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“Is your homework finished?” I ask when I walk into the living room.
A glass of milk is in his hand, and a brownie sits on the table next to him.
He groans. “Yes, boss woman. I’m not dumb enough to bail on homework with you. Mom, yes. You, nope.”
“Smart boy.” I sit down on the couch across from him and cross my legs, a mug of tea in my hand.
Trey is fourteen and at the age where he’ll pick up on the environment he’s living in. He’ll do one of two things—want a better life for himself or fall into the black hole. My sister had him young, so he grew up faster than most kids. Him being born also made me grow up faster. I fled that life as soon as I could, and I want him to be able to do the same.
“How’s everything going at home?” I ask.
“Mom has a new boyfriend,” he states with a straight face.
“I’m sure he’s a real winner,” I mutter before I can stop myself. Even though it’s difficult, I try not to talk shit about Claudia in front of him.
He snorts. “Oh, yes, like all her others.” He frowns. “Are you sure there’s nothing you can do for us to live here?”
As much as Claudia loves to pawn her children off on me, she refuses to grant me custody. She uses them as a power trip and exploits my love and concern for them to her advantage. If it wasn’t for the children, I’d have nothing to do with her.
“Trust me, buddy, I’ve tried,” I answer with disappointment. It hurts my heart as much as it hurts theirs.
“I know,” he says with a hint of a frown.
He picks a channel, a show of viral videos of people’s failed stunts, and I grab my laptop to get some work done.
An hour later, Claudia pulls up. I make sure she’s not high or drunk before letting the kids know she’s here.
“You’re late,” I say when I step outside.
She brushes away her bleach-blonde hair from her face and takes another puff of her cigarette. “Shit happens, Chloe. Damn. This is your niece and nephew. Don’t you love spending time with them?”
I fan the air in front of me to get rid of her cigarette smoke and draw back. “Don’t patronize me. I spend more time with them than you do.Tonight, Gloria asked me why you never want to be around her like other mommies and their kids at her school. Get your shit together.”
“Or what? You’ll ask for custody like always?”
“I don’t understand why you won’t.” I lower my voice. “You obviously have no interest in being a mother.”
She sneers. “You’re jealous.” She tosses her cigarette on the ground and stomps on it with her heel. “You’re childless, and your fiancé left you for another woman. Maybe you need to pay attention to your pathetic life before insulting mine.”
“Fuck you, Claudia,” is all I say before turning around.
I don’t want my niece and nephew for my lack of children. I want to protect them from the life she’s giving them.
I’ve adapted to her and my mother’s insults, and mostly, I have become immune to them, but there are still times—times like this—that remind me of my misfortunes. She uses it to trigger me even though I’ve done nothing but help her.
People can be assholes. People can throw your misfortune in your face, even when it’s unnecessary, even when you’ve done nothing to them. Some people aren’t nice, and if there’s anything I’ve learned from my chaotic childhood, it’s that hurt people hurt other people. Misery loves company, and my family is always ready to hurl insults.
“I’m sorry. That was harsh,” she calls out.
“It’s nothing worse than what you’ve said before,” I mutter while shaking my head.
I grab Gloria when she and Trey step outside and help her into her carseat while Claudia lights another cigarette and stands to the side. When she’s finished, I stand on my porch and wave good-bye as they pull away. I take a deep breath and am about to go in when I hear it.
“Good night, Chloe!”
The words shoot through the night from Kyle’s front porch. I glance over to find him standing beneath his bright porch light, shirtless, with a bottle of water in his hand. I shake my head, fight my smile, and flip him off before walking into my house.
At least he made me smile after the Claudia Horror Show.
