Between Mom and Jo by Julie Anne Peters

Author:Julie Anne Peters
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: JUV013010
ISBN: 9780316024839
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2007-12-16T22:00:00+00:00

Mom

Neenee and Poppa rent a clubhouse to celebrate Mom’s graduation from law school. Hordes of people come. Aunt Liz and Uncle Derrick, my cousins and their girlfriends or wives and kids, friends of Mom’s from school and work. Mom looks totally cool in her cap and gown. I can’t remember the last time she smiled and laughed so much. She links her arm in mine and leads me over to the gazebo. “Let’s get some shots of the two of us together,” she says.

Jo’s in charge of recording The Big Day. She bought a camcorder for the occasion. “Hold up the diploma,” she instructs Mom. “Okay. Now let Nick wear the cap.”

Mom sighs wearily, but removes the bobby pins and positions the cap on my head. It fits me perfectly. I think someday I’ll be wearing my own cap and gown. Recording my own Big Day. Maybe I’ll even go to law school.

Nah. I still want to be an ichthyologist. Make that a marine biologist. For getting straight A’s this semester, Mom and Jo bought me all the equipment to start a saltwater aquarium. Jo took me down to Fish Haven, and we picked out a pair of Barbour’s sea horses. We stocked the tank with damselfish and chromis, even some brain coral. It’s expensive to keep up, but Jo’s got this job at FedEx now that pays good.

I’m as tall as Mom. When she turns and smiles, we’re eye to eye. Mom rests her temple against mine, and I feel her happiness flow through me. “Enough, Jo.” She holds up a hand. “I better go say hello to all these people.” She gives me a squeeze around the middle before floating off toward the clubhouse.

Jo and I hit the refreshment table, then wander over to the chaises by the pool. We settle in. The sun makes my freckles swell. It’s a perfect Saturday, a perfect May Day, I think, as I dig out my clip-on sunglasses. Jo slides her shades on and rolls up her sleeves, exposing the dragon tattoo on her left arm. It was her present to herself for “slaying her personal dragons,” she says. “For going straight and sober.” She’d winked at me. “Not that straight.” The tattoo is awesome. I’m hoping she’ll let me get one this summer.

“Well, isn’t this cozy?” Jo says, lifting the camcorder to her face. I glance over to see what she’s filming. It’s Mom carrying a flute of champagne over to the French doors through which Kerri is emerging. Kerri leans over and kisses Mom on the cheek. She says something in Mom’s ear, and Mom laughs.

Jo lowers the camera for a moment and I see her jaw clench. She doesn’t like Kerri. I’m not sure why, but the feeling is contagious. Mom sips her champagne and laughs again. I think she’s a little drunk. Behind Kerri, Neenee flutters out of the clubhouse, smiling. Kerri gives Neenee a hug and a kiss on the cheek too.

Beside me Jo mutters, “Excuse me while I puke.

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