“Where did you get these clothes?” Mom asked, holding up the outdated slacks and button-up shirt I’d worn for the past few days.

“Over at that retro store on Fifth,” I lied, surprised by how easily I’d picked up the habit.

“Well, you’d better toss them in the washer,” Mom said. “While you’re washing everyone’s laundry for the next three weeks.”

“Understood,” I said, climbing into bed. It felt good to snuggle between clean sheets instead of the surface of the cold hard earth. A stab of guilt ran through me as I thought about where James might lay his head tonight.

Mom sat on the edge of my bed. A single tear slid from her eye and down her nose. She wiped away the tear, then stroked my hair. I closed my eyes, going back to a time when I was a young child. I remembered how she’d comforted me in this same way, often lulling me to sleep.

Mom kissed my cheek before whispering, “Promise you won’t ever do that to me again.”

And, like the child I was back then, I drifted off to a place where promises that couldn’t possibly be kept would never have to be uttered.

13

Woodvine

I wasn’t what some would call a spoiled brat. Far from it. Mom and Dad had just started making their stride financially when he was killed. My dad’s unexpected death plunged us to the verge of bankruptcy, and I remember many a night when we’d had pancakes for dinner. Of course, I hadn’t realized we were in trouble at the time. Breakfast was my all-time favorite meal, so I didn’t mind having it several times a week.

After Mom had returned to nursing, things started to fall back into place. Bills were paid on time, and breakfast resumed its normal place at the start of the day. There wasn’t a college fund, which was something I’d heard over and over every time my grades threatened to drop below an A, which would kick me out of the running for a scholarship. We only had the one car—Mom’s ten-year old Honda that sometimes confused air conditioning with heat—but we managed. I never felt I lacked for anything.

So when I woke up the next morning to a new bedroom suite that actually matched, I was convinced I’d somehow traveled to yet another world. I marveled at the large flat screen mounted to the wall above a chest that held an oversized jewelry box. As I speculated what other surprises this reality held in store for me, wet kisses suddenly commanded my attention.

“Sam!” I exclaimed, scratching the goofy dog behind his ears. “I’ve missed you so much.”