Chapter 3: Two
My dad was eating breakfast with me on my first day back to school. While mom was on the cordless phone walking back and forth in front of where she usually sat. She only paced back and forth on the phone when speaking with Gramma Adair, dad's mom.
She combed one hand through her perfectly coiffed copper waves as she said, "Uh-huh...uh-huh, I see what you mean, but Poppy now's not a great time to travel. I know the summer rates are gone which leaves room for cheap winter rates but your grandson won't have much time to spend with you so...WHY?! Because Poppy, it's his first day back to school that's why!"
Dad raised his eyebrow at mom as he patiently held out his hand waiting for the phone. She sighed and said, "Poppy, Richard would like to speak with you. Hold on."
As dad grabbed the phone and said, "Hello ma," my mom pulled out her chair and took a deep breath.
"Gramma's coming?" I ask her as I'm finishing up my breakfast. Dad set his utensils down as it became his turn to talk.
"Depends if your dad can talk her down from it or not," said mom as she started eating the complete breakfast our maid Demi made for us. I was finishing up my breakfast as I heard dad talk.
"Ma, I understand you're worried about Kitrick and would like to check up on him because of a bad feeling you have. You're a great Gramma, and I'm sure Kitrick would love to video chat with you after school." Dad gave me a look that said 'its not up for negotiation'. "Mmm-hmm? Well, why don't you stop by Arizona for Christmas? You'd still be able to take advantage of those cheap winter rates then and Kitrick would be out of school during winter break."
Great, so that's how I'm spending winter break. With my Gramma!
"Okay? Alright ma, I'll see you at Christmas. Let us know when you're coming so we can get a room set up for you ahead of time. Mmm-hmm....okay, bye now." After my dad ended the call he placed the handheld on the table and continued to eat.
"Good job, shoog," said my mom.
"You're welcome," replied dad between chews.
I was back to really looking at my dad. He never eats breakfast with mom and I. Only because by the time mom and I are up, dad has already left for work.
When I was a kid I didn't know what to call his profession. I remember during one embarrassing show and tell portion of first grade when we had to bring something from our parents jobs. I said aloud, "My dad is a type of gator called a litigator." I only brought one of my dad's blazers which I wore...the Blazer was so big on me back then that it looked more like a trench coat.
Of course, my dad was a litigator back then. Then, he started his own practice as an attorney when I was in middle school where he's both a lawyer and litigator. Since middle school, I barely see him.
However, even though my first act of public speaking in first grade left much to be desired that's where it all started. After that I wanted to speak in public and say my opinions openly for the right things. I wanted to litigate as well as represent. Kat was there for all of it. Every argument, counter argument, and compromise reached in Principal Batans office was assisted by her. I was the debater and she was the soother, always helping me at the very worst get detention instead of suspension. Trust me when I say Kat and I both did some suspension worthy things back then...of course, SHE never got caught.
When I asked her one time in fifth grade how she just disappears out of thin air, she only shrugged and said one word. "Survival." She didn't elaborate as to what sort of survival she meant. We never spoke about how we really live when we weren't at school.
Even though Kat regards me as her best friend, I've never ever seen her home. Or met her mom, a woman Kat speaks very fondly of.
Kat even met my dad once when he arrived at our school when I pummeled John Mercer in third grade. Dad told me that day that if I want to be an attorney then I need to learn to use my words instead of my fists. She ran up to my dad and tugged on his blazer.
In her most heartfelt plea she said to my dad, "Mr. Adair, please don't be mad at Kit! He was only mad because John Mercer called my mama and I wetbacks!"
My dad glanced at Kat before saying to me, "I'm not mad. Just very disappointed." Which is the parental word for mad.
That was the only time Kat ever met anybody from my family. Maybe I should invite her to my home. If I invite her to my home, then she might be encouraged to invite me to her home.
I left my home without saying goodbye to mom and dad because last I heard, they were at the table arguing about Gramma's impending visit...more like, ma's impending doom. Then again, Poppy Adair hates all of her daughters in law equally.
As the bus rolled out to my home, I jogged down the winding driveway to approach it. The bus doors creaked open and when I looked to my left, there was Kat at the back of the bus, waving to me.
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