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“No way,” I said, “at least when they pick their noses it’s not hurting anyone.”
“Okay, okay. You’ve a valid point. I concede,” she laughed.
We slammed both the doors of my truck closed and a few seconds later my mom opened the screen door and leaned against the jamb, the proverbial tea towel tossed over her shoulder.
“Hey Elliott?” She asked across the little hill.
“Hey ma. What’s up?” I said, clamping my hand in Jules’ and leading her up.
“I was just thinkin’. When is the deposit for your trip due?” She asked.
Uh oh, I thought.
“Not sure. Actually, turns out, Jules and I don’t have enough money to go after all. I guess we underestimated the cost. Right Jules?” I said turning to Jules.
“R,Right,” said Jules nervously.
She was a terrible liar.
“Oh, well, y’all are only needin’ a small deposit right now. I bet you could earn enough by the time the last payment is due,” she said in reply.
“Maybe,” I said, “maybe not. Actually, it doesn’t really matter because Jules and I were talking about it, ma, and we’ve decided that we’re not interested in going after all.”
“Is that right?” My mom asked suspiciously.
Aw crap.
“Guess what Elliott?” She continued.
“What?” I asked.
“I just got off the phone with Arlene Chambers and can you believe it? Some bank manager in Charleston called her up and told her that her mortgage was not only paid to date but that the next two payments were also covered and that they didn’t owe a dime until January.”
“That’s fantastic news mom,” I said. “I hope that it helps them.”
“Oh,” she said, tears streaming down her face, “I think it will son. I think it will.”
We tried to walk past her into the kitchen but she stopped us at the door, hugged us firmly and kissed us each on the cheek.
“Feelin’ sentimental mom?” I asked, wiping a tear away from her face with my thumb.
“No, son. I’m just choppin’ a few onions.”
We both smiled at my mom and walked straight into the living room.
That night, when I took Jules home we sat in her driveway but before I would let her leave I grabbed her door and slammed it shut.
“You don’t think your dad heard that do you?” I asked.
“No,” she shook her head, her eyebrows pinched together, her bottom lip in a pout.
My face was right next to hers and I could smell her perfume. It stung sweetly. I sat back up and pulled her closely to me.
“I’m glad we did it,” I said.
“I know, me too.”
“You know,” I began coyly, changing the subject, “your parents are probably asleep.”
