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“No!”
“I’m not watching this reality shit anymore, Seth. Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Seth, I’m going to kick your ass all over this house.”
I had to cup my hand over my mouth to keep from bursting.
Only my mother.
“There are seven TVs in this house, Laura, go find another one.” I heard my father sneeze and grab a tissue. I could only see the back of their heads in their separate recliners as they sat side-by-side, bitching over their shared coffee table.
“Seth, I am warning you, and you won’t like me when I’m angry and sick.”
“Nothing new. You are the biggest pain in the ass I have ever met. If you think I haven’t seen you at your worst, you are nuts.”
“That’s it. Give me the remote!”
“No,” my father protested with a bark. “Laura, you’re getting to be a mean old woman.”
“Did you just call me old?” An eerie silence filled the room as my father feared for his life.
“Here, take it.” I saw the remote being lightly thrown into my mother’s chair as my father cowered in his.
Good move, Dad.
“You are still beautiful, baby.”
“Save it, Seth. You are screwed for the day.”
“Come on, baby, don’t be mad.”
“You are the one with brittle bones. Better
take it easy before you break a hip.”
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“Forgiven, but we’re still not watching this crap.” I smiled as my parents coughed in unison then took the step up leading into our living room.
“House call.”
My mother’s eyes brightened instantly as I came into view. “Oh, Rose, baby, how are you? You’re all I think about.” My mother’s sick, nasally voice instantly tugged at my heart. She had always been such a strong woman. Any sign of weakness usually got to me when it came to her. I kept my tears from coming and gave her the new usual, “I’m fine, Mom.” She reached out to hug me but I brushed past her with a soft kiss on her cheek.
“I’m fine, really.” I saw her hesitate then look at my father, hurt on her face.
“Don’t lie to me, Rose. I know how bad you’re hurting,” my mother said, sitting back in her recliner.
Fast growing anger boiled inside of me. “Do you? It sure seems like you don’t, Mom.” I looked between her and my father then shook my head. I sat on the couch and apologized under my breath.
“Don’t say you’re sorry. You’re right, I don’t know. I don’t have any idea. Talk to me, Rose,” my mother said, begging me for anything. She had done nothing but reach out to me for weeks and I had shut her out. I could tell it was hurting her, but I couldn’t share my pain with her. I stood up and popped the thermometer in between the two of them. The longer I was with them the angrier I became. I resented their happiness. It was a grudge I had no right to hold, but still it lingered.
“No temperature. Looks like a nasty cold. You need fluids and rest, and stop fighting over the remote.” I saw them grin at each other and I took a deep breath before rolling my eyes. My father noticed.
“What is it, baby girl?” my father asked, apprehension apparent in his tone. “You can tell us anything.”
“Nothing, Daddy. I have to get back.”
