Page 52 of Full Body Hit, Part 1

Aunix

Brat. I should take you wakeboarding, see who ends up on their face first. My bet is not me.

Charlie

Ooooh I’ve always wanted to wakeboard but my mom wouldn’t let me she’s pretty strict about that stuff

Auston winced at the reminder of how young this kid was. He couldn’t remember the last time he didn’t do something because his mom would disapprove of it.

Then again, he hadn’t taken his mom into account when he was Charlie’s age, either.

Aunix

You two close?

There was a pause.

Charlie

Ummm I guess I don’t know

We do talk several times a week she’s pretty insistent

Aunix

I’m getting that ‘close’ is maybe not the right word

Charlie

Yeah I don’t know I guess we’re just really different

I think she just doesn’t like the way I am? I’ve never actually said that before but I think she legit doesn’t like me. Like it isn’t just that she doesn’t love me. She doesn’t like me at all. I can’t remember the last time she said something nice to me. Maybe about my job?

Auston sat up, resting his back on the bed’s headboard. Charlie kept typing.

Charlie

Or I dunno maybe that sounds really dramatic. I guess she just wants a lot from me and sometimes I don’t really know how to give it to her

Aunix

I’m sorry, baby. That sounds incredibly tough. I feel like it’s hard to grow up and be yourself if your parents don’t support who you are in any way.

I think feeling loved by our parents is also a big part of how we perceive how much love we deserve, so I just want to tell you that whatever your mom makes you feel, that’s a flaw in her, not you. You deserve to be loved.

There was a long stretch of silence. Auston fiddled with his phone, keeping the screen on, stomach a small ball of hurt.

He never wanted his baby to feel like he wasn’t loved.

Like he wasn’t lovable.

Eventually, a message from Charlie came through.

Charlie

Thank you daddy that means a lot

Aunix