John was fiddling with his mobile phone in his hostel room. The room was fairly big with two sets of furniture at two sides of the room yet with ample place in the middle clearing to walk. Each set of furniture had a steel bed, a cupboard, a study table and a chair. John was slouched over his bed as he gazed out of the window. There was no particularly heart-warming view, it was mostly of barren open spaces but at least the window didn't face another building.
'Hey! What are you thinking?' John turned back to see Andy. Andy was his room-mate. Both John and Andy were in their first year of college. It has been almost three months now that they have been roommates.
'Nothing particularly. I am thinking of going home in the next weekend.' John said still looking out of the window.
'Next weekend? Oh, yes, we do have a holiday next Friday. So, are you going to your hometown?'
John looked back and stretched, 'Well, yes. I promised my mom that I will be home at least once a month.'
Andy was solemn, 'Does she still stay alone?'
John said, 'Yes, mostly. My dad sometimes comes in weekends.'
'Are they going to get divorced?'
'I don't know. I don't have the heart to ask. But, they've almost been living in separation while I was there. Just imagine, your dad stays in one room, your mom stays in another. But, somehow, I have to give it to them for not fighting constantly.'
'I know. My parents got divorced while in school. My mom got remarried and has kids of her own. It's weird.'
John stayed silent. 'You know, my mom is looking to buy a house in suburbs. She likes the quiet. She has rented one just to check if she can go through the plan. That's where I am going.'
Andy was excited. 'Suburb home must be a grand affair.'
John laughed. 'Ha-ha! Not grand, but well, what I've heard mom say it is big, has quite a bit of outdoor space and has a swimming pool too. A private swimming pool.'
Andy looked at him in disbelief. 'It's almost like stuff of the movies. You know, I've never been to suburbs somehow. As in, I have been to vacations in beaches or mountains, but I have never stayed in a suburb. It sounds idyllic.'
John thought for a bit and said, 'Why don't you come with me?'
'No, it's your reunion time with your mom. I don't want to intrude.'
John laughed out loud, 'Quite the opposite. My mom always asks me to bring me with you. She said, you look like a nice kid. Whatever that means. And, well, if it's a big house, I would get bored. Come on, I insist.'
Andy grinned and said, 'Well, if you insist.'
Andy took his car and they drove down. Andy's mom, Mrs. Lefarty, was already staying in the house. As Andy and John drove up, Andy gave the keys to John and said, 'You drive. I am going to feast my eyes on this greenery.'
The road did justify such a reaction. Once outside the hustle and bustle of the city, the roads were laced with trees on both sides. There was silence everywhere except for the occasional horns of passing vehicle. As far as they could look, there were green fields, some freshly tilled and sowed, some still barren. The air got a little chilly. Despite stopping for an occasional cigarette and Andy's freshly-discovered passion for photography, they reached in around four-five hours.
There was a small shopping center and some other shops in the main road. Off the main road, the houses became scarcer and at the end of the road sat a pretty little home with a red, slating roof. As they parked the car in front of the gate, Andy and John were both grinning. John stepped out of the car and took in the fresh air and the deafening silence. He rang the bell and waited. He like this place already.
Mrs. Lefarty came out running. She opened the gate and hugged his son, 'You have grown so thin. Come on in.', she waved at Andy who waved back.
Mrs. Lefarty was a woman in her late forties. But, she seemed at best in her thirties with a radiant face. She had short hair, sparkling eyes and a very warm demeanor. She always wore oversized clothes, but one could tell she still had a cracking figure for a woman in her forties. Even now, she was wearing a black loose tee and a jeans.
As they both entered the home, Mrs. Lefarty said, 'So, what do you think? I am sorry for the mess though. I haven't bought it yet, so I didn't do a lot of cleaning.'
Andy replied, 'Are you kidding, Mrs. Lefarty? This place looks so good.'
'Call me Lynda, Andy.'
'Mom, seriously, I love this place. But, isn't it too quiet and far from everything? Can you stay here alone?'
Lynda laughed sweetly. 'Well, at my age, this is just the right amount of noise. Go change, you guys. You must be tired.'
The house had sprawling with a huge living room and three bedrooms and a kitchen. One of the bedrooms was in the upper floor and Lynda said, she had prepared only two bedrooms - one for the boys and one for herself.
As they explored, they found out the swimming pool. The entire day, they run around the house exploring the rooms, the swimming pool, and the outside garden. It was fascinating.
As they swam in the pool, John said, 'Mom, did you use the swimming pool once?'
Lynda laughed, 'Once.'
Andy said, 'You have to use the pool every day. Or what's the point of a swimming pool?'
Lynda said, 'Well, yes. If I buy this place, I will buy swimsuits too.'
John's ear pricked. He has never seen his mother in a swimsuit. He said, 'Maybe, you should. Come here, you've working through the day.'
Lynda came and sat by the pool. She dipped her leg in the water.
Andy said, 'So, what's the plan for tonight?'
'You guys tell me. You're in college. You know how to have to fun.'
John said, 'Mom, shouldn't we celebrate? Light up the fireplace and have some beers or wines.'
'I have a better idea. Why not drink under the sky in the garden?' Andy said
Lynda thought about it, 'Well, we should celebrate. Yes. But, bring wine for me. I can't handle much alcohol these days. Actually, never could.'
John quipped, 'Neither can Andy here.'
Andy, in mock anger, threw a splash of water at him. 'Shut up.'
John managed to direct an even larger splash at him. 'You shut up.' And soon, they got into a fight with water spraying everywhere.