Moms Agreement Ch 01

THIS IS A STORY OF FICTION. ALL RELEVANT CHARACTERS ARE 18+.

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Turning his head to the left, our eyes met. With that terrifying grin I've grown accustomed to, his words pierced through the sudden silence. Seeing my mom's face, filled with horror, and her exhausted eyes fixated on the young man looking at them in the mirror, Marcus, catching his breath, breathlessly spouts, "Sup Limpdick. 'Bout time yo' ass found out."

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My name is Jacob Lamdyke. I am 18 years old. I am the only child of Gretchen and Captain Todd Lamdyke. Being a Senior in high school, I was excited for my final year. Hoping to earn a scholarship to Julliard, I worked diligently to keep my straight-A average and earn a valedictorian label. I never did well in sports, so mom put me in music and theater.

Standing only 5'6 and 140 lbs. I was a skinny kid who got bullied... alot. Basically being raised alone by mom, since my dad was somewhere in the Pacific on a Navy vessel, the bond between us was strong. She didn't work since we lived in my grandmothers home that mom inherited when she passed. My dad earned enough due to his rank so that mom could earn extra money by knitting or crocheting things that people would buy from her.

My mom, Gretchen is 41. At 5'1 and 105 lbs. She has wispy brunette hair and green eyes. I think she is very pretty, as many people can't believe her age. "Oh you don't look a day over 30," they tell her. Showing some grey hair, she politely thanks them for their kindness. My father, Todd is 44. Having 7 years to go before he's eligible to retire, he has made it to where mom has basically raised me alone.

From my events, to music lessons, from school performances, parent-teacher conferences, hosting Bible Study in our home, to being a part of the PTA, mom made sure she was involved. She never missed a performance, always sitting in the front row listening intently to my violin play.

But life hasn't been easy for me. I have been dealing with a group of bullies for the last couple of years. From forcibly removing my backpack from me, knocking my violin case from my hands, tripping me in the halls, or outright beating me up, I was just hoping this year would go by fast.

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"Oh my God, Jacob!" mom said, seeing my standing in the mudroom. "What happened?"

Standing there with, yet, another black eye, the worry on her face unmistakable, I kept my head down.

"Mom," I declared softly. "Don't worry about it, I'll be ok."

"Who did this to you, honey?" Taking my hand, she led me to the kitchen. "It was them, wasn't it?"

Knowing about my bullies, mom has had numerous discussions with my Principal, Mr. Brown. "I'm sorry Mrs. Lamdyke," he said, the last time she stormed into my school. "Unless Jacob can prove it was them, or has a witness, there is nothing I can do."

Being a predominantly white school in an upscale suburban neighborhood, you would expect it to be a safer school. But there are a small percentage of kids, white, black, hispanic, who feel that picking on kids "weaker" than them, is a sport.

At her wits end, mom has told me she wanted to homeschool me this last year. Each time, I declined. "Well then take the half class, schedule, Jakey," she sighed. "You can avoid them in the morning."

"Mom, I want to make myself as sellable to Julliard as possible. I want as many credits as I can get." Relenting, she tended to my eye.

As a Senior, most, every student opts gir the half days since we've accumulated enough by that point. My bullies, Kelvin, and Theo, take the afternoon schedule, giving them the rest of the day off. While Marcus, my other bully, does the morning schedule. I, on the other hand, take a full schedule. Having scored a 1400 on my SAT, I'm very eager to succeed.

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One day, I was riding my bike home when a basketball hit my tire. Crashing, I hear, "Problems, Limpdick?" Trying to pick myself up, the three come over to me and tormented me to no end.

Without warning, a blood curdling, "Jakey!" comes echoing from afar. Seeing my mom getting out of her Range Rover, she was running in her heels over to me. "Jakey.. honey.. what happened?" Slowly helping me up.

"Noth.. nothing mom, I ju.. I just lost control of my bike," I stammered.

Now, fully aware of the surroundings, mom sees them. Like a bee to honey, mom marches over to my bullies.

"What did you do to my son!" The anger in her, usually angelic voice, apparent.

"Whatchu mean? Looks like his dumbass don't know how to ride a bike."

Looking up at the 6'2 270 lb. ringleader she demanded, "What's your name!" Seeing the other two, she retracts her prior demand. "All 3 of you!"

"Ask yo' stupid ass son, bitch," he said. And with that, they left on their bikes.

"Let's go home honey," mom said, leading me to the car.

After telling her their names, she waited for my dad's weekly call to vent to him.

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"Gretch, I don't know what to tell you," my dad said through the speakerphone. "I'm not there, so you just need to be persistent.

