Perchance Read Free Page B

mine when I was a kid and my Mom held on to it for me.  I recently had it painted.”
     
                  He threw me the keys and said, “Stay careful and don’t take advantage of the fact that you have your own place and I work nights, ok?”
     
                  I nodded and said, “Yeah, that’s fine.”
     
                  He clapped me on the back and walked towards the house and then stopped swiftly.
     
                  “I’m glad you came , son.” And then he continued walking and shut the front door behind him.
     

 
Remi
     
                  We were almost there.  The bus was taking us to Baton Rouge, but then my Aunt Brenda was picking me up from the bus station and driving me to where she lived.  It was Saint something or other…I couldn’t remember.  The whole way Edith, the older lady with the medicine cabinet, had managed to pry my whole life story from me. 
     
                  I don’t know how she did it as I usually didn’t talk much a bout my family or my Mom or him.
     
                  But every time I would wince at her asking a question, she would say it was ‘ok’ and pat my leg and then I would end up spilling my guts.  I don’t k now how she did it, but she did it well.  That woman could pry State secrets from the President, I was sure.
     
                  She was such a lovely lady and I was never going to see her again, so it didn’t matter.  I went on and on about how my Mom was overwhelmed and worked her tail off and how Tuesday had sticky fingers and shoplifted every chance she got .  She was really a pro by now and had only gotten caught twice.  But she did it daily.   I told her about how my Dad was a drunk and he left us when I was eight and I hadn’t seen him since.  I told her how my Mom preached this semi-feminism to me and how I couldn’t trust any of the male species…ever.
     
                  I wasn’t perfect by a long shot. I hated school.  It was the bane of my existence but I went every day and tried to make decent grades so that it would be one less thing for Mom to worry about.  I did it for her and her only.  If it were up t o me, I would probably get my GED and go to school and study American History.  It was the only class in school that I liked and I read biographies and history books in my spare time.
     
                  I was in the middle of a tangent about how much I love history when the bus stopped and I looked out to see a sign that said ‘Baton Rouge’.  I looked over to Edith and she was gathering her things to get out.  She looked at me and gave me a half sad smile and said, “It was so nice meeting you dear.  Don’t let the mistakes of your parents be yours too.”
     
                  I debussed and was met right outside the doors by a woman with black hair and the sweetest smile.  It was contagious.  I smiled back at her and she hugged me until I feared for the welfare of my innards.  She touched my face and said, “Oh, aren’t you a doll?”
     
                  I shrugged and she waved me off like I didn’t know what I was talking about. 
     
                  We got my monstrous suitcase from the baggage claim outside the bus and made our way to her car.
     
                  I scanned the parking lot for Edith, just to wave goodbye, but she was already getting into a taxi and he was taking care of her suitcase.
     
                  We got into Aunt Brenda’s older model compact car and headed towards her house.
     
                  She asked if I was hungry, but I wasn’t.  I was just tired and ready to get settled.
     
                  “Oh Remi, this whole thing is going to work out, I can feel it.” She gushed.
     
                  “I hope so.” I wasn’t as enthused, but it didn’t bring down her