Fools

31- Noah

Noah

Saturday morning was weird. Sam and I had Saturday detention that Sam picked me up for. It was an uneventful punishment for walking out of class. It started at nine in the morning and ended by one PM. But that wasn't the weird part of my day. What was weird was me walking into my home, after Sam dropped me off, and finding my father in the kitchen... cooking.

He was wearing jeans and a worn out, blue t-shirt with no drink in his hand. That was new. And usually, Friday nights he gets so waisted that he doesn't wake up until past two on Saturday. "You're up early," I committed then suddenly felt nervous, not knowing if what I said would tick my dad off. I didn't know what type of mood he was in yet.

To my surprise, my dad didn't say anything as he went to the fridge and pulled out a half gallon of milk and a small tub of butter. He grabbed two bowls from the cabinets then set them aside the stove "Want some Mac and cheese?" He asked, pouring in milk and adding butter to the cooked noodle. Then the cheese packet. Stirred.

My eyebrows shot up, I was feeling a cross between bewilderment and confusion. "Uh... yeah. Sure," I said, still flabbergasted by my dad's sudden switch in mood. I wasn't too sure if I should question him about it as I didn't want to accidentally make him mad, ruining this moment. After he slid a bowl full of hot Mac and cheese in front of me, he took a seat opposite of me at our small kitchen table with his own bowl. I decided to risk the moment, "what's got you in such a good mood?"

"I got a raise," he told me, taking a bite of his pasta.

My eyes widened "A raise? Wow! That's- that's great." I didn't know he worked long enough to get a raise.

He nodded "which reminds me," he stated as he leaned to the side to grab his wallet from his back pocket. He handed me two fifty dollar bill, shocking me once again.

"What's this for?"

"For you. Obviously this doesn't cover the amount you've spent on bills for me, but," he shrugged and left it at that. Did my dad get abducted by aliens and was replaced by a calmer dad? "Oh and..." And? I watched, dazed, as my dad pulled out a receipt in his pocket and handed it to me. The receipt was from AutoZone. "I got you your battery. Installed it this mornin'."

I looked up at me dad in awe, "thank you."

"Consider this an early birthday present," he told me and I actually smiled.

"My birthday's not for another month."

"Yeah, whatever smartass," but my dad spoke in a... humorous tone. What was happening? "I'm just sayin' when your birthday does come around, remember this moment. I know you don't like to do anything for your birthday, so this it all you're getting."

I have a pretty good reason for hating my birthday, I thought. "Thanks, dad," and God, I wanted this moment to last, but it was ruined when he said, "I'm having some people over tonight."

Another poker night. Randy. "I'm gonna be out tonight, if that's okay."

"Good, don't need you starting shit again."

Me starting shit? It was that pedophile asshole that that groped me. But I wasn't about to tell my dad that. I could handle myself. "Yeah, okay," is all I responded with. I stood up and grabbed both of our empty bowls and set them in the sink before texting Sam that I was coming over early. I didn't want to be here when that sleaze came over.

I didn't even wait for a response as I grabbed some clothes (maybe being a little hopeful about spending the night and being able to continue what we started on Friday). With that thought in mind, I added a few more... necessities to my bag.