"Todd, they're physically assaulting him! Oh my word!" The aggravation oozing out of her.

"Well, I have tried getting you to put him in.."

"Stop it, Todd!" my mother shouted, cutting off dad. "I do not like violence. I don't want him in that stuff."

"I don't know what you want Gretch, our son is looked at like a pussy." Hearing that, my dad pointed out, "Sorry kid, I know you're listening, but it's true. Until you learn self-defense, that's how it will be."

"Todd!!" Ending the call, abruptly, mom let out a "Grrrrr!!"

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For the next week, one of the three, but usually all three, would do something to me. In school, after school, or just walking home. Knowing they don't live in my neighborhood, they are around just to torment me.

On Monday, it was raining, so as I was walking, mom pulled up in her car. Opening my side, "Hey Limpdick!" could be heard.

Putting the car in park, mom gets out.

"Mom let's just go... please," I begged.

"How much?!" Mom basically screamed, her wallet in her hand.

"How much, what?," Marcus asked.

"How much money will it take to get you guys to leave him alone!," She demanded, furious.

When they didn't answer, mom stuck three $100 bills in the air. "Is this enough!" Tossing them at them, she got in the car and we left.

About 6 that evening, we get a knock on our door. "Honey! I'm busy in the kitchen," mom said. "Could you get the door please?"

Getting up from my YouTube video of violinists, I answer the door. "Sup, Limpdick."

"Who is it hu..," mom querily asked. "What do you want," she demanded, her eyes narrowing.

"Just wanted to apologize to Limpdick for...,"

Cutting him off, mom corrected him. "Our last name is Lamdyke. DO NOT use our last name as mockery. So before you continue, watch your language."

Pulling out the $300 he handed them to my mom. "Me and my boys decided to give you back yo' money. We don't want yo' shit."

"I just want you to leave my son alone," mom exclaimed, making it abundantly clear.

"Well," Marcus said. "My boys and I were thinking of stopping by tomorrow and, (looking my mom up and down)..come to some sort of understanding."

"Stop by after dinner then. We'll be here!," My mother boldly said, slamming the door in the process.

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On Tuesday and Wednesday, I would come home. Mom was acting differently. Something was bothering her. Her usual bubbly self, excited to see me when I get home, is now, quiet. I had come home with a torn backpack, ripped shirt, 2 flat tires on my bike, just to name a few. The boys never did come by our house to talk about my dilemma, so mom and I just went about our normal homelife. When I asked mom if everything was ok, she simply responded, "I'm fine honey."

Later Wednesday night, after I cleaned the dishes, I overheard mom talking quietly talking to someone. "Damn you!," her voice low. "I told you I'm married. What you're asking is a no-no." Hearing a pause, mom suddenly and with a frantic tone, pleaded, "Wait! Please!..Ok..fine.." Sighing, I hear, "Ok... be here by 11:30, then. Just please, don't tell him." Mom spent the rest of the night in her bedroom.

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Thursday morning, I walked into the kitchen. Usually mom is making breakfast, but today, wasn't there. Going upstairs, I gently rapped on her door. "Come in," she quietly says.

Entering, she is still in bed. Now worried, I ask her, again, what's going on.

"Honey, it will be alright," is all she said.

"What will be alright, mom? You're scaring me," I determined, seeing how anxious she looked. Not giving me much to go on, I kissed her forehead. "I can call off school today, if you need me," the concern, showing.

Immediately, mom interjects, "No! I mean, no honey, I'll be ok."

"Ok," I conceded. Just remember, I don't have violin lessons today.

Clearly, with her mind on something, she responded. "OK honey."

With that, I left for school.

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Arriving at school, I expected the usual treatment. Going about the morning as best I could, I see Kelvin and Theo, standing at my locker. As other kids, walk by, I fret even needing my books from my locker. Not even supposed to be there at this time, I see a huge, devilish smirk on their faces.

"Yo' Limpdick," Kelvin remarked, the anxiety in mean rising. I braced for my next humiliation. "Today may be your lucky day."

Confused, I could only stay quiet as Theo chimed in. "Yea, Dawg. If all goes well with Marcus, later, we might be cool with you..... MIGHT."

Not understanding what any of that meant, I just nodded and said, "I...I'd like that." Hearing the bell, I escaped any issues.

I never saw Marcus all day which was a huge relief, and the other 2 left me alone.

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It's 3:30pm. As the school day ended, I began walking home. After calling and texting my mom, to no avail, it was strange, knowing I didn't have my violin lessons today and she wasn't waiting in the parking lot for me.

