I scratched my head sighing. Tax time, not exactly my favorite time of the year. I stared at the piles of receipts, bills, and pay stubs. I crunched a few numbers into the calculator and before I knew it the front door opened. I looked up at the clock. Alex was home.
"Hi honey!! How was your day at school?" I called out. I heard a grumble as a heavy backpack thudded in the hallway.
"I quit! I don't care about college, or getting a good career!" he yelled out. I detected something else in his tone as his footsteps told me he was coming closer.
"What happened?" I asked as I filled in a few more boxes then set down my paperwork and massaged my temples.
"Well I made the team!" he replied as he entered the dining room and sat down in the chair beside me where my feet were resting.
"That's great, what is there to be bummed about that?" I asked, glad for the distraction from tax work
"Daniel is still a bully! I hate that guy so much mom. Him and the other guys duck taped me to the toilet!" I frowned. This wasn't the first incident we'd had with this Daniel. He'd been bullying Alex since 6th grade. I'd made several calls to his mother and father, but neither of which seemed to matter. I even had a conference with the principal. I clenched my fists.
"What the hell is that kid's problem??" I asked aloud, only voicing my son's frustration.
"Tomorrow, after practice I'm going to go have a word with him myself!" I decided. Alex picked up one of my feet and started rubbing it. I moaned; before I'd started taxes I'd spent most my morning on my feet in court. I worked for the prosecutor's office and today I'd sentenced a drug dealer to 15 years in prison.
"That's not a good idea mom; he's not going to listen to you." Alex replied, thumbs pressing into my arches.
"Sounds like a snob who gets away with everything because his parents let him...I'll knock some sense into him!" I promised reassuringly. I leaned my head back against the chair and enjoyed the magic he was working with his hands.
"What's for dinner?" he asked casually as he moved to the other foot. I sighed; I hadn't given it much thought.
"What are you in the mood for?" I asked.
"I was thinking maybe we could go out for dinner. It's been a while since we've both had an evening without work or practice..." I nodded; it had been quite a while since we got to spend some good mother son time. I smiled
"Any good movies playing?" I asked. He shrugged.
"Some new Zombie movie I think." I pulled my feet from his hands and stood. He always took the ache right out of them.
"Well let's go get dressed and we'll go out tonight then. Give me 30 minutes?" Alex smiled up at me. I could see his father in him so badly. Alex's father had passed away while I was pregnant with him. He'd been in the Navy, some really bad storm and he'd drowned. They found his body caught on the anchor. Alex has always been the man of the house, I didn't think anybody could replace his father, and I hadn't bothered looking. I ruffled his hair and headed upstairs to my room to change into something other than the monkey suit my profession demanded.
"MOM!!!" he yelled up the stairs. I grumbled as I ran a quick comb through my hair.
"I said I'm coming!" I replied.
"It's been an HOUR! Movie starts in twenty minutes and I'm starving." I slipped into a comfortable pair of flats and hurried downstairs. When I reached the landing Alex just stood there and stared at me open jawed.
"What? Did I leave my shirt tucked in?" I demanded twirling to see if there was something wrong with my attire.
"Mom...you look....well you look... you don't look like my mom!" he answered. I blushed.
"Stop trying to flatter an old woman, got your jacket?"
"Mom, it's like 85 degrees out. I'm pretty sure I won't catch a cold if I don't bring a jacket." I grabbed my purse and keys and we headed out to the old station wagon. It had been my only car and I found if I took good care of her she remained faithful to me.
"Quick drive-thru dinner okay?" I asked as I put the car into reverse. He nodded. "I don't mind, I just want to see the movie with you." I smiled. It wasn't often we got to spend time together. Seemed older he got the busier both of us got and it would only be year before he went away to college. Alex, like his father, was tall, maybe 6'2 with dark black hair that he kept short. The same annoying uncooperative cowlicks too, so his hair always looked like a mess. But it seemed to work for him. He was wearing just a regular large t-shirt and jeans. Alex had a pierced lip, his 16th birthday present, and wore only a gold chain around his neck. I didn't quite understand the fashion, but it didn't bother me.
Alex was on the football team, as he had been the three previous years. He was hoping to get a scholarship. However, he had several other scholarship opportunities in science and math. My boy was a genius. He popped in a CD and his favorite band started playing. Hollywood Undead. I tapped my fingers to the beat as I drove to the mall. I tried not to fight him too much on things he was into, even if they weren't exactly my style. My son was mature and smart and I knew he knew what he was doing; that was how I raised him after all.
