“Have you guys been to that fight gym in town?” Michael’s excited voice easily carries over the loud movie and into the kitchen. “I started last week.” He gasps. “Oh! We should open our own gym one day…”
I roll my eyes. If Michael follows through with anything in his life, it’ll surprise me.
“Nah,” Jack rumbles quieter than Michael. “Don’t know it. But I don’t think I can go. I’m broke, Richie. And I’m not gonna ask Kit.”
“How much is it?” Callum asks.
“I dunno, my mom pays it. Maybe like fifty bucks a week? But you can mop floors and shit to pay for your hours.”
“I could do that,” Jack says louder. The action movie turns quieter and the shuffling on the couch implies the boys are getting excited. “I have nothing else to do. And I know how to use a mop. Kit and I have something on Mondays and Saturdays…” I know he’s talking about our tutoring sessions. He also forgot Thursdays. “But the other nights I could go. Maybe after I’m not grounded anymore.”
I’m actually all for finding something safe and honest for Jack to do in the afternoons while I work. If he wants to mop sweaty floors, then who am I to say no? I stand from my stool and close the laptop lid, then step into the living room, and watch as the boys look up with paling faces.
Silly swirls of power roar inside me. I kinda love this fear–respect thing I have going on. I can make all three giant almost-men cower with just a look. It makes me feel a little badass in a silly way.
I stop at the doorway between the living room and kitchen and fold my arms across my chest as I lean against the doorjamb. “What are you guys talking about?”
Jack clears his throat nervously when his cowardly friends refuse to speak up. “Umm, Michael was saying how he goes to this fight gym now… I was thinking of asking them if they have any work going, you know, to pay for membership fees and stuff.” He shrugs casually to downplay his eagerness.
“Okay…” I bounce my hip off the wall as I think. “That sounds interesting.” I look to Michael. “What days are classes?”
“Well, they have classes every day, and you go to whatever ones you want.” He sweeps long black hair from his eyes and looks up at me innocently. “I’ve only been a couple times so far, I just started last week.”
I tap my nails together in thought. “When are you going back?”
“In the morning… Jack could come, you know, if he wanted to.”
“I can’t go to classes yet.” Jack sits back as the light in his eyes dim. “I’d have to ask them about work. But maybe in a couple weeks after I’m not grounded and shit.”
“Don’t swear, Jack.” My reply is an automated response by this point, but my brain is working around his answer. He wants to work for it, and he’s not begging for leniency on his grounding. “Um, actually, about the grounding; I was coming in to talk to you about that.” His face pales as though I’m about to add ten years to his one year sentence. “You’ve been pretty good lately, so I’ll tell you what. Don’t be a dick to me and I won’t be a dick to you.”The no swearing rule only applies to him.“I’ll come in with you tomorrow, we’ll talk to them about working, but whatever you can’t earn, I’ll pay the rest. I’m officially lifting your grounding – but only if you’re good. Sneak out again and we go back to just me and you watching chick-flicks.”
He doesn’t even shudder at my threat. Instead, his smile almost splits his face with happiness. It reminds me of five-year-old him on Christmas mornings from long ago.
“I’ll take you there around ten tomorrow. Sound good?” He nods enthusiastically and pops his single dimple, but that only serves to remind me that I haven’t seen it in so long. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that he lost a parent too, and that acting out was probably a cry for help. “We’ll talk to them together and see what’s what.” Jack and I don’t have a lot of practice being nice to each other, so my kind smile feels forced, but I’m determined to do better. “I’ll help you, I promise. Do you guys want a ride, too?”
When all three boys nod their heads yes, I nod mine and turn back toward the kitchen. “Alrighty. Carry on, I have work to do.”
“Ah, Kit.” I spin back at Jack’s nervous cough. “So, since I’m not grounded anymore… some kids from school are having this party tonight, I thought maybe…”
“Nope.” I pop my lips on the P, and leave the room with a smile as the guys laugh behind me.
* * *
The next morning after the boys plough through pancakes and fruit, I stand in the kitchen and listen to Michael and Callum call their moms to ask for permission to go to the gym.
It’s only a short drive across town, and we still have plenty of time before we have to go, so once they hang up, I head upstairs and get dressed for the day. The middle of summer means boob sweat and thighs sticking to car seats.
Awesome.
I pull on comfortable white denim cut-off shorts and a black tank top. Dragging my long hair up in a high pony away from my neck, I decide to leave it to its natural curl; better known as frizz. I brush my teeth and swipe on some mascara. Collecting my phone and keys, I move back into the hall. “Let’s go, boys, we’re leaving now.”
I walk by Jack’s bedroom and stop at the sound of a loud thump. The door opens, Jack and Callum walk out laughing, and when I peek inside, I find Michael holding his ribs on the floor, as he swears under his breath. “Run, Michael. Or you’ll be walking to the gym. And quit swearing.”
We climb into my little car the same way we do every time – uncomfortably. Three large boys and I squished into a tiny hatchback. At least as driver I never have to share a seat. I pull out into the street as the boys vibrate with excitement, and when my phone rings over the Bluetooth speakers, I answer and eye the boys in the mirror to shut them up. “Hey, Maree. It’s Saturday.”
“Hey Kit. I know. I’m sorry! I just have a really quick question about the Bundling account. The deadline’s coming up fast…”
Michael gives me hand directions to the gym, I keep one eye on him, one eye on the road, and continue to speak to Maree about the stupid account I’ve had to fix three times in the last month.
And this here, this is exactly why women are the superior species. Multi-tasking at its best.
I pull up at a gym and smile at the signage:Rollin On.Clever. We’re in an industrial area at the edge of town with a bunch of large sheds all lining the road. Most of them have roller doors lifted and open, although this appears to be the only gym. The business next door readsSmithies Glass, and on the right,Meyo’s, a mechanic.
“Hold on a sec, Maree.” I turn to the antsy guys as they peer around with excitement. “Jack, I’m just gonna be a few more minutes. Wait out here for me, and I’ll be done in a minute, or go inside, I’ll be right behind you. You choose.”
“Come inside.” Michael grabs his arm. “I’ll show you around while we wait.”
The boys climb out and grab gym bags from the trunk, and after they slam it closed, I take my phone from the holder. “Hey, I’m back. But I only have a couple minutes…”