Page 51 of My Rules for Revenge
My mother is still banned from that bar. Her name is Sheri Boruta, and she has a bounty picture that’s put up in that very establishment. She was proud of it. I wouldn’t be. In that picture, she has her creepy, toothless smile. She’ll never get them fixed.
She called me over to sit down with her. That was about the last thing I wanted to do. I was sweaty, hungry, and very angry at Luna Rivas. Despite this, I reluctantly complied. If I didn’t go over to her, I would’ve never heard the end of it.
“Hey, boo,” she said.
“Hi.”
“How was school?”
“It was fine.”
“How many months do you have left again?”
“A few,” I said.
“Sorry, I know I’ve asked, but I always forget.”
“You’ve never asked me.”
“Oh.”
“It’s fine. I graduate soon anyway,” I replied.
“Right, right. So, you’re going to college around here, right? There’s Central Gate Community College, there’s that technical school down by the lake, and there are a few others,” she explained.
“Mom, we’ve already discussed this,” I said with irritation in my voice.
She pouted her lips and angrily clenched her jaw.
“Don’t talk to me like that. I’m not some piece of trash on the street. I’m your mother. I’m not your father. That cheating mother…,” she trailed off.
“I know, Mom. I didn’t mean to say it like that,” I said apologetically.
“It’s okay, it’s fine. I get a little stressed when you talk about college because you make me feel like you’re leaving,” she added.
“Well, I would like to go to Bright Rock, like I’ve said before. It’s an Ivy League school, and I’m practically already in. I’ve been emailing the admissions team. It’s going pretty well. They want students who are focused on computer science and engineering, like me,” I explained.
“Yeah, but you don’t care about all that. All those computers and typing on a keyboard for eight hours a day are going to be so boring for you. You need to be active with your hands. Maybe you can do welding or construction. Those jobs pay well, and you get to move around. You’re not stuck at a desk all day. That will make you suicidal, and my son isn’t going to be a depressed little slave working for those big tech companies,” she replied.
I stayed quiet and pretended to watch the nonsense she was watching on TV. I talked about going to Bright Rock before. It seemed to be the only thing we talked about. She was hellbent on making me stay with her in Brightwood Lake. My father had cheated on her and left us both, but that was a long time ago. Shestill hadn’t moved on, but I was ready to. There was nothing left for me at Brightwood except my best friends. They planned to go to faraway universities as well, anyway.
I sighed and tried to stay calm.
“You’re probably right. I’m not entirely sure if I’ll get in anyway. They might be stringing me along,” I remarked.
“Are you kidding me? They’re a huge university. They’re definitely full of it. They only wanna get those rich white kids or those Chinese math geniuses,” she said.
“Yeah.”
“You’re a good kid. I know you won’t abandon me like your dirtbag dad did. I know I’d never abandon you. I’m the good parent. I’m the one who never left and who’ll never leave,” she said as she slapped my cheek.
“I know.” I nodded.
“Don’t you ever forget that.”
“I’m going to my room,” I said.
“Okay, sweetie. Go ahead; I know you’re tired from school. How was the walk, by the way?” she asked.
