“I’ll probably go unless something better comes up. See ya.” Rags closed the truck’s door, started the ignition, and headed toward the clubhouse.
An hour later, showered and shaved, Rags pulled up in front of his parents’ house. The lawn had been recently mowed, and the mixture of flowers in the pots on either side of the porch steps added a punch of color against the tan brick walls. He and his three siblings had been raised in the house, and whenever he walked through the front door, a wave of memories washed over him. His parents had renovated the kitchen, a couple of the bathrooms, and had repainted the walls a few times over the years, but, for the most part, the house remained largely unchanged.
Rags swung open the screen door and walked inside. “It’s not safe to leave the screen door unlocked,” he yelled out as he went into the kitchen.
The refrigerator door was open and he saw his older sister, bent at the waist, staring at the shelves.
He gripped the fridge handled and slightly pulled it. “Where’s Mom?”
A startled cry pushed through his sister’s lips as she straightened out and looked at him. “You scared the crap out of me. When did you get here?”
“Just now, and that’s why you should’ve locked the screen door.”
Pushing back a few tendrils that had fallen across her forehead, Megan shook her head. “You’re always creeping around. I didn’t even hear you.”
“Again, that’s why you should’ve locked the damn door.”
They glared at each other for a few seconds then she looked away. “I thought I did.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Iknowthatnow.” Megan leaned back against the counter. A small smiled played on her lips. “How are you?”
“Good. You?”
“Busy. The kids are back at school, and it seems like I’m running around with one activity after another.”
“Where are the little hooligans?” Rags smiled.
“Keith’s bringing them. He took today off work to take all three of them to the water park since it’s unusually warm today.”
“You didn’t wanna go?”
“Not really. I needed a day to myself, you know? Anyway, Keith’s like a big kid himself at the water park. He loves all the slides and stuff. The kids have a ball with him. I’m the dud who sits under the umbrella and reads a book.”
“Like when we were kids. You used to get so fuckin’ pissed when me or Jeremy sprayed you with the hose.” Rags laughed.
She chuckled. “You guys were a pain in the ass.”
“So where’s Mom?”
“Out back cutting flowers for the centerpiece on the table. You know how Mom likes to make everything so perfect and beautiful. It’s been too long since you came by. You know, Mom misses you.”
Rags ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been busy. She knows that. I text her a lot.”
“It’s not the same as stopping by.”
“I know. The summer’s always our busiest season, and now that fall’s here there’s tons to do, but I’ll do better.” He grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and took a bite.
“Guess who I saw?”
“Who?” his mother’s voice said behind him.
Rags whirled around and smiled. “Hey, Mom.”
“Come over here,” she said, the corners of her eyes crinkling. She drew him into a long, tight hug. “It’s good to see you.”
“Same here,” he said stepping back. “You look great.”