Read Online Cheated by Patrick Jones - Free Book Online Page B

would win the game. If there was anyone left to pinch-hit, I’m sure the coach would have put him in, but I was the last one in the game. I was almost crying I was so nervous, and I didn’t see Mom come onto the field until she was in the on-deck circle with me. In front of all the guys on the team and the other team, she handed me this bright yellow windbreaker to put on, to protect me from the cold. I tried to tell her to go away, but she was having none of it. Later, I told her how embarrassing it had been, to do that in front of my friends, but she’d told me something then that she’s repeated more than once so I’d always remember it: Mick, your friends will come and go, but you’ve only got one mother, who will protect you no matter what
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4:00 p.m.
    As the phone rang, I stared at my raw, damaged skin. When Nicole’s machine picked up—You’ve reached the Sniders. Please leave us a message and we’ll get back with you. Have a blessed day—I panicked. I didn’t know what I wanted to say, so I left a message of ten seconds of heavy silence. I was lucky that Nicole didn’t answer, I knew I wasn’t ready. Examining my hand, I felt fortunate. Lucky the burn wasn’t worse, but luckier that Mr. Gates sent me to the school nurse instead of to the school counselor. The counselors live to pick at scabs and open wounds.
    I remembered right after my parent’s broke up, Mom took me to a counselor to help me, in her words, “begin healing.” I did my mute act, the one Mom knew all too well, and never said anything. What I should have said was,
Doctor, I know my parents are splitting up. I know it’s not my fault, but I know they’ll both always blame me anyway. I know it’s Dad’s fault, but he won’t ever say those words, and Mom won’t ever really be okay until he does. So, I betrayed my father; served him right for cheating on Mom and betraying her. You see, the truth didn’t set me free at all. Maybe once everything is even, once my mom betrays me, then we’ll all be healed
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    I put down the phone and went into the dining room to retrieve my allowance on the table. In addition to two ten-dollar bills—my pay for doing chores that I would have donefor free just to help Mom out around the house—there was a white envelope with my name on it. Unlike ex-Dad, Mom didn’t make me count the change or account for every penny misspent. I laughed when I saw my name on the envelope: who else did she think the envelope could be for? I laughed harder, trying to guess what Mom was thinking most of the time. I ripped the envelope open and saw three crisp twenty-dollar bills and a note that read,
    Mick, I’m sorry about this morning. I called the school and they told me how much homecoming tickets cost. We’ll go shopping tomorrow for a handsome new suit for you to wear that will make us both proud. Love you, Mom
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    I grabbed some cold pizza leftovers and a Coke from the fridge, then sat at the table, feeling lonely and sorry for myself, thinking about Mom. I wished I could tell her,
Mom, thanks for the cash, but I don’t think I’m going to homecoming. You see, Nicole and I broke up. Wait, that’s not true, let me tell you the whole truth for once: She dumped me. I cheated on her, just like Dad cheated on you. I still don’t know why I did it. I so don’t want to be like Dad
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    I slurped down the Coke and finished off the pizza. I took a deep breath, then dialed Nicole’s number again. As the phone rang, the words formed.
Nicole, I know you don’t want to talk to me and I don’t blame you. Just give me a second chance. Just let me
—but the machine picked up again and cut off my thoughts. This time I left a simplemessage, “Hey, Nicole, it’s Mick. Can you call me? It’s kinda important,” and hung up, doubting every word. Should I have said my last name? Does she even