Chapter 8

“How was school, honey?” Mom says as she adds some last-minute spices to the dish in front of her. I dry my hair with my towel while standing in the kitchen to talk while she makes dinner. “How was advanced Physics? Not too difficult for you?” She teases me.

“Well, we didn’t really do much today. Just getting ‘set up for success’, or at least that’s what Dr. Griffo said. She also made that joke about her being a Doctor yet she’s teaching high school. I’m glad she is. She was such a help when I struggled with Physics freshman year and now I’m in Advanced Physics!” I walk down the hall to hang my towel up in my bathroom and then come back out to help mom put the finishing touches on dinner.

“I know, it’s truly a miracle,” Mom teases me once again and I roll my eyes but she is not wrong. I grab plates and utensils and set the table while Mom brings over a couple of dishes. I return to the kitchen to grab the remaining dish and a basket full of warm bread.

“Everything looks delicious,” I lick my lips hungrily and start serving myself with big scoops. We eat in silence for a minute or two, devouring the food. Eventually, I slow my pace enough to talk without spitting my food, “how was your day?”

“Oh, it was fine. We have a big project coming up and of course, they put Lisa in charge. She leans on me for everything, I should have been put in charge because I am basically in charge anyway,” Mom sighs and takes another bite of her food. “But also, I don’t want to be in charge. This client is, well, yikes.”

“What client are you working with?” I ask. Her job is in marketing and one of the biggest aspects of her job involves pitching to the clients.

“It’s this big oil company that I had never heard of until I started this project. Which is weird, you would think most oil companies are well known but maybe I just don’t pay that much attention to that industry, unless I need gas for the car.” I smile and she laughs. “Oh hey, how was volleyball practice? Is there anything we should be celebrating?” Mom smiles and winks at me.

“It was good,” I say nonchalantly, pushing my food around my plate to stall.

“Oh come on! Just tell me already! Did you get it? Are you captain?” Mom asks, excitedly. “Tell me, tell me!” She whines like a child which makes me laugh and we both end up laughing. “No but seriously.”

“Yes, I got it! I’m the captain!” We both cheer and she hops up out of her seat.

“Dessert, we need dessert!” Mom goes to the kitchen and grabs a little bundt cake from the fridge and brings it over to the table. “I picked this up on the way home from work. I knew you’d get it, and if not, well, it’s still nice to have cake. I got your favorite!”

“Thanks, mom,” I eat my half of the cake quicker than I’d like to admit but Mom does a good job taking down her half as well.

“You have homework to do?” Mom takes our empty cake plates and brings them to the kitchen to clean the dishes.

“Yeah but you made dinner, I’ll get the dishes,” I take the remaining plates and utensils off the table and set them in the sink.

“Thanks, hun. I have some work to finish up. That show you love, is that on tonight? Maybe we can watch after we both finish up our homework.” Mom wipes her hands off on a kitchen towel.

“Hey, you love it too. But yes it is on tonight,” I say as I begin to wash the dishes. The soap rises on its own, followed by a sponge but I can’t seem to hold both of them up and the soap falls into the sink with a clatter.

“What are you doing?” Mom asks and swats my shoulder. “Don’t use magic, Charlie! I’m trying to instill a good work ethic in you.”

“I can still have a good work ethic, and I do, sometimes it makes more sense to use magic. Plus no one is around to see, so there’s really no harm or risk,” I try to rationalize but I let the sponge drop into my hand and begin to do the dishes the traditional way.

“Nice try. Honestly, you’re probably better at handwashing them rather than washing them using magic,” and with that Mom heads off to her office to continue with her project. I roll my eyes but go back to diligently washing the dishes by hand.

Once I am done with all the dishes, I head to my room to finish my homework. I did most of it during my study hall time but wasn’t able to finish it all for various reasons, one being the new kid, Max. There’s something very strange about him, but he’s moved around a lot and is one of the only new students at school. I know how difficult that can be. I was so grateful when my mom decided to let us stay in one place for all of High School.

“You done with your homework? The show is starting soon,” mom says after she knocks on my door to get my attention.

“Yes, ma’am,” I say, popping up off my bed. I put my homework into my backpack so I don’t forget it tomorrow then follow her out to the living room. We watch the new episode then mom turns the tv off with a yawn.

“Time for bed,” she stands up and stretches a bit. “You going to bed, too?

“Well, since you turned off the tv, I guess I am,” I attempt humor then yawn. “Yeah, I’m going to bed. I have to go wash up first.”

Mom kisses my head, “night, sweetie.”

“Night, mom.”