The Basement - 11
Calvin could feel it the entire ride home. His parents could see it. It filled the car with its presence. Valerie Freedman could tell instantly, even without tapping into his thoughts. It was written all over his face in that silly little grin he tried to hide but couldn't. He wore it with equal portions pride and embarrassment, at times wanting to let it fade but holding onto it as long as he could as they made their way home. The ride took about twenty minutes, depending on traffic, through stereotypical suburban America neighborhoods. A small bistro or bookstore dotted the residential landscape here and there; hidden gems that Calvin and his friends liked to walk or ride to on a nice weekend day for a cup of coffee, tea, or to browse for a new book or comic for their collections. It all passed quickly for him, though, as he was still focused on that last interaction with the girl of his dreams, Eva. He did, however, notice the small strip mall a few blocks from his house, signaling an end to their trip. In a few short blocks they'd be home again, home again.
Bruce Freedman parked the car in the driveway and they all piled out, various papers, pieces of mail, and bags in hand. Calvin floated across the lawn and to the front door, nearly tripping up the porch steps as he did so. His mom bit back a snicker, as she didn't want to end her son's brief vacation from reality too soon. She was savoring it almost as much as he was, as she'd never seen her son acting so straight up goofy before. She watched him wander aimlessly between the front entryway, the living room, out through the hallway to the kitchen and then back, all while still clutching his backpack. He seemed to realize this fact himself, and went to deposit his bag on the hooks hanging near the front door. He missed and the bag dropped to the ground, spilling the contents of the front pouch that he hadn't notice he had left unzipped. He bent down and began to collect his belonging and place them back into the pocket of the bag.
Valerie couldn't stand it anymore. "So, Cal, did something happen at school today?" she called from the kitchen. A redundant question, but a necessary one at this point. She was seated at the kitchen table, going through the mail she had brought in. He looked up at her, the beaming smile reduced to a slight smirk at this point.
"I have a date to the dance, Mom," Calvin said, feelings his cheeks flush for the second time that day.
"Oh wow, sweetie, that's great!" she said. "Who's the lucky girl?" Like she didn't know already. Any time Calvin was talking to his friends the conversation inevitably ended up passing through that territory, and the name Eva had come up many, many times. Still, she wanted to hear it directly from her son.
Calvin finished picking up his random assortment of school supplies and hung his backpack on the hook, properly this time. "Her name is Eva. She's in my magic class."
"I'm happy for you, Cal," Valerie said. She smiled at her son. "Do you know if Richie and Kate are going? Have they found dates yet? You know I'd feel a lot better if they were with you, too."
"I'm sure they'll go, Mom, but I'll check and let you know."
"Good, thank you," Valerie replied. She paused for a moment. "Wait, Calvin. Do you have anything to wear to the dance?" This was Calvin's first dance, and he wasn't known to dress up for anything else. He'd never really had a reason to. Even when he or his parents had parties or gatherings at their house he never felt the need to wear anything other than his usual, daily clothes. In truth, Valerie and Bruce had talked about it days ago, and had a plan ready.
Bruce piped up from the front room, where he was lounging on the couch and flipping through channels on the TV. He had the day off today, and looked to be enjoying it. "We can head to a few stores this weekend and find you something. Maybe grab some lunch on the way. Sound good?"
"Yeah, that sounds great, Dad. Thanks!" He made his way into the front room and flopped down on the recliner next to the couch. Valerie would often sit in that same chair and read, one of her favorite pastimes. When Calvin was little she would sit him in her lap and read him wondrous stories about faraway lands filled with swashbuckling heroes, maniacal villains, and every kind of creature imaginable. Calvin loved these stories, and the more fantastic they were, the better. As he'd grown he began to read her his own stories, first made up ones from the scribbles on his drawing pad and then actual stories from his own books. Until one day the reading stopped, as Calvin had outgrown it and was able to read on his own, even the bigger books with the bigger words. He still harbored his love for fantastic stories, though.
Valerie called from the kitchen a few moments later. "Calvin, would you mind helping me with some dinner prep? You know how much I hate handling meat."
"Sure thing, Mom," Calvin answered as he pried himself from the comfort of the chair and walked his way into the kitchen. His smirk had finally completely dissipated.
"Thanks, sweetie. I'll be right back. Can you get started on the chicken." She handed him a bag of chicken breasts. The cutting board and knife were already on the counter. "I need them cubed. Do be careful. I'll be right back." She removed her apron and tossed it over the back of her dining chair.