About a block from my house. I see Marcus. Riding his bike, I make eye contact. Putting my head down, I continued walking. Constantly lingering around my neighborhood, I try put on a brave face, knowing I'm inevitably going to face him.

"Yo' Lamdyke!" He yells from afar.

Pausing, I froze. "Lamdyke? Did he just mess up and ACTUALLY use my name?"

"Lamdyke!" I hear, once again. Screeching his tires to a halt, he starts talking to me, as if we were friends. "My boys ain't gon' fuck wit'you, alright?"

Not understanding what this was all about, I stammered, "I don.. don't know..whu..what, you're.. talk..talking about."

With a wry, "cat ate the canary" look, he repeated, "My boys and me ain't gon' fuck with you, something came up."

"Hey, th.. thanks," was all I could muster. Shaking his head, he rode off.

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Walking into my house, it was eerily quiet, going from the kitchen, to the dining rooom, the laundry room, no mom. "Mom?" I mildly shouted, as I stood in the living room. NOTHING. Usually mom is reading a book, crocheting, pulling things out for dinner.

Hearing the door open and close from upstairs, I see mom. Hearing her heels clicking, I realize she doesn't notice my presence. Looking lost in some sort of trance, she looked......off. The look on her face was pure exhausting, and I noticed a hitch in her usually fluid movements. Carrying something in her hand, I hadn't really noticed, but when she looked up from her haze. She saw me.

"Jacob!" The surprising reaction, making me flinch, myself. Immediately putting whatever she was holding in her hand, behind her back, mom, unfashionably, scolded me. "What.. What are you doing here?"

Completely beside myself, I carefully responded. "Umm, I live here?" The words, lingering.

"Why.. Why aren't you at your violin lessons?,"

The seriousness confusion, highlighted on her face.

"It's Thursday. My instructor had to cancel today, remember? I reminded you this morning before I left for school. You didn't pick me up from school, so I had to walk home."

"I'm.. I'm sorry," she stammered, the hesitancy in her voice.

"Mom.. what's going on? You're acting really strange?" The concern, overflowing.

Without saying a word, she scurried into the my dad's den and closed the door. Not kniwing what the heck just happened. I went up to my room.

The rest of the evening was quiet. My mom stayed in her bedroom. Thursday night's we usually watch a movie on NetFlix and have popcorn. I ended up eating leftovers in the fridge and then went to my room.

As I was making my way there, I always have to pass mom's room. "I...I..don't know about Saturday," I heard, realizing she was talking to someone. The malleableness in her voice, I was assuming she was talking to dad. But it was, now, 9pm. Why would he call so late? "I.. I.. need to get back on birth control, ok? I.. I.. haven't had sex in a while. I'd just prefer you use condoms until then."

Unsure who she was talking to, I'll admit my naivete blinded my genuine understanding of her conversation. As her son, I was truly worried anout this sudden change in her.

"Well when you get here, just please allow me to get use to you. I've never been with someone... your size."

Just the sultriness in her voice, I started realizing mom wasn't talking to dad. "Is she cheating on him?" I asked myself.

"Look, I go.. I gotta go," I heard mom say. "I've completely ignored Jacob today and I feel horrible keeping this from him. Just please keep your part of our agreement. OK?"

Hearing a short pause, she spoke one more time saying, "Yes, I'll see you at 11. Go through the side door. I'll be wearing what you requested."

Ending her call, I heard commotion. Hastily, going to my room, I went into my bathroom. Coming out a couple minutes later, mom was sitting on my bed.

"Hey Tiger," her voice sounding tired.

"Hey," I said.

With a tear in her eye she hugged me. TIGHTLY. "I'm so sorry if I ignored you today," she began, her voice shaking. "Just know everything, from now on, will be ok." That forced smile she has on her face, really freaked me out.

"Mom, what are you talking about?" Literally confused, I was trying to search for answers.

"Jacob, honey. Just please trust mama, OK?" Looking at me, with a determination I hadn't ever seen before, she continued. "I think I've got a handle on.... those boys."

With it finally registering, It dawned on me. "You mean Mr. Brown ACTUALLY, did something?" The shock plastered on my face.

Completely dodging my question, mom just told me to trust her. But the next question really set me for a loop.

"You have your performance next week, Saturday, right?" She began, with a questioning look.

"Yes, why?" I retorted.

"Honey, I've never missed any recital or show, but is it ok if I forego that show?" Noticing a pause in her voice, I raised an eyebrow. "I.. I.. wanted to join in on a.... woman's initiative at church next Saturday. But... I also know how important my being at your shows is important to you."

