Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Fox Tales ❯ A Son Only a Mother Could Love ( Chapter 4 )

Fox Tales

 

Chapter 4

“A Son Only a Mother Could Love”

 

As the minivan pulled up to the parking lot gate, Todd was simply conked out. His occasional talking in his sleep would send a shock down his mother's spine because it would startle her while she was driving. The good news: Because it was 12:00 AM, parking was not an issue. The bad news: Waking Todd from his slumber, however, was.

 

“Todd, honey, wake up,” she whispered. Todd swatted her away, smacking her square in the nose in the process. Mom was persistent, though. She thought she'd try something she used to do when Todd was a three-year-old.

“Todd, G-E-T U-P,” (A/N: That spells “get up,” in case you were confused) she said, reaching another octave at the end, of course. That, however, did not work. Now, she tried something would give anyone nightmares. She whispered in Todd's ear, “President Hillary Clinton.” Todd immediately shot up screaming at the top of his lungs, then he realized he knocked his mother down in the process. I really need to start wearing a helmet for this, she thought.

“Mom? I'm sorry, but Hillary Clinton running the free world?” he said. The thought made him shudder. (A/N: Wouldn't anyone? LOL)

“Yeah, well, you could sleep through the end of the world, honey.”

To me, Hillary Clinton becoming President is the end of the world, he thought.

 

Both of them walked through the entrance to the airport when Todd smelled something familiar. He looked to his right, and sure enough, it was Huff. You could smell pot on him a mile away. Huff noticed Todd was looking at him, and gave him one of those `You didn't see nothing' looks. Todd just shook his head and decided not to ask questions. It didn't take long before Todd and Mom stopped in front of the big departures/arrivals board. Both of them scanned the board, and then Todd said, “C22.” His mom had a perplexed look on her face as she turned to look at him. “That's the gate. C22,” he explained.

“Well,” his mother said as she looked at her watch, “we still have an hour and a half. Let's check you in, and then we'll go get some coffee.” Todd nodded in agreement. Even though there was no line, it still took 10 minutes to get through security because both of them kept setting off the alarm, and were thoroughly searched.

“What in the world gave you the idea to wear trench coats?” Todd demanded as a male officer searched him.

“I thought it might get chilly out there. Hey! Hands off down there!”

“Sorry, ma'am,” the female officer said.

Todd rolled his eyes, as he couldn't believe his mother's stupidity.

 

After finally getting past security, Todd and his mother made their way towards gate C22. Walking through the hall was like walking into a ghost town. I haven't seen this many empty seats since that time I went to see 7thHeaven on Broadway, Todd thought.

“Coming in for a pit stop, boys,” Todd said as he veered off to the bathroom.

“I told you to go before we left,” Mom replied.

“I did. I just have a bladder the size of peanut.”

Mom groaned as she turned around. Then she gasped when she saw her long time friend from high school, Rebecca.

 

“Rebecca? Rebecca Foreman? Is that you?”

“Well, if it isn't Teresa Reinhardt. How long has it been? Twenty-two years?”

“Yes, that's right. Twenty-two years. How come I didn't see you at the reunion?”

“I had to go to my cousin's wedding. I was the maid of honor.”

“Really? Wow!”

“Speaking of weddings,” she said as she showed off her new engagement ring. Teresa could only gasp in shock. She almost passed out right in front of Todd.

“And who is this handsome young man?” Rebecca asked.

“This is my son, Todd,” Teresa answered.

“Well, Todd, it's a pleasure to meet you.”

“Same to you, ma'am,” Todd said.

“So, what are you doing here at the wee hours of the morning?” Teresa asked.

“I just dropped off my daughter. She's going to Chicago with a group. What about you?” she replied.

“Todd is going to Tokyo for spring break.” (A/N: Is spring break capitalized?)

“Wow! Well, I'll tell you all about the wedding. What's you're number?”

 

Teresa and Rebecca exchanged phone numbers, and went their separate ways. Soon after, Todd made it to gate C22. Naomi greeted him, but “greeted” doesn't do it justice. “Trampled on” would be more appropriate. Mom could do nothing but just stand there in amazement as her son fell flat on his back. Todd didn't get back up immediately because the impact knocked the wind out of him. This made Naomi worry, but “worry” is an understatement.

“Todd, please say something! Don't die on me!” she exclaimed very overdramatically.

“Don't worry, Naomi. He just had the wind knocked out of him,” Mom explained. “He'll be alright in about ten seconds.”

“That's ten seconds too long!” Naomi then attempted to perform CPR, but she stopped when Todd finally inhaled. After taking a few deep breaths, Todd was back to normal. He stood up with an irritated look on his face. Naomi was apologizing immediately, but Todd just said, “I'm too tired to be mad at you.”

 

After checking in at the gate, Todd and his mom went to the convenience store inside the airport, and each bought a cup of coffee. Todd put creamer in his, and poured a ton of sugar along with it. His mother liked her coffee black. They found a small, round table they could have a small conversation at.

“So, you're finally going out of the country,” Mom said.

“Yeah. I certainly am,” Todd replied with an enthusiasm level that dropped with every letter that escaped his lips. A long silence followed as neither one of them had the courage to sat goodbye to the other. Finally, Mom broke the silence. “I thought this might come in handy for you,” she said as she reached for her purse. “Its for whenever you get homesick over the next week.” It was a photo of herself.

“Mom, please,” Todd said, sounding embarrassed.

“There's nothing to be ashamed of, honey,” she said softly. “Everyone gets homesick once in a while, and that includes you. I remember when you were eight years old, and you were on a Boy Scouts camping trip, and you called me each and every day. You always kept crying about how much you missed me and loved me.” Todd just sat there with the palm of his hand on his cheek, and an unimpressed look on his face. “There's nothing to worry about. You are going to have a great time,” she said trying to console her son.

“Flight 2448 to Tokyo, Japan is now boarding,” a female voice said over the intercom.

“Well, that's you're cue,” Mom said.

 

Both of them walked back over to the gate and went to the end of the line. When they got to the front, they hugged each other as hard as they could. Mom gave Todd a kiss on the cheek and said, “Be safe. I'll pray for you.”

“I'll miss you,” he whispered. They gave each other another quick hug before Todd turned around, handed his boarding pass to the gate attendant, and walked down the plane runway. He turned his head and looked at his mother with a smile on his face, then turned it back around as the gate attendant closed the door.

 

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