Free This Ordinary Life by Jennifer Walkup Page A

medicine and go over his homework. The kid is crazy smart, despite all his hurdles. I kiss the top of his head.
    â€œYou smell nice Jazzy.”
    â€œThanks, Dan. How’re you feeling?”
    He rolls his eyes. “Same as I did when you asked five minutes ago. Fine. Why you always asking?” He sticks out his tongue.
    I slap a big smile on my face, but inside, I crumble more than a little bit. I have to keep my worries to myself. Danny has already had enough to deal with in his short life. He doesn’t need me making him even more paranoid about having another seizure.
    Mom comes in, fresh out of the shower, her wet hair hanging halfway down her back. “You look nice,” she says. “Going out?”
    â€œYeah. Out for coffee. With friends. Remember, you said I could borrow your car?”
    â€œOh yeah, that’s right. Have fun.” Her eyes dart around the kitchen as if she’s nervous or looking for something.
    â€œDanny’s homework is done, but I didn’t make dinner.”
    â€œThat’s fine, I’ll heat something up. Want to watch a movie, kiddo?” She ruffles Danny’s hair.
    â€œMy choice?”
    â€œSure, go ahead. We’ll eat in there.”
    Danny sprints across the room, grabbing the remote from the counter on the way. He flops onto the couch and starts flipping through the channels while Mom pokes through the leftovers in the fridge. She pulls out a bottle of soda and a Styrofoam container. I watch as she mixes a drink with way more vodka than soda. With her back to me, she takes a long gulp.
    My stomach turns.
    â€œHey Dan,” she calls. “I’m going to reheat the hamburgers, how’s that sound?”
    â€œGood,” he calls, the TV volume almost louder than his voice. “But none of that gross cheese.”
    â€œUm, Mom?” I swallow, eying her already half empty glass. I want to remind her to keep a close eye on Danny, a more or less sober eye.
    She turns to me with a smile, eyes not glazed over yet.
    â€œForget it,” I say. I don’t want to fight with her before I leave. All that will do is upset Danny.
    My cell phone rings in my room and I dash down the hall to get it.
    I hope Mom doesn’t drink too much while I’m out tonight. Maybe going out is a bad idea.
    I reach the phone on the third ring. “Hey, Ms. Hudson!”
    â€œSorry to bother you at home. I listened to the recording of your morning show. Pretty good stuff there. Since we have the WYN60 meeting in less than two weeks, it would help if youcould add some more to your portfolio. Want to do the morning show tomorrow too, and all of next week?”
    I stop pacing and stare at myself in the mirror. Morning show all week? Hell yes. I can totally be the star for a week. Excitement bubbles in my stomach.
    â€œAs long as things are cool with my brother, I should be able to be there early enough to do it each day.”
    That’s a big if, of course. Mom better cooperate and get her crap together. I adjust the straps on my sandals and give my dark hair one last once-over, scrunching my curls. I blend my eyeliner with my fingertip, trying for a less dramatic look.
    â€œPerfect!” She says. “I’ll let the others know we’re changing the schedule. I’m sure they’ll understand. You’ve been sounding, good, Jasmine, but there are some kind of shaky segments I’d like to leave out of your portfolio. So try to really nail these next few, okay? You want to give yourself the best shot you can.”
    Shaky segments? Great.
    â€œI’ll be there tomorrow morning, then,” I say, hoping I can pull it off.
    We hang up and I head out the door with mom’s keys. Sometimes Mom does come through, I admit to myself as I slide into her car. I back out of my driveway with a silent prayer that everything will work out tonight and Mom will keep a good eye on Danny.
    H ERE ’ S THE THING about non-dates