Free Project Pallid by Christopher Hoskins

into the passenger seat and organized my lightened load to the floor by my
feet.
    “So???”
Mom reeked of excited curiosity.
    “So,
what?”
    “Soooooo
… ” she dragged out, “Tell me how things went with you and Catee.”
    “I
don’t know what you’re talking about, Mom.”
    “You
know very well what I’m talking about, Damian,” she accused. “And if I drove
all the way into town to pick your butt up, I’m going to hear all about
it, so start spilling.”
    “There
isn’t much to tell, Mom.”
    “Well,
that tells me there’s at least something to tell, so get started.”
    “Not
really, no. I mean, we’re sharing a locker now and—
    “So,
you did it!?” she shouted like I’d found the cure for some hideous
disease—I wish I had.
    “I
didn’t do much of anything, Mom,” I replied.
    “But
you took her up on her offer, right?”
    “Yeah,
Mom. I did. All right? No big deal. I just didn’t want to have to carry that
shitty backpack around anymore, that’s all.” Even though it was mostly a lie, I
didn’t feel remorse for the sparse details I was providing her. When it came
down to it, and as much as I’d always shared with her, she didn’t need to know
everything that ran through my head—especially the stuff I was thinking
about Catee.
    “Don’t
use that language, Damian.”
    “Sorry,
Mom.”
    “So
how did it go?”
    “How’d
what go?”
    “The move . How’d it go moving into her locker?”
    “That?
Oh, that was nothing. Piece of cake. She did it all, actually. As soon as I
suggested it, she just made it happen. Right from the numbers,” I flashed her
my cell phone, “down to emptying out my backpack.”
    “That’s
wonderful, Damian!”
    “Try
to stay on the road, Mom. It’s just a locker.”
    She
slapped me playfully on the thigh and focused back on her driving with a
beaming, ear-to-ear smile. And after a second’s pause, she spoke again. “What
I’m saying is this, Damian: If she did all that, just for you,
without any ulterior motive, she likes you. Easy as that.”
    “Moommmm—”
    “Now
don’t get me wrong,” she interrupted, “I’m not saying you go playing big man on
campus or anything like that. Don’t go asking her out right away. You’ve got to
make sure—”
    “ STOP, Mom. I get it. I’m not—”
    “I’m
just saying, Damian. Don’t go at it too aggressive, but don’t go sitting around
waiting her to do all the work, either.”
    I
just wanted her to stop. I couldn’t think of anyone else who took love advice
from their mother, and I wasn’t about to be the first to start.
    “Can
we just end the conversation, Mom? Really. I don’t want to talk about it
anymore.”
    “That’s
fine. But you just remember what I said: Play it right. Make her know you’re interested, but don’t go scaring her off.”
    “Alright,
Mom. I get it. Chill out. I don’t even know if I’m interested or not, yet.
Plus, I highly doubt she is. Catee can have any guy she wants at school.
There’s no reason she’d pick me.”
    “Fate
works in mysterious ways, Damian, and you’ve got a lot to offer. And I’m not
just saying that because you’re my son. You just wait and see. I’m right about
this girl.”
    “You
don’t even know her, Mom.”
    “Well
then maybe it’s time I meet her. Why don’t you invite her over for dinner
sometime next week?”
    “Are
you out of your mind!?”
    “I’m
being very serious.”
    “Haven’t
you heard a word I’ve said? We’re locker partners . That’s it.
Nothing more. And I’m not bringing my locker partner home to meet
my parents; that’s just stupid.”
    “There’s
nothing stupid about having your first girlfriend, Damian.”
    “Arrrgghhhh!!!!
Are you even listening!?” I yelled in frustration. “I told you a hundred times
already! She’s not my girlfriend!”
    Mom
smiled contentedly, outwardly pleased with her ability to get me going. I
watched the side of her head as she focused on the road, and I waited for