Poison -16- by Melanie Brown

Poison

By

Melanie Brown
Copyright © 2024

Part 16

“Mom! I’m going to be late!”

“Relax, Zach,” shouted Mom. “We have an hour. Corey! Get off the phone with your girlfriend and get dressed. We have to go.”

“Okay, Mom!” shouted Corey. “Karen, I have to go. My stupid brother is graduating tonight.” Girlfriend? Wow. That escalated quickly.

I just sat on the couch and watched the events unfold. I wished I had a bowl of popcorn. I’ve been ready to go for half an hour, including wearing make-up. Yet another event Mom felt I needed some color on my face. At least it’s just a light dusting.

“Arrgh!” growled Zach. “I can’t get this stupid tie on!”

From her, and formerly our room, Mom said, “Ask Diane for help. I’m trying to get dressed.”

From the bathroom, Zach exclaimed, “What does a stupid girl know?”

I just sighed. I’m either poison, stupid or both.

Leaning out her bedroom door while putting on an earring, Mom said, “Be nice, Zach. Diane used to wear a tie every day for work.”

Frowning, I stood up and smoothed the front of my dress. I muttered, “Stupid girl to the rescue.”

I didn’t really hurry to Zach’s room. I’m tired of being the second class citizen in the house just because I happen to be a girl.

Entering his room, I beckoned to Zach. “Come here, sport. Let’s see your tie.”

Zach frowned. “You can’t call me that. Only Dad can say that.”

I shook my head. “Close your eyes and pretend it’s dear old Dad adjusting your tie.”

Zach actually closed his eyes as I stepped up and started to tie his tie.

Zach smiled slightly. He said, “Dad never smelled that pretty.” I was wearing a new perfume Mom had gotten me.

I chuckled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” I adjusted his tie and stepped back. “There! You look very handsome.”

“Thanks, Di. I wish Dad was here to see me graduate.”

I shook my head and sighed. Really? I said, “I’m sure somewhere in the depths of hell, he’s watching.”

He just grinned and shouted, “Mom! I’m ready.”

I stood there, staring at the spot that Zach just vacated. “You’re welcome.” I turned and slowly walked back into the living room.

I’m still not used to hearing and feeling my earrings dance around on my earlobes. They are pretty, though. I sighed heavily again. My earrings are pretty, my perfume is pretty, my dress is very pretty, my nails are pretty, and my hair is pretty. And not so many years ago, I’d be getting filthy from head to toe making mud forts for my toy soldiers.

Mom came into the living room, her voice just under a shout said, “Come on, guys! We’re going to be late. We need to go! Diane, do you have your purse?” I nodded.

Zach shouted, “I call shotgun!”

                    *

The graduation ceremony was being held at the stadium. The powers that be decided the school’s auditorium wasn’t big enough. Mom stopped near the entrance to the field. There were dozens of graduates dressed in caps and gowns hanging around the entrance.

Corey shouted, “Whatever you do, don’t trip and fall!”

As Zach stood outside our car, he said, “Great. Now it’s in my head to trip and fall. Thanks, you little creep.” Corey laughed.

My dad brain kicking in, I jumped out of the car and ran up to hug Zach. “I’m so proud of you, Zach! You’re graduating!”

Looking confused, Zach said, “Uh, yeah. Thanks.”

Then my sister brain kicked in, and I said, “Yeah. Congrats on completing the easiest part of your life.” Zach just frowned at me.

He walked over to Mom’s car window. “Oh, Mom. Don’t forget I’m going to the after graduation party at Stewey’s”.  Stewey’s is a dance hall catering to teens and future drinkers.

Mom said, “As long as you’re home by midnight.”

“Moooom! It’s graduation night!”

Frowning, Mom said, “Okay. One AM. Call me if you need a ride.”

Nodding, Zach said, “Okay. Thanks, Mom.” He ran off to join some of his friends.

Mom started to steer the Journey away from the growing crowd. “Okay. Let’s find a place to park.”

Corey was already back on his cell phone talking to Karen. “Yeah. And if my stupid brother hadn’t fumbled the ball on that last play, we would have made state. I know! It’s embarrassing, ain’t it?” Corey wasn’t even in high school yet, but he was already saying “we.”

