Don't Leave
26-year-old Earl Cross awakened in his bed again. Depressed and gloomy was his disposition, as has been the case for what seemed like years now.
From the next room, rolling out of bed, was Dora Cross. At forty-four years old, she was a young mother to Earl. Dora could feel her son's depression and foul mood even if he was in another city. She felt powerless as to a solution, in fact, she suffered as much as he had from his own depressed mood.
Her husband had abandoned them both not long after Earl's birth, he never looked back. He decided that he preferred to be with masculine men over his wife, and subsequently moved to Denver where he bought a bunch of fancy dresses and picked up different men at night. Yet despite his lack of support, she held no resentment towards him -- she wanted him to live in his truth and hoped in her heart that he would find happiness.
Dora held a job as a legal secretary in a law office. She had worked hard ever since her husband left her alone with her son. She worked at the office every day and often came in early, to showcase her tenacity and drive. Though she worked harder and was more proficient than even their own paralegals, they paid her less and used her more.
About a year after her son graduated high school, her boss James Cole, had called her into his office and told her flat out that he wanted her to stop by his house when his wife was away. She refused at first, until she was informed that they would be making some layoffs.
Dora spent the next few days in a living hell, wondering what her fate had in store for her. But the night that she was coerced to go to Mr. Cole's home and let him use her, she showed up only to find her own son walking out of his house.
Earl walked to his mother, hugged her and gave her a quick peck on her lips. Then he told her to go home.
Dora was never told what had happened that day, and she never asked. The next day at work, however, she not only got a raise but also was promoted to the position of office manager. Mr. Cole never called her into his office again either.
Earl was a good son to his mother. He had never defied her, even as a teenager. When he was old enough to get work, he would put his money into the household funds to help her, with the hope that she wouldn't have to work so hard.
Earl knew his mom was far more efficient at keeping a budget than he was.
When he went through high school, he only had one girlfriend. She didn't last long with him either.
Deep down, Dora was afraid that he would find a woman in college and move away. Her son was all she had in terms of family, a companion and a true friend -- and although he dated a few times, he always came home to her.
At 25 years old, Earl completed his master's degree in accounting and took the CPA exam for the state, passing it on his first try.
He allied his CPA with another accountant firm and joined the ranks. Unlike most firms, the firm he joined with was a sub-contractor for the IRS, and he secured year-round work.
Earl worked hard and learned everything there was to know about tax laws and how they operated. In his second year at the firm, he started auditing businesses around the state.
He somewhat enjoyed his time doing this. Most companies started out trying to tell him how to do it, but after he pointed out some discrepancies that could be worth millions to the IRS, they started to call him Sir.
After a long day of honest work, he would come home to his mother who would do all she could to make his life easy. He loved his mom and didn't like her working hard, so a year after he started his job, he had her retire and spend time at home.
Dora loved her new life in retirement, even though she was still far too young. She joined a gym to keep in shape and keep her mind busy, making many friends at her exercise classes. For the first time in a while, she felt she could relax and truly enjoy her life.
Earl, using the extra money he started to make, showered his mother with gifts. He bought her a new Cadillac Escalade, fancy dresses and jewelry. She wanted for nothing.
Dora loved the kindhearted gestures she received form her loving son, and often wondered how he was so different from his father despite looking very much like him. All the time he spent with her was worth her husband leaving.
CHAPTER TWO
CHANGE:
Dora was delighted again with her son's arrival home from another hard day's work. She greeted him at the door, yet despite the passing of time, his dim mood didn't change. On this particular day, she made one of his favorite meals, but it didn't faze his foul mood even a little bit.
His mood was eating at him and she had to know how to fix this. Finally, Dora confronted Earl.
"Earl!" She called to him.
He came around the corner and looked at his mom like he had done every day since the mood started to affect him. He didn't say a thing, but just waited for his mother to tell him whatever she needed to say.
"Sit down" She ordered.
Earl didn't want to, but he did what he was told.
"Ok Earl, this has gone on long enough. I know there is something wrong with you and I need to know what it is. I need to know now!"
Her tone was demanding, and Earl had always been respectful of his mother, he had never used a curse word around her, that is until this moment.
"You really want to know, mom?" He responded with contempt in his tone.
"Yes, I need to know, this pissy little mopey mood is making me sick."
