1988
"Darkness does not follow
where she goes because she
is the the Sun. Full of light,
warmth, and happiness."
NEW WORKER
"And did you eat something today baby?"
Katherine asked ever so sweetly with her teal
colored house phone pressed against her ear.
Michael held his glossy black telephone against
the crook between his neck and ear as he digged his hand into a bag of barbecue flavored potato chips.
He hadn't eaten a meal all day, just unhealthy snacks
like chips, candy, and pop. His diet had been hell.
He really needed to eat something that was filling
to the stomach and rich in taste. Like honey sesame salmon, buttered corn, mixed vegetables, and glass of red wine for the heart. Unfortunately, he wasn't
in the mood to cook for himself anymore.
He hadn't been in the mood to cook in years,
almost three years to be exact. That was very unfortunate because Michael was such a great
cook. His family use to come over to his place
all the time to eat something that he conjured
up with just a few ingredients. Michael made
those few ingredients turn into the best meal
one could ever have.
Every Sunday, the Jackson family would eat dinner together; At Michael's. Those were the good times.
"Mhmm, yes mom I ate something very fulfilling."
Michael responded, lying through his teeth.
"Like?" Katherine asked.
Michael sighed. "Like baked chicken and rice."
"That sounds good. How's the shop coming along?"
Michael looked around at his antique shop,
the only good thing that was in his life. His eyes
traveled around the room to see all the boxes his had to unpack and put up. Shipment day was yesterday and Michael had yet to unpack everything and put them up. It was just so much work and he was just
feeling so lazy. He really needed to hire someone.
"It's going great mom. I'm exceeding the financial expectations unlike father said I would." Michael
rolled his eyes at the thought of Joseph calling his
buisness idea bad and not worth consideration.
He was so wrong. Michael's store was getting the most buisness out of any store in town.
"You know Joseph didn't mean no harm baby,
he was just unsure at the time. He's really proud of you sweetheart, he is." Michael digged his hand into the bag of chips again to feel nothing but air.
"Sure he is. That's why he calls and congratulate
me right?" Michael said, a bit smartly.
He brought his hand out of the empty bag and brought his sweet fingers of honey barbecue
towards his lips; licking them off.
"Michael..." Katherine said sadly. "I think the both
of you should really talk and hash the differences.
It really saddens my heart that you two never talk. You two use to be so close Michael."
"Exactly, Use." He said emotionless. Katherine continued to banter on about how he should be
the bigger person and call Joseph first. Ofcourse Michael disagreed with that theory.
He was the son, Joseph was the father.
It only seemed right for Joseph to call him first and apologize for making their relationship turn so sour to began with.
As Michael continued to go back and forth
with his mom, the door to the front of his store opened and the little bell connected to it chimed off. Michael inwardly rolled his eyes for not putting the closing sign up, because it was closing time and he didn't feel like being bothered with a customer right now; That was until he lifted his dark brown eyes
up to see her.
