All characters are over the age of 18.
A LITTLE TRIP, PART 3
It's been three weeks since mom's sister left town. Mom and I would sometimes have sex for the sake of stress relief. Nothing exciting, but I wasn't about to complain. The most it ever happened was once or twice a week. Usually just once.
We got back to working regularly. Five nights a week at the little gas station convenience store. Cleaning the restroom, stocking the shelves, working the register and ordering new stock. I've been here since I was 16 and so has my boss, George Harris. He's a great guy, at least to me. He calls some of the other people working there jackoffs or shitheads when they can't hear him. He never gave me shit about getting a call from my mom if something unexpected came up.
I was taking the trash out at work and Keith poked his head out the back door. "Yo, Bobby! George is asking for you."
I've only been here 10 minutes! What could I have done? "I'll be right there." I got back inside but didn't see George right away. He must be back in the office. I went that way and heard George talking. I glanced into the tiny office window and saw he was on the phone. "Yeah, he's basically an assistant manager here, just without the title or the pay."
Was he talking about me?
"I know he's just 18, but you won't find a more mature or hard-working person in this town." He was listening to the caller and saw me through the window. He smiled and gave me the signal to give him just a moment. "Absolutely! He's here if you want to talk to him." I looked again and he was waving me in.
What the hell?
I opened the door and George was standing up as he put the phone on the desk. "You're up kid! Good luck!" He had a big shit-eating grin on his face.
...
I left work early and drove to McDonald's to get mom before she got off work. She didn't have a shift tonight at Denny's.
"Welcome to McDonald's! Can I take your order?"
"No, I'm just waiting on Tiffany."
"Oh. Would you like me to get her for you?"
"Just let her know Bobby is here to pick her up when she gets off."
"Ok, just a moment."
She went to the back where mom was cooking burgers and fries for the drive thru.
"Bobby! Is everything ok?"
I gave her a big smile. "I'm fine! Just here to pick you up!" She smiled and continued to work. Her replacement arrived about 15 minutes later. She came to the front, and we walked outside. "Why did you leave work early? Please don't tell me you got fired."
I laughed. "No... Well, not fired." She gave me a look. I smiled bigger. "Get in the car mom."
I opened up the passenger door for her. I got in and drove off. "I quit my job, mom."
"What?! WHY?" I could see her getting ready to have a heart attack.
"Calm down! I gave them two weeks' notice because I'm starting a new job." I looked her way and smiled again.
"Oh my god! Simmons? Are you going to work at the factory?" Simmons Electronics was the heart of this tiny town. The only place you can get a job with decent pay if you didn't already own land.
"They want me to start right away!"
"Oh, darling! I can't believe it! I'm so happy for you!"
We were already pulling into the apartments. "I'm so happy for you, mom!"
"What?"
"Mom, come inside. I want to talk to you."
"Ok..." We went in and sat on the couch together.
"Mom, I have a plan. First, I'm going to work both of my jobs for the next two weeks. George has already made arrangements for me to go to the graveyard shift for the next two weeks."
"Bobby, I don't like the idea of you tiring yourself out so much. Especially when you're about to start a new job."
"Hmmm... Pot... Kettle... Black..."
She laughed. "Ok, but just the two weeks, right?"
"Yes, but that's not all. I want us both to work the next two weeks in our two jobs. I want you to give your two weeks' notice for one of them. You need to just work one job, mom."
"Bobby, no! I'm the mom! I'm supposed to take care of you!"
"I'm not a little boy anymore, mom. I love you and I can't sit here and watch you slowly kill yourself. You need to let me pull my weight around here."
"Bobby..."
"I'm serious, mom!" I gave her a stern look. "I want you to quit one of your jobs!" Mom was tearing up. I pulled her in for a hug. "I love you so much. Oh, and take a week off from your job once you are no longer working for the other. A whole week without working at all, mom! Please... Please let me do this for you!"
"Are you sure, Darling?"
"Yes, mom. Absolutely. Not only that... the reason I want to work the next two weeks in both jobs is because when we get our paychecks in three weeks, we are going to take a little trip! Nothing too special. I was thinking we could go to Phoenix and say 'hi' to Barbie, but we can make a day of it! Go to a movie! Go out to eat something other than fast food!"
"Bobby! Really?!" She was actually smiling. I haven't seen hope on her face in... have I ever? She looked so beautiful. Her blue eyes looked so bright.
"Yes, mom. Will you please do this for me?"