Page 48 of The Art of Us

“C’mon. You have to. Alison’s coming. And you know I’d die for this girl to like me.”

“That involves me how?”

“She likes our band. I figured we could play a few songs and woo her with the music.”

Kal laughed. “Dude. You know I’m not taking you seriously now. Did you just say ‘woo’?”

“Woo is a word.” Cooper’s tone sounded belligerent, which made Kal laugh.

“A hundred years ago maybe.”

“Whatever. Will you come?”

“Fine, but I’m not staying long.”

“You are the GOAT. Thanks, Superman.”

“Uh-huh.”

He stopped home to let his parents know that he was going to Cooper’s and to grab his guitar, but when he walked in the door, his mom called from the kitchen, “Oh good. You’re home. Any chance you’d be willing to help your grandpa with an early dinner?”

“Why’d you bring him into this?” His grandpa’s voice came from the kitchen before Kal could respond.

“I need his help,” his mom answered.

“I can make my own dinner.”

“Donuts don’t count.”

Kal laughed. He’d actually had that same argument with his mom just that morning. He joined them in the kitchen.

His mom was looking in the fridge. “We don’t have any donuts anyway becausesomeoneate them all.” She glanced back in Kal’s direction.

“I was in a hurry this morning. I needed something that would be quick.”

“Should’ve blamed the dog,” his grandpa muttered.

His mom, who had never had an issue with hearing, said, “We don’t have a dog.”

Kal’s grandpa slumped down in the chair he was sitting on at the table. “Well, this is just embarrassing. I wonder whose dog I’ve been walking every morning.”

He tossed Kal a wink.

“Hey, Grandpop. How you doin’?” Kal pulled out some eggs. If he was cooking, they were having cheesy scrambled eggs.

His grandpa noted the eggs and gave him a thumbs-up. Kal enjoyed having his grandpa around. They had a lot in common. “Is it okay if I go to Cooper’s?” he asked his mom as he cracked an egg into the pan.

“As long as you’re home at a decent hour. School tomorrow,” his mom said.

“I will.”

Something crashed to the floor, and Kal jumped as he was splattered with liquid. His grandfather had dropped his glass on the floor.

His mom rushed to clean up the spill, but Kal beat her to it. “I’ve got it, Mom.”

His grandpa apologized over and over again. “I’m so embarrassed. I hate that my grippers just don’t grip as much anymore.” He flexed his fingers and frowned. They all knew whyhis hands weren’t working like they used to. He’d lost muscle mass due to forgetting to eat, or not eating the right kinds of food. He’d just stopped taking care of himself. It was why they’d moved to Arcata. They’d bought a bigger home to accommodate all of them living together comfortably under one roof.

“It’s just bodies doing what they do,” his mom said. “Nothing embarrassing about it.”

---