Free Snow Balls (Ball Games #2) by Andie M. Long Page B

back for tea on Wednesday. It's not like you're being abandoned, is it? Plus you can have all that quality time you've been talking about having with Dad.'
    She sighs. 'He watches crap on television. I sit there, bored to tears, enduring it, then I'll turn around and find him asleep with his mouth hanging open. I could have watched Real Housewives instead.'
    'You'll work it out Mum, but don't be too hard on him. Anyway, it's only a week and then I'll be back.'
    'Yeah, but not for long.' She wells up. A timer in the kitchen goes off.
    'Saved by the bell. I'd better get back to my place in the kitchen.'
    My little Mum walks away and I consider what it must be like from her point of view. She and Camille were best buddies, always going shopping together. Then Camille left for University. That's when mum started with her hobbies. Making cupcakes was followed by photography, then card-making, then watercolour painting. Now she's working her way through box sets. After spending years looking after your kids, I guess it’s a shock to find they don't need you so much and you have time on your hands.
    I walk into the living room where Dad is sat reading the Sunday paper. 'Make sure you make a fuss of Mum while I'm away. Take her out to dinner or something.'
    'What? Waste of good money that.'
    'No, it's not. You don't have to go somewhere expensive. Just make sure she knows she's appreciated.'
    My dad looks at me over the top of the newspaper.
    'You've gone weird.'
    'You know I'm making sense. Plus she might leave you alone the rest of the week if you make a fuss of her one night.'
    'Now that is sensible thinking, son,' says my father. 'Shows I've done well teaching you the ways of women.'
    My mum comes through, having caught the end of the conversation. 'He's as clueless with women as you.'
    My dad bristles. 'Oh, not this again.'
    We've heard mum's story of how she met Dad so many times. Or rather how she'd hung around him for about six weeks, seeing him every Friday night in a bar before she finally went over to him and demanded he buy her a drink. That was it then. She says if she hadn't gone over he would have remained oblivious to the love-struck teenager hanging around him. She still says he can't see the wood for the trees.
    'I'm not clueless.' I think about Jennifer. 'Well, I guess I'm not fantastic at picking them.'
    'You're oblivious, like your Dad, but it's not my place to educate you this time.'
    'Mum. What are you talking about?'
    She sighs. 'Where's Camille? Dinner’s almost ready.' She heads off back to the kitchen.
    'Do you know what she's talking about?' I ask my Dad.
    'Don't know half the time, son. Best thing with women is to keep nodding at them in agreement. If their face changes and goes weird, try a disagreeing look. Works for me ninety percent of the time.'
    'What about the other ten percent?'
    'That's when I get caught out and actually have to listen to her. Now come on, let’s take a seat at the dinner table before she nags.'
    When dinner is over, myself, Camille and Dylan say goodbye to my folks. I pick up my bag and head out to their car. Two hours later they've gone, and it's just myself and their cat, Bob, who's missing in action somewhere on the estate.
    Seven pm and I have the whole house to myself for a week. Time to loaf.
     
    I did not factor in a cat into my week of being alone. Sunday evening Bob jumps on the spare bed. Being fast asleep, I jump up in shock, don't know where I am and scream. Yes, it's a girly scream. I see Bob's eyes watch me and feel unnerved. As he's a black cat, all I can see are his green eyes. Is Bob bothered about my little dance? No. He sits licking a paw. I get back to bed and he jumps up, lying on my leg. I move up. He moves up, so he’s still lying on my leg. I try a third time. He moves again. I wake in the early hours of the next morning to find myself on the edge of the bed. Bob is sprawled out on the other side. Little shit. I lift him off and drop him