We arrived at the mall five minutes before the movie started so we grabbed a cheap burger and rushed in to find good seats. Only to find the theatre wasn't that occupied. We sat directly in the middle and he offered me some popcorn. I popped a few pieces in my mouth and watched the screen. So far we'd watched every single zombie movie to come out in theatres. We tried to keep tradition going for the whole series. About halfway through the movie I noticed Alex was fidgeting and I leaned over.
"You okay?" I whispered. He cleared his throat and nodded.
"Little cramped is all." He stretched his legs out putting his left one next to mine and his arm behind me. I had a tall frame, and he wasn't just skin and bones either but he barely had an ounce of fat on him. Despite how much the boy ate. I relaxed against him an just watched the movie next thing I knew he was shaking me and the bright lights were on.
"Mom!" he whispered. I shook awake and stared around then swore.
"I'm so sorry Hun!" I apologized. I must have been so exhausted I just fell asleep. He smiled and helped me up.
"It's okay mom. You were so peaceful sleeping I didn't have heart to wake you till it was over." I patted his cheek.
"You're such a good boy." He put his arms around my shoulders and brought me against him.
"Come on mom, getting past your bedtime old lady," he joked as I playfully smacked him. When we got home I kicked off my shoes and after a quick hug and kiss goodnight I went upstairs and collapsed into bed.
I awoke to my alarm screaming and I groaned. Was it really morning already? I stood and yawned and glared at my reflection. Make up smeared on my pillow the night before. But luckily I had day off so I made my way to Alex's room for his wake up call. I opened the door.
"Alex, time to get up....WHOA!" I yelled and immediately closed the door, cheeks aflame.
"I'm sorry!! I'll go start breakfast." I called out and ran downstairs quickly before I had to confront him. He'd been sitting at his computer, wearing nothing but his birthday suit and he had his shaft in his hand, pumping it vigorously while some porn played on the screen of his computer. He was a teenager, so I knew he did stuff like that...I'd had my brother have the "man" talk with him...I was just way too embarrassed. As I started the eggs Alex entered the kitchen and started grabbing the dishes to set the table. I didn't say a word, and I couldn't meet his eyes.
"Mom...I um...I thought my door was locked...I'm sorry you walked in on me..."
"It's natural, you're a young man, and I should have knocked. You don't have to explain or apologize to me sweetie!" I interrupted giving him a big smile. I'd never really given it much thought. He hadn't had many girlfriends, and as far as I knew he was still a virgin...but sex wasn't a topic we discussed much. His cheeks turned red and he went to set the table. After a nice hot breakfast I gave him a hug and kiss goodbye, promising to come watch his practice so that I could have a word with Daniel.
I took a long bath, spent a few more hours with the taxes before It was already time to get ready and head out. I like casual dress, and I still wore jeans and t-shirt like I had when I was 16. I'd gotten pregnant with Alex young, and so I still sometimes felt like I was stuck being a teenager. When I pulled into the school parking lot, they were just letting school out, leaving more space available.
I went and sat in the bleachers by the field and watched as they went through their warm ups and scrimmages. Alex played offense, and used his speed to his advantage. I watched and cheered. Catching him watching the cheerleaders a few times I chuckled when it got him knocked on his butt. Moment the coach blew the whistle they all hustled into the locker room. I waited a good half an hour before I followed. I strode into the room with purpose and I stood by the coaches' office.
"Daniel?!?" I yelled loudly, my voice echoing off the linoleum tiles in the walls Suddenly the small chatter from the boys that were left ceased and I heard wet footsteps approaching me from behind.
"Who wants to know?" he demanded. I froze; I could feel his presence behind me, like an overbearing cold shadow. I turned around and stared right into the kid's chest, my eyes meeting right beneath his nipples. I craned my neck and looked up at him. This young man didn't look like any young man I'd ever seen. He had to be at least 6'5, broad shoulders, well build muscles covering his body, he was practically hairless, but there was no mistaking this for teenager. I took a step back so that my neck stopped aching and I took a deep breath.
I put my hand on my hips and put on a false bravado.
"You're the quarter back, the one who keeps picking on my boy!!?!" I demanded. He smirked and was obviously checking me out as his eyes traveled up and down my body. I shivered, suddenly feeling vulnerable and meek.
"What's it to ya if I make fun of the little queer?" he demanded shifting the towel around his waist.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you any manners?" I demanded as my mind suddenly went blank, I felt as though it was shutting down from fear.
"Bitch abandoned me when I was a baby, so no, she didn't." he replied taking a step closer. My heart raced and I backed up without really realizing what I was doing. He saw it and laughed lightly.
"Is that all you came in here for?" he asked as his free hand gestured crudely towards his manhood. I shook my head as my back came to rest against a locker.
"Oh no need to lie here little momma, most the team is gone and coach probably at the bar already..."
