Mom Walks by Rebecca Prenevost

Author:Rebecca Prenevost
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781953582041
Publisher: Rebecca Prenevost

I hide out in my car next to the tennis hill, waiting for Kayli to finish up. Since it’s starting to sprinkle, my deliberate avoidance isn’t too obvious. When Kayli runs up, Natalie’s still nowhere in sight. Thank God.

“Hey, hon,” I say as she yanks open the door, tosses in her stuff, and jumps in. The enormous smile across her face is a dead giveaway something’s up. “Tennis went well?”

“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” She bounces in the back as I make my way out of the parking lot. “The greatest thing ever happened! Mom, it’s life-changing. You have to say yes!”

“What is it?” I try to keep my voice steady. I already feel my hot button being pressed as the words have to come out of her mouth. No, we don’t have to do anything.

“A few months ago, Liz, Anna, Chloe and their moms all got tickets to this concert that’s tomorrow night, but now Chloe and her mom can’t go. She said we could buy their tickets from them. They’re at the Xcel Center and are in the fifth row! Oh, and we’d get to ride in a limo too. A limo would pick us up! Mom, please say yes! Please, please!”

Dear Lord. Natalie is taking Liz to a concert…when she’s eleven? I think my first, and only, concert was when I was nineteen. And fifth row at the Xcel Center? I can’t even imagine how much these tickets are. Oh, and a limo too. I mean, maybe for a very special birthday or Christmas present, and maybe if it’s for their favorite band in the whole wide world. Then maybe. But Kayli doesn’t have a favorite band. She probably doesn’t even know who’s playing.

The beat of the windshield wipers grows louder as I look back at her face in the rearview mirror. It’s so full of hope and excitement, not having any clue it’ll all be crushed.

“Honey,” I sigh, still figuring out the best way to soften the blow. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don’t see how I can say yes. For one, I’m sure it’s a huge expense. Fifth-row tickets to a concert and a limo? Whose concert is it, even?”

“This girl Sabrina something or other. I forget her last name, but Liz played me some of her songs before practice, and they were so cool. And I’ll pay for it.” She scooches up in her seat, pleading, “I’ll pay you and Dad back. I swear.”

I stay calm. “Even if you paid for all of it, I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to go to a concert like this at your age, especially when you barely know the singer.”

“But Liz and Anna are going…”

Of course Liz and Anna are going. Sparing no expense and probably making fun of anyone who can’t go too. And then I remember Tia. “Besides, you have plans that night.”

“But I could cancel. Tia would totally understand.”

“What? Honey, no.” My words come out reflexively. I know I’m supposed to guide or mentor her through a decision like this, but this feels too big.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.