Page 106 of The Leaves In Autumn
“We brought wine!” Sam calls.
He comes to me for a cheek kiss. I have one for Teddy too.
“How great! Come on in,” I say, leading the way inside.
“Oh man, this looks completely different.”
They take in the nearly empty room.
“It’s kind of sad, isn’t it?” Sam takes a seat on the couch. Teddy sits cross legged on the floor.
“I have tap water for you. That’s it! Unless you want wine, which wouldn’t be a good idea.”
Teddy waves my words away. But Sam gets up and heads for the kitchen.
“We’re driving. No wine. But I’m thirsty. You have glasses?”
“There are paper cups on the sink.”
When he’s gone, Teddy gets to what they are really here for. I am interested to find out.
“So, you’re leaving.”
“Think we have had this conversation before. Yep. It came fast.”
“How do you really feel about it now that it’s here? You still happy about it all?”
I tilt my head and speak frankly.
“Let’s cut the crap. What’s really going on?”
“We like you and wanted to check in on your emotional health.”
All three of us find that amusing.
“Well, that’s nice. I like you too. But I call bullshit.”
Sam enters laughing.
“Bro, she got you.”
I smile in appreciation of his acknowledgment.
“It isn’t strictly bullshit. It’s just not the entire story. If you know what I mean.”
“I don’t.”
“Here it is. We can see there is some big thing happening between you and Dad.”
“Some big freaking thing!” Sam adds.
There isn’t time for denial. Why do it?
“And so what if there is?”
Sam throws the lone couch pillow at Teddy’s head. It is pushed to the floor.
“So why aren’t you guys doing something about it? Tick tock.”
