Jack

Saturday

My hands shook with sweat as I sneaked onto Aly's doorway. The wind howled and ran through my hair as I stopped short, right at Aly's door. I lifted my hand up and slowly, started knocking, very quietly, so very quietly that you could hear a pin drop.

When no one answered, I sighed hopelessly and was about to turn back when the door opened. Aly was standing there, her blue hair up in pink curlers and a black mesh tie around her neck. She was wearing a David Bowie T-shirt and pink plaid pajama shorts that ended four inches above her knees.

"You're a little early," Aly said, beckoning me to come in. I stepped in and sat down on the chair next to the doorway to remove my shoes.

"Aly! Is your friend here early?" A woman's voice called. Mrs. Black came out, dressed in a black dress that ended below her knees and a black jacket.

"Yes," Aly called out. Her dad came out and stood beside her mom, dressed in a gray dress suit.

"Your friend's a boy?" Mr. Black paced toward me, examining me from head to toe in my acid washed jeans and AC/DC T-shirt, and a long stubble of hair growing from having a skater hairstyle. "You're not dating him, are you?"

"Dear, you don't need to worry if she is," Mrs. Black smiled at me. "I'm sure our daughter's made a good choice if she is, just like Josh did with Ashley. You didn't freak out over him, so why over her? She is very mature."

"Yes," Mr. Black said, keeping his stern gaze fixated on me, "but Josh is twenty, and Aly's thirteen. That's a big age difference."

"Don't worry," Mrs. Black smiled at me, as she walked toward her husband and took his hand. "I'm sure we can trust Jack with Aly."

"How much do you like me? Out of five." Aly said, the flashlight beaming in her face. We were in her bedroom, underneath her blanket with the lights switched out. My face was feeling extremely hot underneath the woollen cover.

"Five," I said, trying not to wipe the sweat off my brow.

"Good." Aly smiled at me, the light illuminating her face even more. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Now what?"

She expected me to make the next move on her. My heart was pounding so hard that I felt like it would burst out of my chest. "A kiss?" Hey, that's what most couples do with each other.

"Okay," Aly said, he facial expression looking a bit different. "You don't have to go for the lips, you know. Anywhere on the face is good."

I took a really deep breath and pressed my lips on her cheek, then pulled away. Then I pressed toward her lips with all of the force I could possibly muster. I took them away, gasping for air in synchronization with Aly.

"Well, well, well. That wasn't bad for a first kiss, now was it?" Aly smiled, her face red.

I returned her smile. "I guess."

October 1st

"Dad," I said, keeping the phone to my ear. "Mom keeps taking all these painkillers, and she takes three or four of them at a time. Aly says she really shouldn't be doing that, so I should try and help her, but I don't know how. Can you come over?"

I heard a heavy breath get drawn at the other end. "Really, son, you need to man up. I'm not helping you this time."

"What?"

"It's not my problem, and I've helped you way too many times with your petty problems. I got you your books, I got you your haircut, and a whole lot of other stuff. Quit acting entitled about it and help yourself."

Then he hung up, leaving me speechless while the sound of my mother swallowing more painkillers was deafening.