"But, Mom..."
"Harry, she's your aunt! She's always been good to you growing up, and now she needs your help. It's only a couple of days."
And so I packed my bag, and was on the bus to Aunt Viv's place, to help her paint and get established after her divorce.
Mom's sister was nice enough, considering. I mean, when you're a kid and your aunt always wants to hug and kiss you and shower you with gifts, you do what's required. Now, having no real contact except for birthday cards (with a check!) and an occasional phone call in the last few years, I really wasn't sure if she would still treat me as "her little man."
I mean, I was 18 now, a High School grad with the summer off, hoping to relax before college. but, a few days out of the neighborhood might be good, and Aunt Viv was very generous.
I dragged my duffle bag through the terminal and heard my name. "Harry, over here!"
There she was, two years older than Mom, same blue eyes, but hair bleached blond, dressed flashy, for her age, 46. She rushed to me, threw her arms around my waist. "My God, look at you, you got so big!"
Somehow I always remembered her as taller, but of course, I had grown a good 6 inches since last I'd seen her. She hugged me tight.
"I'm sorry to have your mother bother you during the summer, but she insisted!"
"That's okay, I wasn't working or anything, so I was happy to come", I lied.
She talked excitedly about her new apartment on the ride to her place. She had a new job too, since relocating from Denver.
"I'm sorry to hear about you and Uncle Bill," I said, honestly, this time.
She got quiet, then said, "Harry, some people aren't all they seem. But, thank you, let's just say those are 15 years of my life that won't contain too many highlights." She smiled sadly, "But enough about that, you must be starving."
The apartment was part of a complex of about 20 garden apartments, around a good-sized pool, with lots of young people sitting around, even at 10pm at night. Most were younger than Viv, but older than me. This may not be all bad, I thought, carrying my bag while Viv had the pizza.
Inside her apartment, boxes were stacked everywhere. "Pardon the mess, once we paint, I can start making it livable."
Cable was hooked up, so I put on the Yankee game without the sound, so Viv wouldn't think I was ignoring her.
"What can I get you? Soda, juice, I have beer, too?"
"Beer sounds good."
She brought 2 cans for us. "Nothing better than baseball, pizza and beer," she beamed.
Mom had let me drink beer at home since I was sixteen, so I had acquired the taste. I took a long pull. Man, that's' good!
We dug into the pie and had a few more beers, sitting on the couch, chatting, with her asking about life in general and plans for the fall. The game was long over, and I was amazingly awake after the bus ride.
Viv showed me around, the 2 bedroom apartment. Boxes were everywhere, except for her bed, which had fresh sheets and fluffy pillows.
"You sleep in here tonight, Harry, and tomorrow we get the guest room ready."
"What about you, Aunt Viv?"
"Oh, I'm used to sleeping on the couch, anyway, and you were stuck in that bus all day."
"No way! It's your place and your bed. I'll be fine on the couch, really.
"Harry, no, I insist."
"Look, to be honest, I'm not thrilled about being here, but if I am, at least let me be comfortable. I wouldn't feel right knowing you were out there while I was in here, and I mean it. So that's it."
I turned and walked out, and having realized how bitter I sounded, felt awful, immediately.
Behind me I heard, "I'm sorry".
