“You could see if the grocery store is hiring,” I said, grasping at straws, forgetting that Max’s dad owned it.
She snorted unattractively, “Why would I do that? We’re getting this place free for the next two months, and after that the rent is only three twenty-five a month,” she said sarcastically.
“I just thought you might want to get out.”
“Well, you thought wrong,” she said angrily, completely contradicting her earlier complaint.
I was used to her mood swings, though, and had learned to adjust for them.
“You should try writing. You’re always talking about if you had time you would love to write,” I said, trying to appease her before the situation got out of hand. “I saw all kinds of used computers at The Salvation Army, maybe you can go get one when Jim gets his first pay check.”
All animosity left her face as she considered my words. “That’s not a bad idea. I can start making notes now,” she said, heading toward her room. “Get me a cup of coffee,” she added as an afterthought before I could head off to my room.
Relieved that the bomb had been diffused, I set my book bag on my bed and headed off to the kitchen to get her coffee.
Chapter 6
The next day was a flurry of activity. Between cleaning the trailer and shopping for more groceries, I had little time to dwell on my date that night. I was grateful for the activity since I knew I would have been a basket case by the time Max arrived. By four o’clock, the chores were done and anxiety began to creep in.
I started to doubt my decision to have our first date with his friends. I had seen and read enough movies and books to know how cruel people could be. What if it was all a joke and they had some hidden motive? I could just imagine a bucket of pig's blood being dumped over my head or something else twisted.
My vivid imagination had me near panic by the time I got out of the shower. Using the side of my wrist to wipe the steam off the bathroom mirror, I studied myself critically. “You should cancel,” I
muttered to my pale reflection.
As much as my reluctance was trying to win, I shook off my anxiety and finished getting ready. I pulled my hair back in my customary neat ponytail. Wearing it down was out of the question since I was forced to leave my heat iron and blow dryer behind when we moved. I didn’t have much of a chance to miss them when we were living in the car or the shelter over the past month, but now that we were somewhat established, I felt their absence acutely.
I dressed in one of my new-to-me hoodies that I hadn’t worn to school yet and completed the outfit with the nicest jeans I owned.
“You look nice,” Kevin said, coming into my room.
“Thanks, punk. What are your plans for tonight?” I said, feeling a twinge of guilt for leaving him.
“I’m going to draw.”
“Do you have paper?” I asked, reaching for my book bag.
“Yeah, Ms. Davis gave me some drawing paper when she found out I liked to draw,” he said happily.
“Well, that was nice of her.”
“She gave me markers and colored pencils too,” he added, grinning at me over his windfall.
“Wow, that’s great, Kevin,” I said, ruffling his hair and making a mental note to thank his teacher the next time I saw her. Getting new stuff was a foreign thing for Kevin and me and any new gift was highly regarded. “Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
“You were busy with mom,” he said, not needing to say more. Even at nine, he knew to lay low when it looked like things might boil over.
“Well, I expect the best picture ever by the time I get home,” I said, giving him a one-armed hug as we left my room.
“How ‘bout I make you some dinner,” I said, glancing at the clock and then at the door that was closed down at the end of the hall.
“Okay,” he said, plopping down on the couch with his art supplies and his favorite program on the TV.
“You want mac & cheese?” I asked, looking in the cabinets for something quick to prepare.
“Yum, that sounds good.”
I prepared his dinner while I kept one eye out the window. I wanted to catch Max before he could knock on the door. Keeping him away from Lucinda and Jim as long as I could was the best plan of action I could think of.