Tommy understood why his dad would be wary, his mother had been looking forward to this party for 3 months and now she wouldn’t be able to go. He could already see her face turning into a thunderhead and he thought it best if he left the married couple to it.
He turned gently towards the kitchen door and slowly began to move towards it, trying not to catch anyone’s attention when all those hopes were dashed by what his father said next.
“Tommy could go with you instead. He isn’t doing anything and he was told to go and have fun.” His dad said hurriedly
Tommy froze on the spot and turned around to say something to stop him being involved when his mom spoke first, and he knew better than to interrupt a woman who wasn’t happy.
“Tommy can go? And drink alcohol? Carl, he’s only 18!” She said, her voice dangerously calm. Tommy knew the next step was shouting. He had to run, he thought to himself, but he couldn’t move as his dad shot down his mother’s points.
“So? I was drinking when I was 18, and so were you Leah. Anyway, one night of being pissed won’t hurt the boy. And so what if he’s only 18 anyway.” Tommy’s dad said
“So what? They wouldn’t let him in anyway, he’s underage Carl!” His mom said still not seeming to be calm. Tommy was however surprised that she hadn’t lost her temper yet though.
“They will, just give him my costume and no one will recognize him. They’ll probably think it was me.” His dad retorted and then visibly relaxed, knowing now that he had beaten down his wife’s points. “Now that would be funny, if they thought he was me. They’d all be wondering how I had managed to party as well as make a deal.” His father said and chuckled to himself.
Tommy was still standing halfway to the kitchen door, but he watched his mother sigh and take a big swig of her orange juice.
“He wouldn’t want to go anyway. He wouldn’t want to spend time with his mom at some party for old people.” His mother said to his father.
Tommy didn’t know what to say. She was right, he didn’t want to spend a night drinking with his dad’s bosses and workmates, but his mother really wanted to go. Ah, if only he could have gotten away before his dad mentioned him. But what could he do!
“Hey mom, I don’t mind going if you still want to go.” He said, and when she looked at him doubtfully he said, “Honest! I got nothing better to do anyway.”
“Look honey you don’t have to ok.” His mother said as she turned around and placed the empty glass on the counter behind her
“Honestly mom, I don’t mind. Ok?” Tommy said, trying to reassure her as best he could that he really wanted to go.
“Well, only if you’re sure Tommy?” She said, half relieved and half disappointed
“I’m sure.” He said and a big smile lit up her face and she walked over and gave him a big hug, then she turned to walk out of the kitchen so she could go and get ready. Great, now he was stuck with a night out with his mom. What a great and fun night this was going to be. Things didn’t get any better when his dad gave him the costume he would be wearing.