I couldn't believe freshman year was over already. It felt great to finally be done with finals, but it was going to be bittersweet leaving behind all my friends for the summer. I didn't really fit in back in my small hometown so it was great actually being able to hang out with people just as nerdy as me. I continued thinking about how much I was going to miss my friends and school as I finished packing up my dorm room.
It was going to be so boring out on the farm, miles from civilization... and proper internet. Now all I could think about was the grainy, skipping porn that I was doomed to all summer. It was a haunting prospect, especially since I hadn't exactly killed it so far with the ladies at school. Not that I hadn't had chances, I was just the king of missing the clues and shooting myself in the foot, something I planned to correct next year. I briefly considered looking for last minute summer classes so I could justify staying before resigning myself to the fact that my parents were already en route.
I was taping up the final box when I felt my pocket start buzzing. I pulled out my phone and put it on speakerphone, "Hello."
"Hey handsome man! It's your Mom!"
"I know Mom, I have caller ID."
"Well listen to you smartypants,, college must be doing you some good."
"Really Mom?"
"Oh honey, I couldn't resist. Well anyway we're here, why don't you come let us in?"
"Ok, be right there."
I hung up and hustled down the two floors to the main lobby to meet them at the front door to the building. As I opened the door, to my surprise, instead my Mom and Dad, standing there waiting to envelop me in long overdue hugs were my Mom and Aunt.
"Hi Aunt Deb! I didn't expect to see you here."
"Hi Tommy, it's great to see you! You're Dad got tied up on the farm so your Mom asked me to come along."
"You know he goes by Tom now, Debbie," Mom quickly interjected. "My baby boy snuck up and became a man on me."
"Well excuse me, Tom." Aunt Deb said it sarcastically, making sure to over emphasize the shortened version of my name. "Well I can't say that I blame you, I mean you've become quite the dashing young man. I bet you're having to hide from all the ladies here!"
I sheepishly went along with my Aunt's razzing, not wanting to let on that my entire freshman year had passed and I was still a virgin.
"Honestly though, it's great to see you, although I'm really not sure why your Mom asked me to come along."
It was a valid question. Mom and Aunt Deb were both about the same size - five foot-three inches, maybe 120 pounds sopping wet. I had a lot of stuff and there were a lot of stairs so I was struggling to understand how much help they would actually be.
"You're the only other person I could think of with a truck that was free to help," Mom chimed in as she glanced toward the parking lot to my Aunt's truck, unknowingly presenting another problem.
My Aunt's truck was smaller than my Dad's, which had been quite full on the way down. With only a single cab, I was going to have to find a way to put all of my boxes and furniture in the bed. It was going to be a challenge for sure.
We quickly got to work, with Mom and Deb carrying the smaller boxes and furniture that they could. Luckily I was able to talk some friends in helping me load my dresser and futon, but for the most part I had to struggle with the heavier items alone. After what seemed like a muscle-destroying eternity, we eventually corralled all of the boxes into a pile in the parking lot next to the truck and began working them in around the already loaded furniture.
After many configurations, and re-configurations, we realized there were two boxes that would just not fit into the bed.
"Looks like you'll be making a dumpster donation Tommy"
Deb's words were ringing in my ears as I opened the two boxes to find some of my favorite clothes inside. I glanced up at my Mom, obviously showing the stress of losing some of my favorite stuff.
Not wanting to let me down, Mom quickly began looking for another solution. She put one box on the other and slid them into the single cab of the truck. It was a tight fit and they took up the entire middle seat, leaving just enough space for the driver and one passenger. You wouldn't even be able to see one another as you drove.
I looked on, confused.
"It's only a couple hour ride back to the farm, I'll just sit on Tom's lap." Mom said finally.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes Deb, I'm sure. It'll be fine. You don't mind that do you Tom?"
"Of course not," I practically blurted out. The relief of not losing my stuff was palpable in my voice.
I jumped into the passenger seat first, then let my Mom slide in on my lap. It really was a tight fit with just enough room for Aunt Deb to close the door.
"Sorry, I hope this isn't too uncomfortable for you," Mom said as she adjusted and tried to get comfortable on my right leg. She was trying to avoid sitting directly on my lap.
"Not at all. Besides, I'm so exhausted from moving all that stuff, I'm just happy to be sitting down. I'll probably be asleep in no time."