2:56 :: h.s

trente sept

14:38

My mom took me grocery shopping as soon as she came home.
She asked how I survived with no food in the house.
I shrugged and told her pizzas.
She of course scolded me and told me that wasn't healthy.

We walk through the produce section and I snack on some grapes.
My mom takes the cart to the cereal and I catch up.

"Oh, hello!" I hear a female voice say.

"Hi! How are you?" My mom chirps.

I turn the corner and see a woman with fair skin, ageing brown hair that has been pinned up, a sweater, and khakis standing in front of my mother.

I walk slowing next to my mother.
The woman smiles at me.

That looks oddly familiar.

I smile back.

"Oh, Hayley, this is my son, Harry." My mom introduces us.

Hayley.
Hayley Jones.
This is Rae's mother.

"It's nice to meet you, Harry," Ms. Jones beams.

"You, too," I nod.

"How is the house treatin' ya?"

How can she be smiling while talking about the house her daughter killed herself in?

I take a deep breath, "pretty fairly. It makes me feel a little more . . . I don't know."

"Cozy?"

"Safe."

Ms. Jones' smile falters and she blinks a few times to regain her composure.

"Well, I'm glad you like it. It was a nice place to live in."

"Ironic," I say under my breath.

My mother snaps her head to me and a look of fury covers her face.

Ms. Jones didn't seem to hear me, so I'm not going to say anything.

"Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?" The woman chirps.

"Oh, you don't have to-" my mom starts.

"No, no! Please, I insist!"

"Okay," she laughs.

"Great, I'll send you the address and let's say . . . 7?"

"Perfect."

"Great! I'll see you there."

Ms. Jones walks away and my mother hits my arm.

"What was that for?" I shout.

"That was an incredibly rude comment! How dare you say that to her!"

"She didn't hear it! It's fine!"

She huffs, "that was completely inappropriate. You will not say anything like that tonight."

I raise my hands in defense, "I wasn't planning on it, jeeze."

She shakes her head and we continue our grocery shopping.

::

18:26

I finish buttoning my black dress shirt and roll the sleeves to three-quarter length.
I run some gel through my hair and fix the sides.
My mother insisted we dress up, but we compromised to semi-formal.

I walk into my room to grab my boots and Rae is sitting on my bed.
I close my door as I enter.
She slides to the edge of my bed and stands up.