Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter fifty-five of "Don't Run Away." I'm glad it took just a week to get out. This chapter feature the first appearance of Tommy and Kim's mothers. Since I did a chapter showing them talking with their fathers, I felt it was appropriate for them to do the same with their mothers. Their third secret meeting will be in the next one. A smutty scene involving them may be in it or the one after it. Stay tuned for chapter fifty-six.
XXXXX
Chapter 55: Teens and Their Mothers Conversing
The midevening moon shined down on the Oliver residence. A gentle wind went through the trees, causing their leaves to rustle. Tommy was reading The Neverending Story while sitting on his bed in his room. He finished reading one page and turned to the next one. Knocking caught his attention, and he looked toward the door.
"Come in," he called.
The door opened, revealing forty-three-year-old Kerri. She was Caucasian and was rather tall for a woman. Her lean frame had some muscle to it. Her brown hair was long and straight with the exception of curls at the end. Her eyebrows were so thin that they appeared to be invisible. Her brown eyes had bags underneath them. Her face had some wrinkles, including laugh lines. Tommy smiled at her as she approached the bed.
"Hey, Mom," Tommy greeted.
"Hey yourself, son," Kerri said, sitting down on the bed. She looked at the front of the book. She turned to him. "Reading The Neverending Story, huh?"
"Yep," Tommy said, nodding fast. "I remember when we saw it for the first time on TV. I loved it so much that I had to get the book. I was amazed at how much the book and movie differed from each other."
"The first movie was based only on the first half of the book. The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter was based on the second half," Kerri explained.
"The sequel was okay. It just didn't have the magic the first movie had," Tommy said, giving a shrug.
"Not all movie adaptions of books are good," Kerri said matter-of-factly. "Nor are all historical films accurate."
"That is the truth," Tommy agreed.
"I don't mind it when liberties are taken with movie adaptions of books, but I like for it to be as close to the source material as possible," Kerri admitted.
"The movie adaption of Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn is a perfect example. It is very close to the book," Tommy explained.
"The movie was amazing, but the book is better," Kerri responded.
"Kim mentioned that Bulk and Skull kept talking when she, Jason, Billy, Trini, and Zack went to see Aladdin last year," Tommy commented. "It is so rude when people talk during a film in a theater."
"It reminds me of that guy who kept talking while we were trying to watch The Little Mermaid. You, your dad, and I moved to a different area, so we wouldn't have to deal with him," Kerri commented with a roll of her eyes. "He moved over to a couple that had two kids. He began annoying them with his talking. The father picked up his oldest child and allowed her to dump an entire tub of popcorn on his head. The family started laughing. So did nearby moviegoers. The guy was so embarrassed that he left the theater." She huffed. "I bet that taught him a lesson in theater manners."
"Maybe it did. Maybe it didn't," Tommy replied and tilted his head a bit. He blew, which caused her hair to go back. "Who knows?"
She grabbed a strand of his hair and twirled it around her finger. She couldn't help but giggle. She snorted softly.
"You look so cute with a mullet, son," she complimented.
"Thanks, Mom," he said sweetly. "My birth mom hated the idea of me having long hair. She would shave it all off before it got to that point. She thought it would make me look like a girl." He scoffed irritatingly. "Long hair doesn't make boys look like girls. Nor does short hair make girls look like boys."
Kerri laid her hand on his shoulder. "It's up to you with how you want your hair. If other people don't like it, don't pay attention to them. They have their opinions. You, your father, and I have ours."
"I've seen several girls stare at me with dreamy eyes since I started Angel Grove. I can tell they have crushes on me," Tommy suggested. He really wanted to tell those girls he already had a girlfriend. However, he wasn't about to reveal what he was doing to Rita. "In fact, many girls crushed on me at Moore High."
"Well, you are a very handsome boy. It's no wonder you attract girls," Kerri pointed out and pinched his cheek.
"Unfortunately, I know some girls only want in my pants," Tommy grumbled, his body becoming tense. "Just because I flirt with them doesn't mean I want to have sex with therm."
"Sex is a natural part of life. It should be reserved for that special someone," Kerri whispered in a firm voice. "Of course, it doesn't always work that way, especially when it comes to your first time."
Tommy sighed. "That's true."
Tommy pressed his lips together. He wanted to tell his mother he was in a relationship with Kim so badly. However, he wasn't about to betray his girlfriend's trust. He believed that Kerri would be shocked if he were to tell her they were mated for life. He had a feeling she wouldn't believe it as she had never heard of such a thing.
"I am astounded Rita attacked Angel Grove High just as the school day was ending," Kerri exclaimed.
