Benji and the Wireman by Charlie Winters

Author:Charlie Winters [Winters, Charlie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

My mother cried. I hadn’t heard her sob like that in a long time—maybe not ever. I just let her cry on the other end of the line without interrupting her with words as I curled into my pillow. I wanted to get under the blanket and fall asleep, but I knew I had to go to Indian Villas.

I also had to get my shifts covered. I had a laundry list of things to do. I knew Jesse would help, but I didn’t want his fucking help. I didn’t want him to do any of it.

“What am I going to do?” she asked. “I wasn’t prepared. Why wasn’t I prepared? I mean… I knew. I knew and I should have come out when you called and—”

“Mom,” I interrupted. “Stop. You couldn’t have known. She was so good today. You should have seen her. She was amazing. She talked a full hour of shit like normal. She remembered everything. She even showed Jesse the stupid photo album.”

“Jesse?” my mom asked with a sniffle. “He was with you?”

“Yeah,” I said softly. “Oma wanted to meet him. It was last minute.”

“Really?” She choked on a small laugh-slash-cry. “That’s amazing. Did she like him?”

“Oh my God, I think she was ready to perform the marriage ceremony herself. She touched him so much, I almost forgot for a minute that she liked the ladies.”

My mom let out another small laugh followed by a sigh. “That’s good. Is he… is he still there with you?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “He won’t fucking leave. I have to do things and he… he’s infuriating. When are you coming?”

“Your dad is booking the flight now. We’ll probably be there in the morning. I don’t know that we can be there tonight.” She let out another soft cry. “I just wish… God, I wish I could have seen her one last time, you know? I always regret not seeing Momma for a while before…”

“Momma” was Grandma Nancy. Her death had taken my mother into a dark place for a while with regrets so deep-seated; she’d resorted to seeing a therapist for more than a year after she’d passed. It had taken her years to understand the relationship between her mother and Grandma Nancy, even rebelling and dating a few girls of her own, Oma had said, just to “get back at them.” Of course, once Oma and Grandma Nancy had happily approved, she’d gone back to dating boys and even met my father in her final year of college.

“I know, Mom. But Oma knew you loved her, okay? And so did Grandma Nancy. Don’t forget that you were the most important person in their lives.”

The bedroom door softly clicked open and Jesse appeared holding a Starbucks cup. He placed it on the bedside table and turned as quickly as he came. He quietly took the handle of the door, leaving my eyes glued to that beautiful mane of soft waves as it shut with another click.

“I know,” my mom answered with a sniffle.

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