Twenty-Eight

After the Al-Anon meeting Sunday night, we all have time to mingle. Sunday is family night as well as get-together night. Meaning, we have an extra half hour to chat with other members and socialize a little bit. Tonight however, I don't want to.

But it's not like I could pull mom away from yacking it up with Cherish without it looking awkward. So, I sit in my chair away from the other members and text my best friend instead: Kat, did you ask your mom about me coming to your home?

Immediately, I recieve a text message saying: No, I forgot.

"KAT!" I say aloud before I text her back: Ask her, I'll be waiting.

"What's your cat's name?" asks Lonnie Oster. Or as I like to think of him as, Lonnie Austere.

"Oh, I don't have a cat. Kat is the name of my best friend." Lonnie sits down next to me and sighs. I have no idea what he's trying to do. Only, this is the first time he's bothered to say hey other than in the Al-Anon meeting.

Lonnie looks over at his dad, who's talking to the mom who brings her toddler in during meetings. Lonnie's dad is an alcoholic and he's here in support of his father. Not that he tells Cherish that. He learned just like I did that Lonnie and I are both alcoholics apparently. "Lucky you. Having a best friend is in short supply these days."

"So uh..." I look down at my phone as it dings. Kat's text says: My mom's wants 2 meet u next weekend.

I tuck my phone in my shirt pocket and look at Lonnie. "How's life been treating you Lonnie?"

"Listen," Lonnie starts to say with a smirk. "I've been just feeling like I'm seconds away from going apeshit which is why my old man has strongly suggested that I try and talk with other kids my own age. To be honest Kit, I don't like you. I didn't like you the moment you walked in with your family on the first meeting of yours and I sure as hell don't like you now." My nose involuntarily wrinkles at Lonnie's words. I'm used to dealing with my share of ire. Hell, Mack in debate likes to throw shade at me every chance he can get and then some. However, Lonnie's words were not dripping with hatred but instead ringing with truth and that troubles me.

I laugh a little before I say, "Lonnie, I have no illusions. I know I'm not made of gold and I also know not everybody likes me. I'm cool with that but just out of curiosity why don't you like me?" Lonnie looks taken back by my question for a moment before he recollects himself.

"You strike me as somebody who thinks he knows everything about the world but doesn't."

"Well, I would counter with saying you look like somebody who is the crazy guy in a slasher film, but it's all about perception ain't it?"

Both of us chuckle, trying to be as quiet as possible. Lonnie then replies, "Not the first time I've been told that either. Nice speech by the way. I guess it's not the first time you've heard that from someone either."

"No, it's not." I cross my arms across my chest and lean back in my plastic chair. "By the way, I do have the advantage. I take debate at my school."

"No shit, how's that?" asks Lonnie sarcastically.

"The bees knees of course," I reply just as sarcastically. A chorus of chuckles ensue again before I see my dad approach me. He's smiling at me till he looks at Lonnie.

Lonnie really does look like some crazy person from a slasher film. He's got various face piercings, a long tattoo of a spider web on his neck, black nail polish, and shaggy hair. By the look on my dad's face I know he's thinking 'Where's his hockey mask?'

Don't know why my dad would think critically now. Up till my first day back to school, I had shaggy hair as well before my crew cut came along.

"Kit? I'm glad you're making friends with...Lonnie right?" asks dad as he takes out his hand for Lonnie to shake it. Lonnie interprets my dad's gestured and has his hand balled into a fist for a fist bump. Dad looks at me and I raise my brow, put my hand in a fist to show him. When my dad balls his hand into a fist, Lonnie bumps his fist with dad's and makes an explosive sound.

"Hello," says Lonnie with a crooked smile.

I gesture to Lonnie as I say to dad, "Yes, we've been chatting. He thought I was a know it all."

Dad sighs and replies, "Well, you're not wrong there. I'm afraid it's more of a family tradition to try and know everything about anything. My mother is definitely the matriarch there."

"Yes, she is," replies mom as she sidles up next to dad and winks at him. I shudder a little as I take in mom and dad's youthful behavior. They've been more affectionate since we've started coming to the Al-Anon meetings. Usually I don't see them after the meeting as they head straight to bed. Like I don't know what they're getting up to. It's just disturbing to think about your parents doing that. I know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for well, THAT, but it doesn't make it less disturbing.

"Well Lonnie, my family and I have to leave but it's nice getting to know you," replies dad with a smile.

"Bullshit," replies Lonnie as he takes my dad in. "You don't have to lie, sir. I know what people think when they look at me. I'm trying to work on it but trust me; I'm harder on myself than people think."

Mom looks at Lonnie sympathetically as she says, "It can't be easy having to be the young adult when you're just a teen huh?" Lonnie starts to furrow his brows when mom says, "I'm not saying it just to say it either. I haven't said this in meetings and in fact, only my husband knew about this but...when I was a teenager, I frequently picked up my father from the bar. Unlike me, my father never sought help and got liver cancer."

"What?" I ask mom.

"Yes Kitrick, it's true. It's why your grandpa or, my father, died before you were born." I just assumed my grandpa died of old age. Not because he took to the bottle for comfort.

"Well, we'll see you next week, hon," is mom's reply before I wave bye to Lonnie too.

I have more questions now than when I came into Al-Anon!