"I am too. It caught everyone off-guard," Tommy admitted and cleared his throat. "I had never seen so many people run for their lives."
"What astounds me even more is you took on two monsters without being a Power Ranger," Kerri said in great awe. "You were very brave to do that."
"I had to do something before Dragontor hurt Rocky and Aisha badly," Tommy commented seriously. "They are my friends. I don't want anything to happen to them. The same goes for the rest of my friends."
"It's great you made four new friends today," Kerri answered in a warm voice. "Who would've thought one of them would be from Australia?"
"I didn't expect Kat to speak in an Australian accent when Jason, Trini, Billy, Kim, Zack, Rocky, Adam, and Aisha first met her," Tommy said, chuckling to himself. "She looked like she was from the United States."
"Looks can be deceiving," Kerri pointed out as she waved her finger in the air.
"Don't point that finger too high, Mom," Tommy warned playfully. "It might sprout wings and make you fly away."
"I hope they do," Kerri teased and pointed it at him. "You and your father can grab my ankles and go for a ride." She giggled. "Now, pull my finger."
"No," Tommy said while shaking his head fast.
"What's the matter, chicken?" Kerri taunted.
"Nobody calls me chicken," Tommy retorted in Marty's voice.
"Prove it," Kerri insisted in a low yet menacing voice. "Pull my finger."
He grabbed her finger and pulled on it hard. She made a loud farting sound. She laughed at his letting go of it.
"You see? That wasn't so hard," Kerri said delightfully.
"No, it wasn't," Tommy agreed and smiled. "I feel so lucky I was adopted by you and Dad at the age of eight. I could've been in the foster care system for a very long time." He frowned. "It's not very common for teens to be adopted. Most couples want very young children."
She shook her head in disbelief. "I feel bad for those teens who age out of the system. Many are good kids who just want to succeed in life. Unfortunately, the majority can't because they don't have high school diplomas. I think the age-out number should be raised to twenty-five. It would give foster kids a chance to get their high school diplomas and learn valuable job skills."
"It sure would," Tommy commented. "I have no idea what I want to do when I become an adult."
"You have all the time in the world to think about it," Kerri said and ruffled his hair. "In case I don't see you for the rest of tonight, I want to go on and tell you good night."
"Good night, Mom," Tommy murmured. "I love you."
"I love you too," Kerri said, winking at him. "I'll see you in the morning."
He chuckled. "Back at you."
Tommy watched his mother stand up and walk out of the room. He got up and approached the door to close it. He returned to his bed, sitting down. He resumed reading his book.
00000
At the Baxter residence, Kim was brushing her hair while standing in front of the rectangular-shaped mirror in the small hallway bathroom. She finished that and laid her brush on the counter near the sink. She turned on the water and stuck her hands under it. She got soap from the soap dispenser. She ran it over her hands three times before sticking them under the water to rinse it off.
Kim switched off the water. She saw an eyelash in the corner of her right eye. She used her pinkie to get it out. She flicked it into the trashcan. She pulled her hair behind her neck. She noticed the strap on her white sleeveless nightgown had fallen off her shoulder and placed it back on. She saw Caroline coming up beside her in the mirror. She smiled after looking at her.
"Look at you all ready for bed," Caroline said, a laugh leaving her mouth.
"Oh, yeah," Kim agreed and rubbed her hands together. "Because I use this bathroom the most, I should put a sign on the door that says, 'Kimberly's bathroom. Stay out or else.'" She stood tall and proud.
"It wouldn't scare me from using it," Caroline commented and tickled her daughter's chin.
"I should rig it to throw a pie in your face if you try to go in," Kim suggested while wiggling her eyebrows. "That would scare you from using it."
"No, it wouldn't," Caroline said with a fast shake of her head.
"Yes, it would," Kim said, nodding rapidly.
"No," Caroline blurted out.
"Yes," Kim retorted in playfulness. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!"
Caroline smacked Kim in the back of her head. Kim moved her hand in front of her face. She raised it high, jerking it downward. Caroline slapped her cheek. Kim rushed two fingers forward, only to be blocked by her mother putting her hand between her eyes sideways. Caroline pushed hers downward. They shared a hearty laugh.
"That Three Stooges routine never gets old," Kim commented happily.
"No arguing with that," Caroline agreed. "I can't believe Tommy's birth mother never let him watch The Three Stooges." She rolled her eyes. "Most kids have seen it by the time they are five years old."
Kim blew a raspberry. "If you ask me, she was a butthead."
"You got that right. She abused him for two years before she got tired of it and decided to abandon him," Caroline muttered angrily. "I say her abandoning was the best thing she ever did. It gave him a chance to find a real family. That's not to say what she did was right. She could've decided to kill him instead, but she didn't. She just left him in a Kroger parking lot."
