The Pruett children didn’t usually hang out together. Kaiden spent his time either working out or in the clutches of Breanne with an occasional break. Kori liked to stay on top of her schoolwork. Kaleb…well, honestly Asia wasn’t quite sure what he was into yet. Lately, he had been working out a few times a week, but whether he actually enjoyed it or was just trying to be like his father and brothers was another story. Thursday night, however, they all came home from school and plopped in front of the TV. They usually weren’t big TV watchers, so Asia knew they were feeling stressed and needed to take their mind off things. Kori D. came home with Kaiden, and Asia was doubly glad to see her again. Maybe, if she kept coming, somehow, some way Breanne would stop.
“Hello, my lovelies! How was your day?”
Various grunts and apathetic responses confirmed her suspicions; they needed a break.
“Can I get anyone a snack? I feel like baking brownies.”
None of them really cared. She stopped caring as well when she saw her baby son’s sad face. “Good heavens! What’s the matter, Kaleb?”
“Nothing.” His voice was thick as if he had been crying or was about to.
“Kaleb…don’t lie to your mother. What’s wrong?”
The tears did come, and she briefly felt sorry for pressing him in front of the others.
She pulled him off to the side to get to the bottom of his troubles. “What’s the matter, honey? Please don’t cry. It’ll be all right, whatever it is.”
Luckily the other two had enough sense to leave the room.
When he was composed enough to speak, he confessed. “I tried to put a note in this girl’s locker, but I dropped it. Some kid picked it up and read it to everyone! It was so embarrassing!”
Her heart couldn’t take any more teen love. At least not yet. “A girl’s locker? S-so soon? I mean…that’s so sweet.” Hopefully she sounded like she meant it.
“I can’t show my face at school anymore! Everyone is going to make fun of me!”
“Why? It’s not bad to tell someone how you feel.”
“I know, but nobody writes notes anymore, mom! They say I’m weird.”
“All the best people are weird, Kaleb! Us weirdos have all the fun and make the world go ’round. Being normal is totally overrated.”
He wasn’t buying it.
“Like you said…no one writes notes anymore. So, you know what? You’ll stand out to her! She’ll always remember that note even if she never got the surprise of reading it herself. Being different gets you noticed. Don’t be afraid to be different, my sweet. Ok?”
“Ok.”
“Keep writing those notes…but be careful next time.”
In moments like those, she was glad she had so much time off during the week. Who would her children have those conversations with if she were not there?
Dinner time was approaching fast, and she needed to get some food going before Jared got home. Kori D. gathered the dishes that were scattered around the house and washed them.
“Oh, Kori, you are the sweetest!”
“Don’t mention it.”
“I do enjoy when you visit. You’re such a breath of fresh air! I wish it were you Kaiden was dating instead of Breanne.”
“MOM!! WHAT THE PLUM?!”
She gasped. “Kaiden! Your language!”
“I think I’m gonna go,” Kori said. “See ya tomorrow, Kaiden.”
“SERIOUSLY MOM?? WHAT THE PLUM IS WRONG WITH YOU?”
Jared seemed to appear from nowhere and intercepted them. Though she was relieved for his presence, she had a feeling he would overreact and tried to de-escalate the situation for her son’s sake. “Hey, baby,” she said enthusiastically. “How was your day? Why don’t you go change out of that hot uniform? Dinner should be ready by the time you get back.”
It didn’t work. Jared stood between them, glaring at Kaiden. “I know I didn’t hear what I thought I just heard.”
She couldn’t see his face, but Kaiden’s uncomfortable face told her all she needed to know.
“Do you have a death wish, boy?”
She panicked. “It’s fine, Jared. I know he didn’t mean it… He’s been stressed. Let’s forget about it.”
“I don’t tolerate disrespect. Especially with that kind of language,” he said to her while maintaining his death glare at the scared boy. Jared stepped closer to confront their son. “What the plum is wrong with you??”
His escalated voice startled Kaiden, and he winced from his words.
“Doesn’t feel good, does it?”
“No, sir.”
“If I even so much as hear about you disrespecting my wife again, I swear I will mess you up so bad. Now, fix your face and go apologize to your mother.”
Secret to Asia be in a great mom, she’s got a great partner to be dad.
Ohhh yes.
unless i missed something he just threatened his own kid. but it is well written so i agree. its like a episode of dad knows nothing. because mom doesn’t want to tell him things that could upset him.
Jared doesn’t tolerate the kids raising their voice and talking to their mother any kind of way. Of course he threatened him. If the boy was brazen enough to think that was ok, maybe he needs roughing up lol. Jared is not clueless. Asia just knew Kaiden was about to be in trouble and wanted to spare him.
noel roughed up ayden once. well twice cause i had start again . and even though i wrote that this suprised me. not in a bad way i love your writing nut usually i read about conversations their having or them hanging out and one sad death post but that was just bad timing. teens are the same size as parents unless you have the height slider.
Supermom Asis is dousing fires left and right and starting some too. 😀 Vicious cycle.
She might be a supermom, but she ain’t perfect!
Well, now, don’t be swearing at your mom and this won’t happen. LOL 😀 I think they are both great parents. This is a grown boy disrespecting his mother even though she embarrassed him. There are other, more productive ways to tell your ma that you’re embarrassed. 😀 I think he knows that now, though.
He does! He totally needs to chill though.
lol
Yes Daddy Jared! Look at him riding for Asia! They love their kids, but their chosen family (each other) comes first. I know that’s right!
That’s right!