Flash Fiction: The Call

Part 2 (of2)

My voice welled up, thick like a frog had lodged in my throat. I somehow managed to croak out a hello, but I was to surprised to do much of anything else. A hundred questions welled up in my mind. Where had she gone, why had she left, why had she said those things to my brother, why did she hurt my Dad, and more frightening was what did she want.

The conversation was a stiff an uncomfortable one, Mom never really answering any of the questions I managed to ask her, she just evaded them with a disingenuous syrupy sweet falseness that just made me more angry. She told me lies of abuse and neglect on my father's part, and denied the foul things she had told my brother. She was happy now, living with the love of her life, being soiled and pampered in ways that my Dad never did. She blamed us all, even me for not being there in the house anymore. For not caring enough.

It was my fault that she left she said. It was every one's fault but hers.

Tears trickled from my eyes and I shuddered with a silent sob. She closed the call saying I love you, but I simply hung up the phone and slumped to the floor. All the things she had said had hurt me, finally breaking inside. I swore then she would not make me cry again, I would be strong for my brother, for my father.

My 21st birthday was the last time I ever cried for my mother. And the last time I ever will.

End of Line.
Gerrad!

Flash Fiction: The Call

Part 1 (of2)

It had been a long day at work and I was tired. As i walked into my apartment, I found it empty, my roommates still at their jobs or classes. I started my usual post work routines, emptying my pockets onto the night stand and stripping off my work clothes. I threw the whole pile into the hamper and headed for the bathroom to shower. I figured a quick shower would help wash the day I had off me and give me time to get on the computer before my roommates showed up.

As I lathered over the soap, I began to reflect on things that I hadn't really let myself think about too much. It had been 10 days since my mother had ran off with that guy she met on the Internet and things had been hard. My brother had taken a lot of my mom's ill will before she left and Dad fluctuated between sadness and anger at the situation. I turned the water a little hotter, and tried to crowd these thoughts out of my head. It had been rough for all of us, but more so for them. We hadn't seen or heard from her since that day at the airport when Dad and me had confronted them, and the surreal chase that followed before they lost us on the freeway.

After toweling off I brushed my teeth and freshened up. My roommates had mentioned going out for my birthday tonight, I was turning 21 and a little bit of fun may be just what the doctor ordered. After finishing up in the bathroom I headed into my room and turned on my computer. As it booted up I proceeded to get dressed and as I was buttoning up my shirt, I heard my cell phone ring. I didn't recognize the number, but I thought it may be work related so I answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hi honey...happy birthday."

It was my mom.


End of Line.
Gerrad!