Read Online Busted by Antony John - Free Book Online

telling me?”
    Mom carefully places the list of names into her hemp shoulder bag. “I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œLast week. I told you Ms. Kowalski had called me, and you told me you just wanted some space at school. And I’ll give you space, don’t worry.”
    â€œSo this is what she called you about—doing the class?”
    â€œYes, obviously. Why else would she call?”
    I gulp. “Um, no reason.”
    â€œKevin, please. I know that something’s going on here. Let’s just get it all out in the open, okay?”
    It’s tempting. I’ve never been good at keeping secrets from Mom, but telling her about the Book of Busts would be equivalent to announcing I’ve joined a Satanic cult.
    â€œThere’s nothing else,” I assure her. “I just hadn’t expected to see you here. It’s a shock, that’s all.”
    She leans forward and kisses me on the cheek. “Well, don’t worry. I don’t want to embarrass you or make your life complicated. You won’t even know I’m here!”
    Mom saunters off with a lightness of step that I find completely inappropriate and quite enviable.

    I’m feeling out of my depth, so I do what I always do when things spiral out of control: I call Abby. She has caller ID, so I know she’ll pick up the phone after a single ring. Sure enough, the line clicks to life, but before I can speak her voice erupts on the other end:
    â€œIsn’t it wonderful, your mom teaching the Women’s Studies course?”
    How does she know about that?
    â€œHow do you know about that?”
    â€œBecause she came into my English class and introduced herself. It’s not just your class that’s invited to take her course, you know.”
    â€œI wasn’t saying that—”
    â€œI think it’s so cool what she’s doing,” Abby bubbles. “I’m definitely going to go. The way I see it, Brandon and his pack of lap dogs have gotten away with their sexist agenda for long enough.”
    I can’t believe how like my mom she sounds. It’s actually kind of scary.
    â€œDid you hear me, Kev?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd don’t you agree?”
    â€œUh …”
    She coughs meaningfully. “What’s going on?”
    â€œWhat do you mean? Nothing’s going on.”
    â€œKevin …”
    I take a deep breath. “Look, if I tell you, do you promise not to give me a hard time?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œOh, okay … Um, well, you know Brandon’s meeting the other day? I sort of, did go to it, actually and … well, it’s kind of like I’m … sort of … involved.”
    Abby treats me to a lengthy silence before mumbling, “You’re kidding me, right?”
    â€œWell … ” Oh geez. Even now I’m tempted to lie to her and pretend that yeah, I’m kidding. “No, I’m not kidding.”
    â€œBut why?”
    â€œBecause I didn’t know what the meeting was about. I had no way of knowing what I was getting into.”
    â€œCrikey, Kev, your mom’ll brain you if she finds out. Or she’ll just cut you off, or cut you up, or throw you out and disown you—”
    â€œThis is not helping, Abby.”
    â€œSorry, but it’s true. Looking on the bright side, at least nobody but me knows she’s your mom. I’d forgotten she goes by her maiden name, and it was pretty clear no one knew who she was. Even Nathan and Caitlin didn’t recognize her.”
    I hadn’t considered this. “That could be a lifesaver.”
    â€œFor now, sure. But it’s only a matter of time before someone makes the connection.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œNo maybe about it. It’ll happen, and when it does she’ll castrate you—”
    â€œAbby!”
    â€œI’m just saying … You know what you have to do,