I grew up in a small, southern Illinois town. And I mean small. During my childhood, the town had a population of about 1200 but it had been on a slow decline for the better part of the last 50 years, with a large portion of each subsequent generation moving away and never looking back. Wholly unremarkable, with no stop lights and the only grocery store being a Walmart about 15 minutes away, the only reason I ever had for coming back to this disappearing town was to visit my mom. Her health wasn't great and I had tried to convince her to move up to Chicago where I lived so I could be close if anything happened but she said that she would never leave the home that had raised 4 generations of our family.
I rarely visited, no more than two or three times a year, usually for her birthday in September and then again around the holidays. My birthday was in July and somehow, a guilt trip most likely, my mom had convinced me to come spend my birthday with her. She had been quite lonely and sad recently with my aunt passing away in February and, as I had no plans at all and 25 was hardly a special birthday, I acceded and drove down from Chicago. I was a flight instructor, working my way up in hours so I could eventually fly for an airline, and had moved to the city when I was 18, as soon as I legally could deal with life on my own.
I had planned on heading down Saturday morning but I finished up lessons on Friday and, ready to go, decided against waiting. I made the uneventful, though quite rainy, 4-hour drive south to the town, pulling in my mom's driveway just before 7. I could see my mom in the living room through the large windows facing the street.
Shit. I forgot to tell her I was coming early.
The house was a cute, single-story ranch built some time around the turn of the century. I grabbed my bag from the back seat and headed in. My mom met me at the door with a gentle swat on my shoulder and admonition about not warning her before giving me a huge hug and a kiss on the forehead. She asked how the drive was and we shared some quick small talk. She had eaten dinner with a friend already, not thinking to wait since I wasn't expected.
"It's not big deal, mom," I said, "I'll head over to Salem and get a bite to eat."
Her eyes widened and she smiled, "Perfect! You can take Blake and catch up with him."
"Who's Blake and why would I do that?"
"You know, Blake, Wanda's son." She stood, and moved to the end of the hallway leading down to the 3 small bedrooms and bathroom. "Blake," she shouted.
What the...?
"He's here? Why is some strange kid here?"
"He's not strange," she replied, shouting for him again, "And he's hardly a kid. His mom started causing all kinds of trouble before the school year ended and that shitty trailer that they lived in burned down so I offered to let him stay here until he leaves for school in the fall. He's headed to SIU in another month or so. I'm sure I told you. Regardless, It's been nice to have the company."
Oh, you soft-hearted old woman.
The door at the end of the dim hall swung open and a shaggy head of dirty blond hair popped out into the hall.
"Yeah Mrs. H?" his deep voice echoed down the hall.
"You remember Jason, don't you?"
"Uh, yeah, sure I do."
"Good. He's going to Salem for dinner and, unless I'm mistaken, you haven't eaten yet either. Go with him."
"Ah, thanks, I mean, but yeah, I'm not really hungry." He started to pull his head back into the room.
"Not gonna work for me, I'm afraid," mom said, her voice taking on an air of authority that brought back some mostly unpleasant childhood memories. "You will go and you will eat. You're practically skin and bones and I will not have anyone saying that I'm starving you to death. It's raining so grab your jacket."
He lingered for a moment, visibly weighing his options, then reluctantly nodded his head in acquiescence.
Been there, done that. Not worth the effort of refusing when she used that tone of voice.
"He's awkward like you are so dinner will either be great or absolutely terrible." She shrugged her shoulders, "either way, you both need to eat. Now, I'm already tired and am not long for this waking world so don't wake me when you come in. I've got to be up early to get to that Amish bakery in Mt Vernon before all the cream horns are gone." With that she kissed me on the cheek and retired to her room.
A moment or two passed before Blake came out of his room and walked down the hall. As he stepped into the well lit living room, I got my first real look at him. He was shorter than I, but most people were. I'm 6'5" and he looked to be just over 6'. His hair was quite unruly, a mop of dirty blond/golden brown locks. He had a fairly well defined jawline and a light bit of scruff, maybe a day or three of growth and full lips. He was wearing glasses of light blue frames that made the crystal blue of his eyes shine with incredible clarity. He seemed in good enough shape, though the loose fitting jeans and rain jacket hid most of his physique.
I do remember him. Gods he grew up.
He was 6 years younger than I, putting him at 18, maybe 19. He had been my best friend's little brother's best friend. I hadn't seen him since before I graduated high school in '07 and, apart from the blue eyes and goofy ears, I wouldn't have known him from a stranger.
Blake brushed his hair back off of his face and smiled. A gorgeous, genuine thing.
"Hey, Jason. It's been a while."
"You've got that right." I returned his smile and gave him a quick once over with my eyes. "Ready to eat?"