Page 21 of Sleepless Nights and Hockey Fights

@singlemomcatlady: Well, let’s see. We like it when you remember things we tell you, no matter how small or inconsequential they may seem. Oh, and good manners still go a long way.

@PitterPatterLetsGetAtHer: Already ahead of you on the manners thing. My mom raised us the old-fashioned way.

@singlemomcatlady: That’s sweet. Unless, of course, you mean the *really* old-fashioned way.

@PitterPatterLetsGetAtHer: Let’s just say that anytime I got a tap to the back of the head, I more than deserved it.

@singlemomcatlady: A wild child, huh?

@PitterPatterLetsGetAtHer: Hey, I’m working on it. Remember the therapist? She said I’m not even close to the worst she’s ever seen.

@singlemomcatlady: LOL. Thank god for mental healthcare.

@PitterPatterLetsGetAtHer: Not that I’m a deviant or anything. Don’t want you to get the wrong idea. It’s just time to work on myself, better myself so I can be at my best for the people in my life, you know?

I find myself nodding.

@singlemomcatlady: Yeah. That’s really great.

@PitterPatterLetsGetAtHer: Oops. Gotta run.

@singlemomcatlady: Your boss hunt you down?

@PitterPatterLetsGetAtHer: Something like that. Talk later.

I set the phone down and pack up my things, suddenly ready to take on the rest of the day. I’m even able to successfully ignore both Jason and Maude until they leave to meet clients.

P.J. brings me my Kia keys an hour later, saying a mechanic dropped them off and my car is out back. I dread seeing the total on that bill. Thankfully, I won’t need to pay it until Bobby buys a house.

My phone rings in the late afternoon, and I answer without checking the number. I curse myself when it turns out to be my dentist’s office reminding me that I’m late on this month’s installment for the crown I had to get a few months back. Those things are damn expensive for a little piece of porcelain, and my dental insurance through Farnsworth only covered a small portion of the bill.

I’ve been trying to pay it off, along with all my other bills, but things have been tight. Thus the reason my car never made it to the shop until Bobby interfered—something I can’t think about right now. I take a mental inventory of my checking account and credit card balance and promise the woman on the line that I’ll get the payment in this week.

Looks like the dishwasher repairs will be pushed off indefinitely.

I know my commission on Bobby’s contract might be bigger than all my previous commissions combined, but I don’t feel exactly right about it. It was Coco’s contract, not mine. And, although I may not love Jason or Maude, I can admit I’dprobably be unhappy with the situation too, had our roles been reversed.

I honestly don’t know why he insisted on having me as his agent. Coco’s reasons are clear–and delusional. Bobby’s? Not so clear. I mean, he’s obviously a flirt and enjoys making me blush. Maybe it’s a narcissism thing?

No. I don’t think narcissists fix your car or give you rides to work or open doors for you. Dammit! I can’t think about this right now.

My phone rings again, and I start to think God is playing with me when I see it’s Matty’s school.

“Hello. Is this Ms. Sparks, Matthew’s mother?”

“Yes. Is everything okay?” I check my watch and see that it’s four-thirty. School ended an hour ago, and Matty should be home already.

“This is Mr. Finley, the vice principal.”

Shit. I drop my forehead into my hand. “Hello, Mr. Finley.”

“I’m afraid we had another incident today with Matthew, and he has been suspended for two days. It will be an in-school suspension starting tomorrow, and he will be unable to make up missed work for those days.”

Dammit! Matty’s grades aren’t bad, but this won’t help.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Finley. I’ve been trying to talk with him and get him into counseling. What exactly happened today?”

“There was an argument with another student, and one of the teachers witnessed Matthew pushing the other child into a locker with a good deal of force.”

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