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what I said that offensive? For a moment I want to use
my flair on him so I can control him, but it would be wrong. And
would I want him to follow me around…forever? Uh…no. He’s too
moody.
    “ I forgot that I have
somewhere I have to be. Have a good weekend.” Then he jogs all the
way back to the greenhouse, leaving me to the rest of the
work.
    Forget this! I’m not going
to waste my time here, weeding on a Friday night—alone. Anthony
gets upset about everything I say and annoyed by everything I do.
I’m done weeding. I’ve put in my ten hours, and I’m finished. I
want to be around people who understand me and who make sense. I
text Ashley:
     
    Want to go see a
movie?
     
    Ashley’s quick to
reply:
     
    Sure! How about the new
zombie movie that just came out?
     
    I loathe anything to do
with zombies, but the action might help me take my mind off moody
Anthony.
     
    What time and
theatre?
     
    I type back. After about
three minutes Ashley’s reply comes.
     
    7:30 p. m., Sarasota
Square Mall.
     
    Back home, I shower and
finish some of my homework before heading out. “I’ll be back around
10:30, Mom!” I holler on my way out the door, shutting it before I
hear her reply. Hopping into the car, I catch a whiff of a
familiar, heavenly scent. I love how my dad’s cologne still lingers
in the seats of the vehicle and how it makes me feel safe, like
he’s still part of my life. He used to drive me everywhere, and it
was our time to talk about everything and nothing. I especially
miss him on weekends when we used to go to the beach together or go
hiking or camping. He loved nature and wildlife in general, and I
could tell that being outside enlivened his soul.
    I turn on the engine and
I’m surprised by the sudden sound of my mom knocking on the car
window.
    “ Don’t forget your phone,”
she says, handing it to me. “You left it in the
kitchen.”
    “ Thanks.” I grab it and put
it in my yellow bag. I really need to clean it out. I carry
make-up, my wallet, a mirror, three adhesive bandages and
antibiotic ointment—just in case I need them—a toothbrush and
toothpaste, a travel-size hairbrush and gum. I never throw away any
receipts, and they are starting to take over the entire purse.
Tomorrow I’ll get it done, I promise myself.
    “ Have fun, and say ‘hi’ to
Ashley for me.” My mom looks thinner than usual, or maybe it’s just
the way the rays from the setting sun hit her face, making her
cheeks look hollow and the circles under her eyes
darker.
    “ Sure.” I roll up the
window, pause, and then roll it back down again. “You should go
out…have some fun too, Mom.”
    She smiles. “Don’t worry
about me, Sonia. When I’m ready to, I will.”
    Maybe I haven’t been
sensitive enough to her needs since my dad passed away. We never
really speak about his death and the pain it has caused, we have
only talked about the good memories we shared when he was alive. I
really want to speak to her about the pain and how to get over it
before it turns into a wound that can never be healed.
    “ Go, or you’ll be late,”
she says, waving her hand.
    I smile, wave back, and
pull out of the driveway.
     
    * * *
     
    “ Well that was a complete
waste of money,” Ashley says, as we stroll out of the theatre with
the others. The auditorium was only about ten percent filled, and
that should have been a clear sign that this movie would be a
dud.
    “ Agreed,” I say, turning my
phone back on. A text message pops up on my screen:
     
    Sorry about leaving so
abruptly today, but I needed to take care of something important.
Hope you’ll still weed with me on Monday. Anthony.
     
    My heart pauses for half a
heartbeat, but though I appreciate the apology, I’m still angry
with him. Can one feel angry and intrigued at the same
time?
    “ What?” Ashley asks,
peeking over to read the text. “Who’s Anthony?”
    “ He’s the guy I weed with,”
I say. “I mean, you know last week when I told you I was