The drive home was….Interesting, It was awkward on the way there, but driving back? Danny had completely frozen me out, so I tried to get him to talk. Explain that we could never actually be together and that I wasn’t going to tell anyone about it. He just drove, didn’t look at me or speak to me.
Pulling down the street where we lived, The house was still lit up, it wasn’t too late so it made sense for our parents to still be awake.
Immediately we both noticed that Henry’s pickup was in the driveway, which again wasn’t terribly odd. However as we both exited the sedan and made for the front door, I couldn’t help but take a second look at Henry’s truck….It had a single bed and a dresser in the dump of it.
The door opened and immediately I stumbled over boxes piled in front of it, Boxes filled with my belongings. What the fuck.
My jaw dropped as I looked over the five boxes that had been filled with my stuff, most of it was just thrown inside with no real care. “What the?” Danny said from behind me as he shut the door. I looked into the Living room and saw my Father with Henry. “Cammy! Why were you gone so late?” Dad came over, wrapping his arms around me to pull me into a hug. “We got caught in traffic” I lied.
“What’s going on?” Then I saw it, images in his mind. My Mother had won the argument earlier in the day….An argument about kicking me out. ‘I’m so sorry Sweetheart….’ His thoughts were entirely regretful and apologetic.
“There you are” Her voice called out from the top of the stairs, I looked up to see my mother. Hair tied back with another small box of my belongings tucked under her arm. “Mom, What are you doing?” I called up the stairs, stepping past my father.
“What does it look like? I’m done having a freeloader like you living under my roof.” She barked at me as she came down the stairs, tossing the small box onto the pile. “W-what?” I felt tears well in my eyes, I wasn’t sad, I was angry.
“Henry is going to put you up for a couple weeks then you’re on your own, it’s time you learned some responsibility.” Her voice became muffled as I found myself falling into a storm of rage. My knuckles were white, I was clenching my fists so hard I could feel my fingernails digging into my palms. “WHY!” I screamed at her, years of pent up frustration surfacing after what had been a fantastic day. Henry stepped in between us as my mother moved towards me.
“YOU’RE AN UNGRATEFUL, SPOILED, SINFUL PARASITE AND I WILL NOT HAVE YOU IN MY HOUSE” I could see what she was thinking, she was thinking of me sleeping in, of me not thanking her for giving me hand me downs while she spent money my father didn’t have.
“YOU’RE THE FUCKING PARASITE AND I AM SICK OF IT, YOU SPEND MONEY FOR THINGS YOU DONT NEED, WASTING THE MONEY DAD WORKS HARD FOR JUST SO YOU CAN TALK SHIT ABOUT HIM TO YOUR FRIENDS.” My response had her fuming, she was about to blow a gasket.
“GET OUT!” No sooner had the words left her mouth was I out the door, Stomping across the paved driveway to Henry’s truck I got into the passenger seat and stewed in my anger. 15 minutes of waiting and I could still hear her bellowing in the house.
“YOU LET HER TALK TO ME LIKE THAT, USING FOUL LANGUAGE IN MY HOME HAROLD ” Somehow she was turning this altercation between us into an argument with my father.
I couldn’t hear my father, he wasn’t the type to yell and I’m certain he was trying to calm her down. Eventually Henry came out with the rest of my belongings, placing them in the bed of his truck before getting in. He didn’t say a word as he turned the ignition and started to drive across town to his house.
We were nearly at his house when he finally addressed me verbally, “Cammy, Listen I know Mom can be….Difficult” That was an understatement.
“I’ll help you look for a job, you can stay with me until you figure stuff out alright?” Bless him, Henry was always kind to me. I know Danny had been mean as a way of separating himself from what he really wanted, I’m not sure if he would change now that everything was out in the open but Henry. Henry had always been kind, Your typical big brother. He would look out for me and stop people from bullying me when he was still in school, he always had kind words for me when I needed them. I huffed and folded my arms across my chest, I was in no mood to speak. I had been by his house once before, it was nice.
Single story with an attached garage, an extended balcony had a pool and a killer view of the beach. It was at the end of a cul-de-sac so it was very private. Pulling into the driveway the first thing I noticed, Lela’s car wasn’t there and the house was dark. I looked at him, and as if he could read my mind. “She’s not here, don’t worry.” We got out, Of course he had to bring my stuff into the house. Giving me a guest room across the hall from the master bedroom, It was bigger than my room at home and had its own private bathroom.
I carried what I could but I wasn’t exactly strong so he was forced to carry the bed and dresser while I struggled with the boxes. He huffed as he set the mattress down on the bed frame. “There, This should be good for tonight.” He smiled and stretched his arms out in an effort to physically represent the room. I smiled softly, still a mess after what had happened. “Thanks Henry” I popped up on my toes and gave him a soft peck on his cheek. “No problem Cammy, get some sleep okay?” He sounded genuinely worried, which was sweet.
“I will” I pulled the elastic holding my hair back out, causing my red locks to fall over my shoulders. ‘At least she’s out of there’ Henry’s foremost thought as he quietly exited the room, closing the door behind him.
I plopped down on the bed, still wearing the yellow bikini underneath board shorts and a t-shirt Danny had bought me. This is not how I thought this day was going to end.
The next thing I knew there was a knock at my room door, It was morning. I had passed out at some point still fully dressed in an unmade bed. “Hey Cammy? I’m heading to work, there’s coffee in the pot.” Henry called through the door, Not barging into my room but instead respecting my privacy, Which was a nice change.
“Thanks Henry!….Have a good day!” I called back between a long yawn. I heard the front door closed and I was alone. I left my temporary room in nothing but the t-shirt I had worn to bed, of course I was still wearing the bikini from yesterday underneath. Walking through Henry’s house was strange, I had never been here alone and I didnt know what to do.
Before I could do anything I needed a cup of coffee, Henry had left enough for one cup. It was strong and after perhaps a bit too much sugar it was perfect. With my coffee in hand I decided to explore his home a little. The joined Kitchen/living area was modern and spotless, in fact it looked like it was barely lived in. The sliding glass door to the balcony was on the other side, Maybe I’d spend my day by it? For now I think I’ll keep looking around. Of course there was my room, a mess that I needed to deal with today. Then there was Henry’s