"I'm always careful, Mom. Haven't cut myself yet!"
"There's a first time for everything, boy," she said as she disappeared around the corner and into the hallway. She made her way to the powder room. Pictures of their family lined the opposite wall. She opened the door, but before entering she turned around and adjusted a picture across the hall. It was a picture of the three of them years ago at Yellowstone National Park.
Bruce Freedman parked the car in the driveway and they all piled out, various papers, pieces of mail, and bags in hand. Calvin floated across the lawn and to the front door, nearly tripping up the porch steps as he did so. His mom bit back a snicker, as she didn't want to end her son's brief vacation from reality too soon. She was savoring it almost as much as he was, as she'd never seen her son acting so straight up goofy before. She watched him wander aimlessly between the front entryway, the living room, out through the hallway to the kitchen and then back, all while still clutching his backpack. He seemed to realize this fact himself, and went to deposit his bag on the hooks hanging near the front door. He missed and the bag dropped to the ground, spilling the contents of the front pouch that he hadn't notice he had left unzipped. He bent down and began to collect his belonging and place them back into the pocket of the bag.
Valerie couldn't stand it anymore. "So, Cal, did something happen at school today?" she called from the kitchen. A redundant question, but a necessary one at this point. She was seated at the kitchen table, going through the mail she had brought in. He looked up at her, the beaming smile reduced to a slight smirk at this point.
"I have a date to the dance, Mom," Calvin said, feelings his cheeks flush for the second time that day.
"Oh wow, sweetie, that's great!" she said. "Who's the lucky girl?" Like she didn't know already. Any time Calvin was talking to his friends the conversation inevitably ended up passing through that territory, and the name Eva had come up many, many times. Still, she wanted to hear it directly from her son.
Calvin finished picking up his random assortment of school supplies and hung his backpack on the hook, properly this time. "Her name is Eva. She's in my magic class."
"I'm happy for you, Cal," Valerie said. She smiled at her son. "Do you know if Richie and Kate are going? Have they found dates yet? You know I'd feel a lot better if they were with you, too."
"I'm sure they'll go, Mom, but I'll check and let you know."
"Good, thank you," Valerie replied. She paused for a moment. "Wait, Calvin. Do you have anything to wear to the dance?" This was Calvin's first dance, and he wasn't known to dress up for anything else. He'd never really had a reason to. Even when he or his parents had parties or gatherings at their house he never felt the need to wear anything other than his usual, daily clothes. In truth, Valerie and Bruce had talked about it days ago, and had a plan ready.
Bruce piped up from the front room, where he was lounging on the couch and flipping through channels on the TV. He had the day off today, and looked to be enjoying it. "We can head to a few stores this weekend and find you something. Maybe grab some lunch on the way. Sound good?"
"Yeah, that sounds great, Dad. Thanks!" He made his way into the front room and flopped down on the recliner next to the couch. Valerie would often sit in that same chair and read, one of her favorite pastimes. When Calvin was little she would sit him in her lap and read him wondrous stories about faraway lands filled with swashbuckling heroes, maniacal villains, and every kind of creature imaginable. Calvin loved these stories, and the more fantastic they were, the better. As he'd grown he began to read her his own stories, first made up ones from the scribbles on his drawing pad and then actual stories from his own books. Until one day the reading stopped, as Calvin had outgrown it and was able to read on his own, even the bigger books with the bigger words. He still harbored his love for fantastic stories, though.
Valerie called from the kitchen a few moments later. "Calvin, would you mind helping me with some dinner prep? You know how much I hate handling meat."
"Sure thing, Mom," Calvin answered as he pried himself from the comfort of the chair and walked his way into the kitchen. His smirk had finally completely dissipated.
"Thanks, sweetie. I'll be right back. Can you get started on the chicken." She handed him a bag of chicken breasts. The cutting board and knife were already on the counter. "I need them cubed. Do be careful. I'll be right back." She removed her apron and tossed it over the back of her dining chair.
"I'm always careful, Mom. Haven't cut myself yet!"
"There's a first time for everything, boy," she said as she disappeared around the corner and into the hallway. She made her way to the powder room. Pictures of their family lined the opposite wall. She opened the door, but before entering she turned around and adjusted a picture across the hall. It was a picture of the three of them years ago at Yellowstone National Park.
Comments
Post a Comment