang out together when he returned home. He didn't think that made him a Mummy's-boy though, because it was his Mum who was the clingy one.
His Aunt Pam was 14 years younger than his Mum, closer to him in fact, at 26 only 7 years older than him. He was surprised his Mum was going to see her on a Friday night, as Aunt Pam was usually too busy going out on the town.
He packed a change of clothes grabbed his pocket money, then got his bike out of the garage and rode over to Brian's.