alvin had been just as wild, but unlike me, he cared what our parents thought and would often bend to their expectations. He had a relationship with our parents that I rebelled against, but always secretly craved.
Dad and I shared a special relationship. Or, hell, maybe it was an understanding. He didn’t try to stop me from doing whatever the hell I wanted to do, and I didn’t get into too much trouble. It was a win-win for both of us. But where he was easy-going and didn’t pry too much into my life, Mom was the complete opposite. She was always riding my ass.
You need to get better grades, Aiden, so you can get into a good school.
You need a good education so that you can get a good job.
How are you going to support yourself if you don’t go to college?
Look at your brother, Calvin, he has a great job. Maybe you can be an accountant like him.
And when I finally decided on what I wanted to do for a living, it still wasn’t good enough for her.
A video game designer? Can you make any money doing that?
She criticized and questioned everything I did. The more she tried to insert herself into my life, the more I pulled away.
From everyone except Lizzie and Calvin.
“You should call Mom and tell her about this new game you’re working on.”
I roll my eyes. “She doesn’t care about some stupid video game.”
“It’s not stupid, and how do you know? You don’t tell her anything. You won’t even answer her calls.”
“I tell her stuff.” Calvin gives me a look, and I sigh. “Fine, you’re right, I don’t tell her stuff. But what can I say? Mom and I have never had that type of relationship.”
“I don’t get it.” Calvin stands up and shoves his hands into his pockets. “You’re an awesome person, the best damn brother I could’ve asked for. You’re loyal, successful, smart as hell, funny. You have this big, giant heart—look at how you help Lizzie take care of your neighbor Edna—but you push our parents away. Why?”
“I don’t know.” Mom and I fought so much that it eventually became easier to avoid her altogether. But I keep those words to myself because when I replay them in my head, I don’t like the way it sounds.
I’ve always blamed our lack of relationship on Mom, but maybe…maybe I had a bigger part in it than I thought.
“They’re not going to be around forever.”
4
Lizzie
A good relationship is worth the wait, right? Damn, it better be! –Liz
There’s a fine line between love and hate. And for me, that line comes in the form of a trivia question. You see, I love Aiden Wallace. He’s been my best friend since, well…forever, but I hate losing to him. Actually, hate isn’t a strong enough word, I loathe losing to him. Which is why I rub my hands together and scoot forward in my seat.
This is it, the big moment.
Victory is about to be mine.
“Ours, dear.”
“Huh?” I look to my left. Edna is sitting casually in her chair, weaving a crochet hook in, out, and around a red piece of yarn.
God, I hope she’s not making me another hat. I have enough hats to last a lifetime.
“Victory will be ours, dear, not yours.”
“Did I say that out loud?”
Edna laughs and nods, not looking at all concerned that we’re one question away from being this year’s Senior Center trivia champions. Normally, I wouldn’t get worked up over a game, but I didn’t spend the last month brushing up on nineteen fifties trivia for nothing.