Free Slash (Novella I) by Kevin Anthony Page B

She said you’ve done enough and I agree with her.”
    MT stood and paced. “I don’t know what to do with my life.”
    Tatu boxed up her tea. “It should be obvious. You need to get back what’s missing.”
    “ I don’t know what that means.”
    Tatu rose to her feet. “MT, don’t be a fool. You are lifeless, you have no soul. You’re indeed empty.”
    MT stopped pacing. Her mother wasn’t the only one whose mind was cleared this evening.
    Chapter 11 – Family Matters
    The day of Harriet’s party arrived and Ford stood in his mother’s crowded backyard chatting with Sidnee.
    “ Are you sure this Levi guy can fix what’s ever wrong with your house,” Ford asked.
    Sidnee sipped from her cup of punch. “I’m willing to give a chance.”
    “ Well, at least you now have some good material if you ever decide to write a third book.”
    Sidnee nodded. “I’ve been too busy stressing about getting my home to behave to even consider that.”
    Ford overheard somebody ask where the host was hiding.
    “ I’m going to go check on my mom,” Ford said. “Fix a to-go plate for Bravo; he’s stopping by on his lunch break.”
    Sidnee headed off to prepare the plate of food and Ford walked towards his mother’s home, nodding and smiling at a few of her friends. He made his way into the kitchen searching for his other-mother. He stepped into the living room to discover Harriet checking her teeth in the mirror.
    “ Are you feeling okay?”
    “ No,” She cried. “I’m getting worse.”
    A few threads were loose on the pencil black dress she wore and it was torn around the thigh area.
    “ Other-mom, can you even breathe in that dress?”
    She took some quick breaths. “I swear this dress fit me perfectly a few weeks ago. Not only did I plan this party to perfection, but my entire wardrobe and performance. It’s all falling apart. I’m gaining weight like crazy, rashes appearing all over my body, and I shaved this morning.”
    “ We all shave, men and women.”
    She motioned at her face. “I shaved face stubble. I paid a lot of money not to do that anymore.”
    “ I think you should contact the doctor who did your surgery.”
    “ I did and he’s not taking any responsibility.”
    “ And you visited local doctors?”
    “ Yes and they all prescribe antibiotics. None of them work.”
    Ford crossed his arms and chewed on his bottom lip. “I’m scared for you other-mom.”
    She approached him, her eyes teary. “I told you not to stress.”
    “ I know, but it’s hard. Your sickness, mom’s absence…”
    “ Wait, Valarie isn’t here,” She questioned, eyes widened.
    “ No.”
    “ But she never misses a party, especially one with an open-bar.”
    “ I did get a phone call from her; I barely could make out her sentence.”
    Harriet scoffed, “She’s probably in some cheap hotel sniffing or injecting something.”
    Ford fought off the thought. “Don’t say that.”
    Harriet snobbishly turned up her swollen nose. “I’m just stating the truth.”
    “ You want the truth, you’re a mess.”
    She lightly pushed him. “What is wrong with you? Why would you go there?”
    “ I take it back. For real, I’m sorry.”
    She fanned her hands at her armpits. “Shit, I’m sweating like a pitcher of tea.”
    A stagehand holding a microphone rushed into the room. “Harriet, everything is set and the crowd is waiting.”
    She snatched the microphone from his hands. “Thanks Mike. It’s time.”
    Mike nodded, scratching at his goatee. “Just hit the power switch on the side.”
    Harriet looked at Ford, repeating, “It’s time.”
    He smiled and bounced where he stood. “Yup, your big return to the stage…well, patio deck.”
    “ It’s time,” She let out once more, her voice shaky.
    “ Don’t be nervous, you own the stage,” Ford said.
    “ I’ve always performed as Harry, not Harriet.”
    “ Harry lacked grace,” Ford joked. “Harriet on the other hand is quite graceful.”
    She smiled,