I looked over at Mom. “Zach’s never going to live that down, is he?”

Mom shook her head. “They’ve already put it on his tombstone.”

After parking, we followed a long line of family members winding their way into the stadium. We had no idea exactly where Zach would be seated. I tried counting the chairs and kept getting lost in my count. So we found a good general location.

After waiting for about half an hour, the school band, minus any seniors, began to play Pomp and Circumstance as all the grads filed into the stadium and took their seats. On a big screen a video was being played showing the highlights from the grad’s past four years. And they went there… showing Zach fumbling the ball. A riff of laughter came up from the grads.

Corey shouted, “Look! There’s Zach! I bet he trips.”

Mom frowned at him. “You hush.”

I watched in silence as all the grads slowly took their seats. I couldn’t help but think how in four years, I’ll be forced to join that ritual and graduate for the second time from high school. I was not looking forward to that. I couldn’t even imagine what the future might hold for me.

The same opportunities will likely not be available to me. My interests might change. And quite frankly, I didn’t really like being a chemical engineer. I grimaced at the thought that by the time I graduate the second time, I might have a boy in my life. I need to banish thoughts like that out of my head.

Mom and I dutifully applauded when Zach’s name was called to walk up on the stage and receive his diploma. Some asshole in the stands shouted, “Don’t fumble your diploma!” I stood up to look for the person who yelled, but Mom pulled me back down.

I watched with pride as Zach walked across the stage and was handed his diploma. At that moment, Zach wasn’t my big brother. He was my son. It took twelve long years to get him to this point. At least he’ll be going to a local university. Yeah. The one that killed his old man. But I’m not bitter.

I looked over at Corey, still on the phone with Karen. In four years, he’ll be graduating. I wondered if there’s a college on Guam I could send him to.

And then my thoughts came back full circle to me. Just what the hell am I going to do? I mean, like seriously.

It took over an hour for the remaining losers… I mean children to get their diplomas. Actually, they were all just getting a blank sheet of paper. They got their real diplomas after the ceremony when they turned in their cap and gown rentals. We clapped politely.

The last student walked across the stage and I doubt she even noticed she got the biggest applause of the evening. The principal walked to the mic and said, “I now pronounce you graduates!” The kids on the field all moved their tassels in unison over to signify they were now free of high school. They all cheered, and the band played the school’s alma mater, followed by the fight song.

Mom stood up and said, “Okay. Let’s go find Zach.”

I looked over at Corey on his phone, oblivious to the world. I asked, “Can we just leave this here?”

It took more than a few minutes to find Zach in the mob of kids milling around the stadium.

When he spotted us, Zach shouted, “Mom!” He ran up and gave Mom a bear hug. “We did it!” Mom returned the hug and gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

I stood there and waited for my hug and kiss, but it never came. Forget the fact that for most of his life, I was Dad and not little sister. I felt a heaviness in my heart.

Grinning, Zach said, “Mom, I’m riding over to Stewie’s with Jeff.”

Mom said sternly, “Don’t forget to be home or at least call me to pick you up by one o’clock.”

Barely able to breathe from excitement, Zach said, “I won’t forget. Oh hey. Can I have twenty dollars?  Thanks.”

Mom just stood there, looking tired and … well, old.  She sighed and looked over at me. “What am I going to do with both you and Corey graduating at the same time?

I sighed as I watched Zach disappear. “Somehow, I fully expect you to have me locked in a chastity belt.”

Mom grinned wryly. “That’s not a bad idea. Come on. Grab your brother, and let’s go.”

                     *

Zach is so busted, I thought to myself as I watched Mom fall asleep on the couch, waiting for him to return. It was past curfew, and I briefly thought he might be better off if he didn’t come home at all.

I finished my drink of water and padded softly back to my bedroom. As I crawled into bed, I grinned and thought, “It’s been nice knowing you.”

I was awakened by a buzzing sound. I looked at my desk and saw it was my phone ringing. I’d gotten into the habit of putting it on silence when going to bed after the other night Gene calling me at two in the morning.

I looked at my phone. It was four-thirty and the caller id said it was Zach calling.

“Zach!” I whispered into the phone. “Where the hell are you?”

