So, it’s true? says Jade.
Yea, dad, it’s true, says Jay.
And you just figured it out this last year?
It took a while.
Wow. Things sure do change.
Jade has just picked up Jay from the airport in his blue Ford pick-up truck. It’s summer, June 28th, and it’s one in the afternoon. Jay flies up to Alaska every summer to visit his father and the hunting lodge he owns.
How’s your mom?
She’s good. She’s been real busy lately.
Busy? Busy with what?
Work. She’s got a big case coming up. She’s been doing lots of discovery work.
Who hasn’t? says Jade and he laughs.
So, you still want to go hunting, right?
Yeah, of course I do, Jay says. Of course I do, he thinks. Why wouldn’t I? He thinks.
Jade pulls off the highway to the bar and grill that he takes Jay every summer. He takes him after picking him up from the airport and he takes him on the ride back to the airport.
You hungry? Jade says.
Starving, says Jay.
They enter the restaurant. It’s dark and has pool tables and the bar is lined up with enough alcohol to last the apocalypse. The same smell of cigarette smoke lingers just as he remembers and Jay wonders if the locals have only smoked one type of cigarette for all of their lives.
Smells the same, doesn’t it? Jade says. Every year, always the same damn smell. Jade slaps his son on the back. Always the same smell.
Always the same smell, says Jay.
They take a seat and a waitress with a nametag that reads “Brandy” greets them.
How you two doin’ today? She says.
Good, you? says Jade.
Good. What can I get you?
Coffee, Jay you want some coffee?
Yeah, I’ll have some coffee.
Jay, what do you want to eat? You want the same?
Yeah. I’ll have the double cheeseburger.
Brandy, says Jade, we’ll have two double cheeseburgers.
Alright, we’ll have em’ out for you soon as possible.
Thanks, Brandy.
Brandy walks to the kitchen and Jade’s eyes follow. Jay watches his father watch the woman, and then Jade turns back and sees Jay watching him.
What?
Nothing.
I can’t look at women or something?
No, you can do whatever you want.
Jade sits back in his chair. Jay, you alright? I’m picking up something weird coming from you.
It’s nothing, dad.
You think I’m disappointed or something? Something like that?
Aren’t you?
The father exhales deeply. I’m not disappointed. I’m just surprised. Does it sound like I’m disappointed?
I don’t know. It just feels different.
Well, I guess that’s true. It does feel different, says Jade. But different isn’t a bad thing. Do you think your mom’s disappointed?
Brandy arrives with their coffee.
Order will be right out.
Thanks, Brandy, says Jade.
So, is your mom disappointed?
I don’t know. She just seems off. There’s something different about her.
I guess it is a change, says Jade. Well, a change compared to what she expected.
Yeah. I guess it is. Jay sits and doesn’t say anything. He remembers when he first told her, and her look of puzzlement as if he were pulling a t.v. remote from the ground instead of a carrot.
You know how she would get all worked up about those school dances and everything, says Jay. The flowers and matching my tuxedo with the dresses and the pictures.
No, I don’t.
Well, says Jay. He pauses and tries to remember if he ever told Jade about the dances, but nothing
comes to mind.
She did. Mom would get all worked up and she would help me pick out my tux and everything. She’d help me get the flowers and write the notes and show me how to dance. All of that stuff. I think she misses that.
Well, says Jade. Well, fuck her.
Jay laughs. Jade laughs.
Points: 2117
Reviews: 38
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