Searching for my mom in that person sitting across from me, I sensed controlled panic, apathy, unsuredness.

"Umm sure mom," I said, with a little indifference. I just need you to drop me off.

"I promise this will be the only one. I thank you for understanding," she said, as relief seemingly calmed her.

"What time is it suppose to be over?" She asked.

"About 8 or so, unless otherwise stated," I answered. "But, day after tomorrow, you'll be there. right?"

"Yes," she countered. "I told him... I mean, yes.. nevermind."

My mind swirling, I just tried to drop things. "Whatever you feel the need to do, mom, I'm always on your side.

"Oh.. Ok.. good.. good," she said, fidgetting with ger dress. "Good night hun, let's call it a night." Kissing my forehead she left my bedroom.

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Friday morning, mom was in the kitchen. Making my breakfast, there was something.. different about her. She wasn't like, happy. She wasn't bouncing off the walls with contentment. She wasn't humming a song. She just looked... peaceful. A weird kind of peaceful. I saw a seriousness. An unsureness in her. But I also knew there was something she WASN'T telling me. The conversation I heard last night, I wasn't sure how to read it. if I'm being honest. Was she cheating in dad? Was she talking to a female friend? I honestly didn't know. But I also knew, once my mom makes up her mind on something, I don't question it. She's been the one, not dad, to make sure I was taken care of.

As I sat there, waiting on my breakfast, mom hadn't known of my presence. She was deep in thought, so I stayed silent. Wearing her hair towel and robe, she had just showered. On her legs were tan colored pantyhose. Adorning her feet were her little slippers.

Quietly putting my breakfast on my plate, she put my plate on the table, intent on not meeting my eye contact, it looked like shewas dealing with some sort of shame. Walking away, the words "Good morning sweetheart," echoed in the hallway.

As I walked upstairs to finish readying for school, I saw mom at her mirror. Lying on her bed was a white negligee, and her white high heels sitting by the bed. Poking my head i, I said, "Heading to school now, love you."

Noticing her not relaying back, I went about my day.

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At school, the guys seemingly, avoided me. Not a word, not a comment, no physical content. But what I did notice, were smirks, whispers, sardonic smiles. Actually able to walk the halls, I accomplished my tasks.

At lunch, a couple jocks mocked me. Without warning, Kelvin and Theo slam them against the cafeteria wall. After a brief scuffle, my 2 bullies walked away. Fixing their clothing, the other boys gave me a dirty look and minded their business.

After school, I was walking home, again, when I saw Marcus peddling down my street toward me. Looking my direction, he just nodded, adjusted himself on his bike, and peddled off.

Entering my house, I found mom in the laundry room. "Oh hey," she said, exhaustion strewn on her face. "I was just... washing clothes." Not paying any attention, to the wash, I saw how she looked. Disheveled. Her dress, crumpled. Her hair, a mess.

After talking a bit about my day, she seemed chipper. "Oh that's good honey, I'm glad theyre leaving you alone," she exclaimed.

"And how you said they stuck up for you against some jocks... just wow."

Just the sound of her voice. How she nonchalantly said it. It was like she finally got the attention of the school, of the Principal. She finally got them to get the boys to leave me alone.

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The next week, started off the same. Mom, off in another world, her mind... distracted. The obvious distance between us, was growing. The glow, the joy I saw in her, was displaced with..... indignity of some sort. Like, when I'm at school, what's going on? I'd come home, we eat dinner, go our separate ways.

I'll hear her whispering to someone on a call. Things like, "You know the shame I have, everytime he comes home." Or, "We need to finish sooner if you see him walking home."

Tuesday after dinner, I was cleaning the kitchen when I noticed the trash needed emptying. Taking it outside I lifted the lid of our can, and on top of the other trash were several pair of mom's tan pantyhose. Obvious runs were in them with stains of some kind. 2-3 little black packets saying "Magnum XL" lying on top of the used nylons.

"Mom's having an affair," I surmised, after seeing 3 used condoms with the rest of the items i saw. I've never had sex before, but I wasn't too dumb to understand what those contents entailed. Now putting 2 and 2 together, I needed to find out who my mom was cheating in dad with.

"That's why she's acting different," I concluded."

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Wednesday morning, I told mom I'd be gone till evening. Band practice, etc. But she didn't know, I didn't have practice. She hasn't heard one word I've said about practices being cancelled 2 days a week now, so my lie needed to work. Telling her I was off to school, I left. Over the last few days, the boys left me alone. One day, Theo wasn't at school, the next day, Kelvin. But I never saw Marcus, as he was not in school after lunch hour. My days at school were more palatable now.