The boy freezes in the entryway, his backpack slipping off his shoulder. His mom waves at him enthusiastically, her glass of wine teetering dangerously close to the edge of the table.
“Sweetheart!” she calls, her words drawn out with exaggerated delight. “We were just talking about you!”
what did you want to tell me
His mom pats the couch cushion next to her, gesturing for him to sit down. Her smile is wide, her eyes slightly unfocused.
“We were just talking about how grown-up you’re getting,” she says, her words a bit slurred. “And how handsome you are.”
The boy’s mom pats the couch cushion next to her, inviting him to sit down. “Oh, you know, just how great you are!” she says with a tipsy giggle.
The aunt, also slightly inebriated, chimes in. “Yeah, we were just saying what a good kid you are.” She takes a sip of her wine and gives him a knowing smile.
really what did you say about me
The aunt, slightly more coherent than the mom, grins at the boy. “Oh darling,” she says with a slight hiccup. “We were just saying how handsome you’ve become.”
The mom nods vigorously in agreement, spilling some of her wine on the couch cushion. “Mhm! Such a handsome young man.”
Really mom? What did you want to say? I ask curiously
His mom grins, her cheeks flushed from the wine. She pats the couch beside her, gesturing for him to sit down.
“Come here,” she slurs slightly, her words running together slightly. “We have something important to discuss with you.”
what did you want to talk about
The boy's mom pats the couch cushion beside her, inviting him to sit down. "Come here," she says with a slightly slurred voice. Her sister, his aunt, grins and nods in agreement.
"Yeah, we have something important to discuss with you."
What do you mean? You were supposed to pick me up an hour ago! angry
His mom laughs, her eyes glassy and unfocused. “Oh darling, don’t be like that. We were having a little...” She glances at her sister before continuing, “girl time.”
His aunt chimes in now, giggling uncontrollably as she lifts her own wine glass to her lips. “Yeah! We lost track of time, sorry sweetie!”
I walk over and sit down next to them "what were you guys talking about?"
The women exchange a glance, their grins growing wider as he settles onto the couch between them.
His mom pats his knee affectionately, the scent of red wine on her breath. "Oh, you know," she says with a little giggle. "Just how grown up you're getting."
His aunt leans in closer, resting her chin on one hand dramatically. "And what an handsome young man you're turning out to be."
I set my stuff down ok what were you saying
His mom pats the couch next to her, motioning for him to sit down. His aunt grins at him, swirling the wine in her glass.
“Oh nothing,” his mom replies, her eyes slightly glassy. “Just how wonderful it is to have such a handsome young man living under our roof.”
His aunt chimes in, “And how smart he is too!” She takes a sip of her wine, giggling as she does so.
I can see that..I say as I walk past them into my room
His mom pouts as he walks past. “Hey! Don’t just walk away!” she calls after him. “We’re trying to have a conversation here!”
His aunt giggles, swirling the wine in her glass before taking another sip. The boy can hear them whispering to each other behind him as he heads for his room.
what was it? I hope they didn't talk about my weight
His mom pats the spot on the couch between her and his aunt, signaling for him to join them. “Come here! We have something important to discuss.”
His aunt giggles, swirling her wine glass before taking a large sip. “Oh yes,” she says in agreement, “it’s very important.”
really what was it? I ask curiously
His mom pats the couch next to her, signaling for him to join them. “Oh, just how much of a trouble maker you are at school,” she says with a chuckle, taking another sip from her wine glass.
His aunt laughs loudly again and nudges his mom’s shoulder. “He’s such a rascal!”
what were you saying I put my backpack down
The mom giggles, her cheeks flushed a rosy pink from the alcohol, “Oh, nothing much darling,” she says with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Just how we wish you were a bit more like your cousin.”
The aunt chimes in, her voice equally tipsy and affectionate. “Yeah, he’s such a good kid! Always helps around the house without being asked.”
really what did you want to say
The mom pats the couch next to her, signaling for him to sit down. "We just wanted to talk about your future," she says, a bit too cheerfully.
The aunt giggles and nods in agreement, her eyes slightly glassy. "Yeah, we're so proud of you," she slurs. "You know how much we care about you."
I can see that I say dryly
The boy's mom and aunt both giggle at his dry comment, finding it hilarious in their inebriated state.
“Oh, don't be like that,” Mom slurs playfully. “We were having such a nice time before you came home.”
oh yeah? what did y'all have to say? i asked sarcastically
The two women exchange a glance, their faces flushed from the alcohol. His mom grins, her eyes slightly unfocused.
“Just how amazing you are!” she slurs, taking another sip of wine. “Isn’t that right, sis?”
i put my stuff down why am i not surprised
His mom pats the spot on the couch next to her, gesturing for him to join them.
“Come here, sweetie,” she slurs. “We want to talk to you.”
His aunt giggles, refilling her wine glass from the bottle on the coffee table.
looks at them both, raising an eyebrow "Oh yeah?"
His mom pats the couch next to her, beckoning him over with a tipsy grin. “Yeah! We were just talking about how great you are!” she says, slurring her words ever so slightly.
His aunt nods enthusiastically, giggling as she sets her own wine glass down on the table. “Uh huh!” she agrees, waving him over as well. “Come sit with us.”