In a shaky voice, Zach said, “I’m still at Stewie’s. I need a lift. Can you come get me? Is Mom still up?”

“I’m thirteen!” whispered into the phone. “I don’t have a driver’s license yet.”

I peeked out into the living room, and Mom was still zonked out on the couch. Into the phone, I said, “Mom’s asleep on the couch.”

“Please don’t wake her up. Can you come get me? You know how to drive. My car keys are on my desk.” He had me there. I still knew how to drive. It just wasn’t legal yet.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right there. You’re so gonna owe me.” I clicked off the phone. Still, in my nightgown, I snuck into Zach’s room and retrieved his car keys. I then tip-toed past Mom, and as quietly as possible, I opened the front door and then gently closed it behind me. Zach’s car was parked by the curb. This is insane, I thought as I ran across the front yard in my nightgown. After starting the car, I eased it out into the street.

Navigating the streets, I thought that I shouldn’t be “too” careful. I did that driving drunk once in college and attracted the police by being overly cautious. If I get caught driving at thirteen, my ass is grass. Why am I doing this again?

About ten minutes later, I drove slowly to the curb where Zach was standing. I put the car in Park and slid over to the passenger seat. Zach opened the door and slid in behind the steering wheel.

He looked over at me. “Thanks, sis!” He started to drive away.

I folded my arms and frowned. “You so owe me. Big time!”

Zach nodded. “I know, I know. Are you sure Mom’s asleep?”

“She was when I left the house.” Zach set his jaw and focused on driving.  We drove silently through the darkened city streets. As we waited at a stop light, a police car drove past us. I was glad I wasn’t the one driving.

Zach turned off the car’s lights as we neared the house. He killed the engine as we rolled to a stop by the curb.

As I got out of the car, I said, “Don’t slam the doors. Be gentle. I’ll check the house to make sure she’s still asleep. Take off your shoes.” I darted across the yard, of course still in my nightgown. I carefully opened the door. I peeked inside and saw Mom still gently snoring on the couch. I stepped out onto the porch and waved Zach up to the house.

I whispered, “Go! Go! Go! Get to your room and get into bed as fast as you can.”

Sounding terrified, Zach said, “We’re going to die, aren’t we?”

I shook my head. “Not even Mom is that mean. But hurry!”

Zach went padding heavily across the floor to his room. I wanted to shout, “Be quiet!” Instead, I quietly closed the front door after Zach ran past. It was time to trigger the alarm.

I walked into the kitchen, not caring if I made any noise. I opened the fridge door so the light splashed across Mom’s sleeping form. I heard her snort once. Not being quiet, I clinked a glass out of the cabinet and set it on the countertop. I removed a plastic bottle of milk from the fridge and set it down with a thump on the countertop. Mom stirred and blinked in the light from the fridge.

As she sat up on the couch, she groggily said, “Honey? What are you doing up?”

I poured some milk into the glass and then looked up. “Oh, sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to wake you up,” I lied. “I just wanted to have some milk.”

Walking like a zombie, Mom entered the kitchen. “It’s almost five in the morning, honey.”

I shrugged. “I know. Sorry.” I took a sip of milk.

Looking sleepy, Mom asked, “Do you know if Zach ever came home?”

I took another sip of milk and said, “Oh yeah. Now Mom, don’t be mad at him. He was having so much fun he lost track of time. A friend brought him home around two.”

Mom looked at me curiously. “And how would you know?”

I took a deep breath. “Sorry, Mom. I was up late playing Knights of the Old Republic on the computer. I lost track of time myself. I went to bed right after Zach got home.” This lying shit sure is easy.

Mom opened Zach’s door and peeked inside. She gently closed the door. “Yep, he’s sawing logs. Honey, you should be in bed too. You have school in the morning.”

I put the milk back in the fridge and closed the fridge door. Holding the glass of milk, I said, “I know. I’m going back to bed now. Good night.”

Mom said, “Good night. Love you.” She shuffled off to her room.

I looked at my reflection in the bathroom and gave myself a shit-eating grin. In my best Bugs Bunny impersonation, I said to the mirror, “Ain’t I a stinka?” I finished off my milk and crawled into bed.

End of Part 16