The Boy on the Bridge

Mom orders us Chinese food for lunch, and we eat it on the couch while we watch our third episode of Jeeves and Wooster for the day.

It’s a British comedy that aired long before I was born. Copies of it aren’t easy to find, but the Sunday Hunter gave us his credit card and Mom took him up on his offer to spend however much we wanted, she ordered the full series on DVD.

“This is amazing,” she tells me, her eyes glued to the screen as she twirls her fork to wrap the lo mein noodles around its tines.

I nod in agreement. “I don’t know why we ever watch anything else.”

“Or go to school or work,” she adds. “We should become professional couch potatoes.”

“I don’t think the pay is very good,” I tell her. “How would we afford Chinese food?”

“Eh.” She waves off my financial concerns. “I’ll just sell you to that rich boy down the street. He can be our benefactor.”

I crack a smile as I scoop up some fried rice. “I think if you sell me to Hunter, I’ll be available to watch TV with you much less.”

“We’ll negotiate some kind of schedule to split your time between us.”

“I’m glad you’ve put adequate thought into my purchase agreement.”

She nods and flashes me a smile. “I only have one daughter to auction off, I’ve gotta make sure you fetch a good price and the terms are to my liking.”

I dip a piece of chicken into my sweet and sour sauce. “Good thinking.”

A few seconds pass, but instead of dropping the playful topic altogether, Mom looks over at me and asks, “Speaking of Hunter, have you heard from him today?”

I nod, but I take a bite of my chicken so she won’t expect me to talk right away.

Yesterday when I came home in the middle of the school day, Mom was understandably surprised to see me. Given how emotionally exhausted and upset I was, I also didn’t have the composure to pretend nothing was bothering me.

I ended up venting to her about everything—the gross picture being texted around to virtually everyone in our grade, what Sherlock did to Valerie’s car in retribution, and Hunter being a jealous, emotionally exhausting jerk.

It still doesn’t feel natural to talk to Mom about Hunter, though. If I’d been more in control of my emotions, I probably wouldn’t have shared so much.

Once I’m finished chewing and I have no more excuse not to answer, I say, “He texted me earlier to ask why I wasn’t in school. I told him I was playing hooky and spending the day with you.”

“How’s that going?” she asks before taking a bite.

I shake my head, looking down at my rice. “I don’t really want to talk about it right now. I’m taking a day off from all that chaos.”

“Okay,” she says easily. “Well, I just want you to know you can talk to me about him if you need to. I know he’s been a sore subject in the past, but I told you I’d be open-minded, and I mean it.”

“I know. I appreciate it,” I assure her. “You know what else I appreciate?”

“Hm?”

“Hugh Laurie in a comedic role. I was skeptical when you first suggested we watched this. I wasn’t sure I could ever look at him and not see Dr. House, but I find lighthearted Laurie quite acceptable.”

Mom grins at me. “See? I told you.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I still prefer him as House,” I say, before she gets too carried away with her gloat.

Mom rolls her eyes. “Well, of course you do. You’re drawn to troubled men.”

I cock a disbelieving eyebrow at her. “And you’re not? How’s Ray’s loan situation these days? Still resisting dirty money, or…?”

She sighs, her shoulders slumping forward with defeat. “We’re too alike in ways I don’t find convenient.”

I crack a smile, but don’t pursue this line of conversation. I don’t want to talk about either of our relationship issues today, I just want to kick back, eat some delicious Chinese food, and focus on the hijinks of Wooster and Jeeves.

___

Spending the day blowing off steam with my mom was exactly what I needed.

By the time I crawl into bed that night, I’m much more relaxed.

If I allow my thoughts to drift to tomorrow, I do still dread going back to school, but I try not to think about it. It’s not something I can control.

Yes, I loathe high school, especially now that Hunter’s back, but at least I’m almost finished with it. As long as I don’t get caught up in the bullshit, I can finish this year and move on with my life.

I’ll be starting college soon, and college will be completely different.

College will be amazing.

I sigh happily thinking about it. I drift off to sleep with a smile on my face, fantasizing about a picturesque campus in autumn, classes with brilliant lecturers, and all the culture of Boston. I bet there are a lot of great coffee shops, too.