Free Tanked: TANKED by Cheri Lewis Page A

can’t know!” I panic.
    Tank smiles his half grin and pats my shoulder. “It’s alright, I’m just a friend who stopped by and I’m about to leave.” 
    If it were only that easy. He doesn’t know my mother.   Jessie already has the front door open. My mother has her mouth open to greet him but stops and eyes Tank.  She then hugs Jessie quickly, walks the few steps to where Tank and I are standing and says, “McKinsey, who was that man just leaving?” Her eyes never look at me, they are locked onto Tank.
    Tank speaks up for me, “He delivered this plant.” He then points to the leafy potted plant that now held my camera.
    Ahhh great thinking! She looks at the plant, and then briefly looks at me before locking her eyes on Tank again. “Are you feeling any better, dear?”
    I didn’t even bother to answer her because her real question is, “Who is this man and will he give your father and I grandchildren?”
    My mother finally looks at me when I speak her name, “Mom, this is Tank. He just stopped by for a second but he’s about to leave.”
    My dad is talking to Jessie but I’m too busy monitoring what my mother is saying she finally looks at me and says, “Oh he should stay for lunch, we have plenty.  We stopped by KFC and got your favorite grilled chicken and your daddy insisted we stop by the Krispy Kreme.  He said it was for you but we both know he can’t drive by the hot and ready sign if it’s lit. Besides your little friend looks like he could use a good hot meal fatten em’ up a bit.”  She turns back to Tank and beams. I on the other hand want to crawl away and hide. 
    Tank doesn’t seem bothered by my mother’s comment. “Thank you for the offer but I really must be going.”  My dad and Tank nod at each other which is an equivalent of a manly hello and then Tank walks out the front door.  I wait until Jessie shuts the door behind him.
    I let out a whiney groan, “Mom! Seriously, fatten him up a bit? Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is? You don’t tell a grown man especially one you don’t know you’re going to fatten him up!” She shrugs and leaves me standing there with my face puckered. 
    My dad walks to me and places his hands on my shoulders then kisses my forehead. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Doodlebug.”
    I whine again, “Dad, did you not hear what she said to him?”
    He gives me a sympathetic smile but the words don’t match his smile. “She’s your mother and you’ve only got one of them. Besides we had plenty to share.” I let out an exasperated groan.  Jessie grins from ear to ear and it makes me want to slap him.  He loves the attention my parents give us both; he basks in it anytime he gets the opportunity.  Prima races out of my bedroom toward their voices, the traitor… I’m now alone in the foyer, mindless chatter echoes from the other room and I sigh as I replay the words my mother said out loud. Besides your little friend looks like he could use a good hot meal, fatten em’ up a bit. Just great Mom, I need his help to stop a freak and you’re going to fatten him up in the process.
    Jessie left me again too soon that afternoon for another week of training for his new job.  My parents left about seven so Prima and I watch a little T.V. before I make my lunch and decide to get things ready for work the next day. 
    ****
    When I arrive at work the next morning Mr. Samford was already there and I get worried I’d looked at the time wrong before I left the house.  I check the clock on my car and cell phone and they are the same.  He is definitely early and definitely in a bad mood which is a first for me when dealing with him.  I make sure I do my job extra carefully today, not that I don’t do that every day, but if I notice the coffee on the coffee maker is low, I make a fresh pot.  If there is something I can handle without bothering him, I do it.  He leaves about 1:45 for a meeting he has with a potential new client at