Lisa chuckled at the movie, almost snorting out the sip of white wine she just had; her heart felt warm and fuzzy, when Travis' laughter rang loudly in the living room.
She felt lucky to have her son back in the house; the past two lonely years had been quite rough. Her husband dead, her son studying abroad, and she had had nothing to do, nothing to expect.
On occasion, in the middle of sleepless nights, she'd close her eyes and beg for whatever deity resided up in the heavens and looked down upon the world to take her away, put her out of her misery.
Thankfully, the deity did not listen to her desperate pleas; she had another small sip of wine and continued lovingly to stare at her son—unable to stop marveling over how much he'd changed.
"Mom," he said, pointing at the television, "you're missing the good part!" He kept on laughing, despite the numerous times he'd already seen Jim Carrey's and Jeff Daniels' antics. "Is everything all right?" He asked in a more solemn tone.
"Yes, honey, don't worry," she was quick to dispel the fear that darkened his eyes. "I just...I'm so glad you're home, that's all."
"I'm sorry I haven't been around much, especially when dad..." He cleared his throat and gave his closed eyelids a good rub. "But, I'm here now!" He leaned forth and took her hand into his.
For a moment everything felt fine; she had nothing to worry about, nothing to fear. Of course, her mind was instantly swarmed with all the dark thoughts that often turned her mood suicidal during the lonely nights.
The risk of foreclosure, the amassed debt of her husband she was now forced to pay back with her miniscule salary as secretary, the unemployment rate that meant it'd be nigh impossible for Travis ever to find a job...she leaned back on the armchair, trying to give her son the most reassuring smile she could muster, and for as long as the movie lasted, she was able to put her troubles on the back of her mind.
"Hey, mom," Travis stretched on the chair, when the ending credits rolled, "what do you say we go out tonight?"
"What?!" She chuckled perplexed. "It's almost 10, honey!"
"It's Friday night, mom!" He insisted. "We can sleep in tomorrow; besides, when was the last time you went out? For a drink? To have a good time?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. "You go out, honey. The nights belong to the young, not people my age!"
"Oh, come on!" Travis leaned forth, resting his elbows on his knees. "You're still young; besides, having fun is not an age-thing! Come, quit this defeatist attitude. Let's go out, together."
"Honey," she shook her head, "why would you...you should go out with your friends, try and find a good girl...you should..."
"Is it so bad," he feigned offense, "that I want to take my mother out for a drink?"
"No, it's just...I'm tired, honey. It's getting late for me."
"Come on! I know a great place!" He got up from the chair excitedly and pulled her up on her feet quite forcefully. "Go get dressed, mom! It's Friday night, we should have some fun!"
"Honey," she exasperated, "I don't feel like going out, I just..."
"You won't regret it, I
promise
!"
"Fine," she sighed in resignation.
It was with some pride she inspected herself, standing in front of the mirror in her underwear; despite being only a couple of years shy from the big fifty, she was still in good shape.
She sucked in the tiny gut that was beginning to form and continued to marvel over her body, her self-confidence gradually increasing; her breasts were still firm and sturdy, gravity was only now beginning to take notice of her, and her legs remained thin and toned.
More eager now to go out, yet with regrets still clouding her mind, she put on a floral long dress with a decent cleavage.
"Mom!" Travis sighed theatrically. "That's...a great dress, sure, but...it's
Friday night
," he repeated once more, trying to emphasize an importance Lisa could not comprehend.
"What's wrong?" She asked, with some frustration in her voice. "It's a lovely dress, fit for..."
"Don't even dare to say it," he warned her, jestingly. "Why don't you wear something a bit more...I don't know? Better suited for a night club."
"
Night club
?" She gasped. "I thought we were just going out for a drink, not..."
"It's a
special
night club; don't worry. No rampaging teenagers high on ecstasy."
"It's not what I meant, I..." she ran her fingers through her hair, staring at Travis, trying to decipher him. "I don't like loud music, or..."
"It's not that kind of a night club, mom," Travis said, his voice once more serene and steady. "It's just...well, people get dressed up all nice and...
sexy
for it."
"Travis," she said firmly, "what are you talking about? You do remember I'm your
mother
, right?"
"Yes, mom," he chuckled. "All I'm saying is, just because you're my mother, doesn't mean you can't dress up a bit more...you're also a
woman
, right?"
"Be that as it may..." she tried to say, but, Travis was quick to interrupt her:
"I'm not saying put on a skimpy dress, just...something more appropriate for a night club, not something you'd wear to go out for an early afternoon walk. That's all," he shrugged.
Back in the bedroom, Lisa searched her wardrobe; she could still fit in most of the dresses she had from the early years of her marriage, but...her face turned scarlet, when she inspected the well-hidden dresses of her youth.
No way I'm wearing that,
she silently commented on pretty much every dress she pulled out of the wardrobe depths and threw unceremoniously on the bed. She was, nonetheless, intrigued by Travis' insistence of her dressing up
sexy