"I can imagine Tommy being scared as he watched his mother drive away without looking back," Kim murmured, a tear falling from her eye.
Caroline sighed to herself. "Me too."
Kim ran her fingers through her hair. She moved her neck from one side to the next. This stretched her muscles there and in her shoulders. She emitted a contented sigh.
"I feel so lucky to have divorced parents who get along so well," Kim whispered in great relief.
"Parents who stay together for the sakes of the kids when they can't get along are doing a disservice to them," Caroline mumbled in disbelief. "Jason's father was right to divorce his mother. Unfortunately, it was a bitter divorce."
"I can imagine the furious look on Ms. Lockard's face when she learned she would have visitation only every other weekend. That's four days out of a whole month," Kim pointed out. "It serves her right for trying to control her ex-husband and son."
"If you ask me, Elisa is Jason's real mother. She sees him as her own son," Caroline said bluntly. "Michelle lost the right to call herself his mom."
"She really needs a kick to the butt," Kim responded and let out an angry scoff. "Better yet, she needs be paddled to the point that she can't sit down without wincing in pain. It is obvious her parents didn't spank her enough as a child."
"My parents did spank me, but it was only as a last resort or if I did something really bad. Your dad's parents were the same way. We never needed to spank you because you were a very well behaved child. You did have your bratty moments," Caroline said honestly.
"What child doesn't have bratty moments?" Kim wondered with a shrug. "It's part of growing up."
"No one is perfect. If everyone was perfect, the world would be a very boring place," Caroline grumbled and blew a raspberry.
"Exactly," Kim agreed. "Veronica thinks she is perfect and can do no wrong. Give me a break. She is the most imperfect person I have ever known." She clenched her teeth. "She calls everyone who isn't exactly like her a loser. She says I am the biggest loser of all because I hang out with non-rich kids."
"She's the real loser. Snobs like her wind up old and alone," Caroline growled, fierceness lining her voice.
"I wouldn't be surprised if she threw a temper tantrum because her parents wouldn't take her to an R-rated movie as a very young girl," Kim suggested. "I was fine with you and Dad leaving me with a babysitter when you two went to see The Terminator."
"You were six at the time. You can't blame us for wanting to shield you from graphic violence. That movie had it," Caroline explained. "You're now old enough to watch violent movies." She laid her hand on the girl's shoulder. "What we did was good parenting. Bad parenting is letting the child watch whatever they want and not caring if they act violent or say curse words."
Kim nodded in agreement. She ran her fingers along the rim of the sink as she inhaled deeply. She exhaled slowly and blew her bangs out of her eyes.
"You and your friends were lucky you didn't get hurt during the monster attack on the school," Caroline murmured, her voice filled with relief.
"I can't say I am surprised that Bulk and Skull ran away screaming like girls. They act very tough, but they are huge cowards when they are faced with real danger," Kim growled in much bluntness.
Caroline raised an eyebrow. "Skull has been after you since you two were young kids. He thinks if he pesters you for a date enough that you will say yes."
"It ain't happening," Kim said with a shake of her head. "No siree."
"Hey, you're not supposed to say ain't. It isn't a word," Caroline scolded in a playful voice.
"I will say ain't as much as I want," Kim commented, proudness radiating from her face. "Ain't, ain't, ain't."
"You're a weirdo," Caroline teased and made a funny noise.
Kim squeaked. "I know you are, but what am I?"
"Touché," Caroline said, ruffling her daughter's hair.
Kim cleared her throat. She stretched her arms above her head while letting out a long yawn. She felt her mother run her hand over hair after she put them at her sides.
"You're such a beautiful girl, Kim. It's no wonder boys have been crushing on you since junior high," Caroline said with a light laugh.
"Unfortunately, some boys only want in my pants. It can be hard to tell which ones are like that," Kim muttered in some uncertainty.
"Your first time is meant for someone special, but it doesn't always work out that way," Caroline muttered sadly.
Kim swallowed hard. She ached to tell her mother about her relationship with Tommy. At the same time, she didn't want to betray her boyfriend's trust. She knew Caroline would be shocked if she told her they were life mates. Then again, she didn't think her mother would believe her since she had never heard of that. She yawned widely.
"I need to go to the bathroom before I head to bed," Kim whispered seriously.
"All right," Caroline said, kissing her daughter's cheek. "Good night, Kim. I love you."
Kim smiled. "I love you too, Mom. Good night."
Caroline walked out of the bathroom. She heard the door close behind her with its hinges squeaking somewhat. She decided to go to the kitchen.
