I made an error in my first submission I would like to clarify. I mistakenly transposed some numbers, April was 150lbs not 105lbs.
*****
I regularly received calls from Lisa but couldn't bring myself to answer them. Finally, I answered one day, guilt and some hard life lessons over the past few months really changed my perspective and I realized, I really was being an asshole.
"Hello"
"Jesus, finally, are you just never home or are you ignoring me?"
Lisa's voice was velvety, I missed her alot, but I couldn't say that. If April found out we were even talking on the phone, I was afraid she might try to hit Lisa again, and I couldn't live with the thought of that happening.
"No, I'm not ignoring you, but I've been really busy lately. Got alot going on right now. Good to hear from you though."
"I'm not pregnant!" Lisa didn't mince words either, and a tremendous weight came off my shoulders when she said those words. I did a little happy dance quietly, took a deep breath and calmed down before responding.
"That's great news! I'm glad that isn't something you have to deal with, I know I left on bad terms."
"Yeah you did jackass! You didn't even tell me you we're leaving, didn't say bye, I woke up with that bitch still chewing my ass the next day."
"I'm sorry hun, I know she was upset at me and she had every right to be."
"No, she didn't!" Lisa cut me off.
"It's not her fucking decision what I do, I'm an adult now, she can't control me anymore!" she said angrily.
"Maybe so, but she's still your mom Lisa, don't shut down on her."
"I'm done talking about her. So what have you been up to lately, you sound down" she changed the subject quickly.
"Oh, trying to find a good job, I can't seem to find one, they all require experience. Experience I can't get without doing the damn job. I just need a shot, I can prove myself, but nobody will give me one" I said almost pouting.
"Why don't you go to college then dumbass? That's what everyone is trying to tell you, but you aren't listening!"
Lisa never cared before, I was a little shocked. Had her feelings toward me changed? I didn't ask, I didn't want to be wrong and be an ass again, assuming I know everything.
"I know, but I don't have high enough scores to get into the university"
"Tell you what, I am going to pack some stuff and come down to your apartment and help you," she said.
"How did you know I had an apartment? I haven't told Ray, and I sure haven't talked to April." I asked.
"Tammy told me. She said you moved into it about a month ago and wouldn't let her stay there to help you get situated. If I had to bet, you still have your clothes in garbage sacks on the floor, you need some help, I'll be there tomorrow. Muah!" She said, sternly, making that little kissy sound before she hung up.
I stood there holding the phone in shock. My mind started racing in a thousand directions. How many times has Lisa called Tammy? What did Lisa tell her? How the hell did she get my new number? Tammy, duh, she said that once. I hung up, picked it back up immediately and called home.
"Hello?" Mom answered.
"Hey momma. Is Tammy around? I need to ask her a question."
"Yeah, hang on. TAMMY!" she yelled, not bothering to take the phone away from her mouth.
"Geez mom...can I borrow your hearing aid now? I think I need it after that!" I joked.
"Ha ha asshole. Here she is. It's your brother" I heard her trail off as she handed the phone over.
"What?" Tammy said.
"Why did you give Lisa my new phone number, and tell her I had an apartment?" I asked.
"Wow, nice to talk to you too big brother! Haven't talked to you in a couple months and you start chewing my ass the second I pick up the phone!" She said sarcastically.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was chewing your ass. I'm just confused, you don't even like Lisa, why would you give her my information, even more why would you even talk to her on the phone?" I calmly asked.
"She wouldn't stop calling here looking for you. I finally answered and she really opened up to me about April and Ray, how April hit her, it was awful and I felt bad for her. She was crying and needed help, I couldn't just hang up so I helped her."
"Ok, but what did that have to do with me?" I asked, calmly again. The whole time my stomach is churning, wondering, what is Tammy about to say? Did she know?
"I'll be over in 10 minutes, I can't talk on the phone about this." She said. The way she said it, I knew mom was standing close, within earshot, and Tammy didn't want her to hear what she was saying.
"Shit, mom can hear you huh?"
"Yeah, see you in 10." As she hung up.
I hung up too, slowly sinking into the stool next to the counter. I could feel tears welling as I sat there and thought the worst. My sister, the one person I always had in my corner, would be here in 10 minutes to take me over the coals. I was about to lose the last person in my life that was always there.
I stayed there, losing track of how long I actually sat there. I heard the lock jiggling and the door swung open. I completely forgot Tammy had a key, she had an extra made for herself to drop off some of my stuff when she headed into town every now and then.
I quickly wiped my cheeks, eyes puffy and red, Tammy took one look at me and knew I was crying. She shut the door, dropped her purse and the laundry basket, and ran across the living room to wrap her arms around me as I cried like a baby.
"I fucked up alot. I know I did. I knew it was wrong but I couldn't help it, it just happened!" I said between sobs.
"Shh...stop crying, it's ok. You're gonna be ok. Here, have a smoke and let me make some food." She said, lighting a cigarette and handing it to me.
She went around the counter to the fridge to open it. I laughed at her. "Nothing in there but a couple beers and expired milk"
She grabbed 2 of the beers, closed the fridge, and walked around to hand me one as she took a huge chug out of the other.
"Pizza it is then." As she picked up the phone, ordering pizza. "Ok thanks, 15 minutes, got it." As she hung up.
"I don't have enough money for pizza Tammy. I was going to come home for dinner tonight. I was also going to announce that I wanted to go to college." I admitted.
"You are? That is the best decision you have ever made! I'm so damn proud of yeewwww!" She shrieked as she wrapped her arms around my head and shook back and forth. "Don't worry about the pizza, I got it. Cheers to the college boy!" She raised her beer.
"Cheers!" Our bottles clanked and we drank.
Tammy walked to the only piece of furniture I had, my bed, and sat down. I grabbed my beer and pack of smokes to join her and let her say what she started to on the phone.
"Ok, spit it out. I know you had something to say on the phone earlier and you didn't because of mom. What was it?" I asked, ready for my ass chewing and maybe slap.
"Gimme a cigarette first." Shocked, I handed her the pack with my eyes wide.
"I started smoking a year ago, I just hid it well." She said answering my shocked expression.
"You, however, don't hide anything well. What was it that was so bad you were crying and apologizing to me for when I walked in?"
"Nuh uh...you first. What were you going to say?"
"Lisa told me Ray touched her and actually fucked her. I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to say that in front of mom, she would've had him arrested again!" She said.
"Again?"
"Yeah, I know. Lisa told me he went to jail for forging prescriptions. What an idiot!" She said.
"What else did Lisa tell you?"
"That April got drunk and threw you out, you called her out on being like Ray only with whiskey. Lisa said she stood up to her and April slapped the shit out of her. She blamed you and threw you out that night"
"Oh, ok. Well, Lisa will be here tomorrow, said she is packing some clothes and coming to help me"
She shifted her weight, pulling her left thigh on the bed and turning towards me. "Spill."
"Huh?"
"Don't treat me like I'm an idiot or I don't know you. You're hiding something, something big, I can feel it. Tell me!" She said in her little high pitched voice as she pushed my shoulder.
"I can't, you wouldn't understand and I can't risk losing the last person in my life that has some faith in me"
"Randall James! How dare you say that to me! After everything we went through growing up, we always stuck together. I have told my darkest secrets to you. Spill dammit!"
"Promise you won't hate me?"
"Promise!" As she raised her bottle to cheers again, shaking it afterwards, sad it was empty.
"Hold that, you only have 2 more beers, let's go to the corner and get more. Cmon, we still have time before the pizza gets here. Grab your ID" she called back, headed for the door.