Chapter 4 – …You Better Shop Around
Murphy slowly opened her tired eyes and looked at the clock. It read five a.m. Four hours of sleep were hardly enough, not by a long shot. Usually, as soon as she heard the radio blare she would turn over and hit the snooze button about five times, but today she didn't. The song on the radio was to her a gift from the gods and it would be to her benefit to listen. Smokey was so right.
As she let the song play, Murphy dragged herself out of bed and went straight for the mirror. She took a long, hard look while reaching for the nearest brush. As she let the soft bristles flow through her blonde locks her eyes drifted down. Past her forehead, past her eyes – although not without lingering for a moment, straight to her mouth they landed. The lines were the focus of todays attention. Although she didn't like them, they came with age and she was sixty-three years old now, nearly sixty-four.
Murphy grabbed her robe off the bedpost and put it on as she made her way downstairs to make some coffee. She would be relying heavily on it to help her get through this day. As soon as she hit the last step on the stairs she smelled something strange. Good, but strange. When she heard the clank of pots and pans she darted straight for the kitchen. When she got there to her surprise she saw Avery.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Murphy asked while she tied her robe tight.
"Good morning to you too." Avery looked like he had been up for hours. Neatly dressed in his nice blue dress shirt and kaki pants.
"Good morning. What are you doing Avery!?"
"I'm making us breakfast."
"Us?"
"You, Me and Lisa - us."
"Oh. When did you learn how to cook? Because God knows the only thing I taught you to do in that department was how to dial 911."
"Lisa taught me. She's a great cook."
"Of course she is. And where is Lisa this fine morning?" Murphy stretched and yawned at the same time.
"She's usually a late sleeper."
"A late sleeper, huh?" Murphy paused. "How would you know?"
"Here's some coffee, Mother. Nice and hot." With a bang, Avery placed a black FYI coffee mug down in front of Murphy. "You still take it with cream and sugar, right?"
"Yes. Thanks."
"Breakfast will be ready soon."
An uncomfortable silence lingered as Murphy sat there sipping her coffee, wondering if Avery would ever answer her question. Avery, on the other hand, was hoping Murphy would just drop it.
"So..."
"Yes..."
"What are the plans for your graduation?"
"I was thinking we could leave tomorrow. Graduation is Saturday at noon. Lisa has offered her place for you to stay. She lives in a sorority, is that okay with you?" He knew it wasn't, but any excuse to talk up Lisa should always be taken advantage of.
They knew each other all too well. Murphy had no intention of staying in a sorority house with a bunch of screaming college girls who stayed up all hours of the night giving each other facials and watching All the Right Moves just for a chance to see Tom Cruise's you know what. Being in a sorority was on her anti-bucket list, but since Avery still hadn't answered her question she decided to play along. "And where will Lisa stay?"
"Does this bother you?"
"Bother me? I don't know what you're talking about. Bother me."
"Me and Lisa?"
"Lisa and I."
"I just get the impression that we, as a couple, bother you."
"Are you sleeping with her?"
"Like Bobby Brown said, "It's my prerogative," Avery retorted.
"Is he related to us?"
"All done." Avery laid a plate of eggs and French toast down in front of Murphy. "Doesn't it smell good, Mother?"
"Yes it does. Actually it smells very good...but you're not going to get out of this one!"
"I really think you should get to know Lisa before you make any judgment calls."
"Answer the question Avery!"
"Hey, I have an idea. Why don't you take Lisa with you to the office today? It would make her day and you could get to know her at the same time."
"Take a good look at my face, Avery Brown. What do you think I'm going to say?"
"Why?"
"Because I have a lot of work to do today. I have my story to work on and I have to teach the new twerp how to count to three and I have to approve everyone else's stories. Busy, busy, busy."
"She won't be in the way and maybe she can help you with some of that stuff."
"Absolutely…" Murphy gulped her coffee. "…not."
Avery sat down in the chair next to Murphy's. "Mom, I'm going to be honest here..."
"This is good coffee, Avery." Murphy interrupted.
"We're pretty serious."
"I mean it. This is damn good coffee! Maybe the best I've ever tasted."
"It's Lisa's special blend." Avery leaned his head against his hand, letting out a sigh as he did. "Did you hear me?"
Murphy looked into Avery's eyes and as much as she didn't want to see it, she saw honesty. "Serious, huh?" She took a bite of her eggs and shook her head signaling they were good too. "Just for today, Avery. That's it."
"Good. Thanks Mom."
"And she better stay out of my way." Murphy shoveled the last of the food into her mouth. "How about you? Everyone wants to see you."
"Can't. I have stuff to do. Oh and that reminds me could you ask everyone over for dinner tonight? Lisa will whip up one of her yummy meals. Also, can I borrow the car?"
"What!? This is too much Avery!"
"She mentioned something to me last night and wanted me to ask you. She likes throwing dinner parties. So can you do it? Thanks Mom." Before she could say anything, Avery leaned over and kissed her on the forehead, then returned to the stove.
"I guess so."
