Chapter 4
When Cory got home that afternoon, another message from his mother was posted on the refrigerator. As usual, it was brief. She would be home around eight o'clock. Dinner with Allen. At least she admitted it this time, he thought.
Pot pies in the freezer and salad in the fridge. Love you, Mom.
Cory made a sandwich and flicked on the television, trying to forget the note. He felt his anger, as always, just below the surface. He sat on the floor, the couch a backrest, while an afternoon cartoon played across the screen. The cartoon failed to capture his attention, so Cory's eyes wandered to the bookshelves on each side of the television. Leaning against the books precariously were frames with family pictures. A good shake, like an earthquake, and they’d all come tumbling down. Just like his family had when Dad suddenly announced he was leaving Mom for another woman. Just like an earthquake, the family rocked apart. Dad still in Utah, and he and Mom here.
One of the pictures was from happier times. It was on a trip to Sunset Crater in northern Arizona. Cody was standing with his father, a posed shot. They were at the foot of the cinder mound, both smiling. Not that long ago, he thought ruefully. Familiar, older feelings washed over him from that time when life was as it was supposed to be. Then, that last morning with his dad crowded into his memory. It was early morning. Cory was taking out the garbage. His dad came out of the house, walking quickly, gave Cory an awkward hug, climbed into his car, and drove away. Cory just stood there, holding the black plastic garbage bag in one hand, and watched his car disappear down the road.
“Why that other woman, Dad?” he groaned to the silent space in front of him. Cory had asked that question a thousand times, but never to his father’s face. He was never given the chance. He left without explanation. And there it was again, that feeling of emptiness and, yes, even loneliness. Cory forced his eyes to focus back on the television.
Just then, the doorbell rang, snapping Cory to the present. He jumped up and walked quickly to the door. Opening it before looking first through the peephole, he decided he didn’t care who was there. Let them get me, he thought.
“Hey man! Whatcha doin’?”
It was Gene.
“Nothing,” answered Cory, opening the screen door to let him in. Gene seemed all happy and carefree, and Cory suddenly found he wished he had Gene’s life instead of his own. Gene never seemed to worry much.
“What you watchin’ TV for?” Gene called loudly, standing in front of the set. A commercial was on about some drug and all its side effects. Gene stared at the screen. After closing the front door, Cory walked up and stood next to him.
“Yeah, right,” Gene snorted. “The side effects of that drug are enough to kill ya!”
“I suppose,” mumbled Cory, not caring one way or the other. “Hey! Let’s get out of here. Go to your house."
Gene pulled his eyes from the screen and looked dubiously at Cory.
“Why my house?” he said. “You never want to go there.”
Cory moved to the kitchen to set his soda in the fridge. “More reason to go!” he said. “This place rots right now.” He came back into the living room and switched off the TV. How could he say that he wanted to see what a normal family was like? “You can show me that goalkeeper stuff.”
Gene’s eyes lit up. “Hey, man. Okay. It’s on my flash drive, but we can watch it on the large monitor in my room.”
Both boys rushed out the garage door. Cory suddenly stopped.
“Wait!” he called, running back inside to the front door and locking it, back through the kitchen and into the garage again, all in less than a minute. He was just about to push the garage door button to lower it when he remembered he should leave a note. He felt the anger return.
“Aw, hell with it!” Pushing the button, he scooted under the dropping door, deftly stepping over the safety beam that stops the door. “Let’s go!”
He picked up his bike, ran next to it for a few steps, then threw a leg over and landed on the seat. Wobbling precariously as he coasted out of the driveway, he fitted his feet into the pedals and chased Gene. Gene was already turning onto Longview. The two boys raced down the road, the garage door creaking shut behind them.