~Better When It's On You~

Curfew

             "Ash! Ashton come put your shoes on!" I hollered. He always was putting me behind schedule. His father was going to be at my front door in 5 minutes to pick him up and Alex needed to be ready. 
       The 8 year old boy came rushing down the stairs with his bright red hair bushing out of his head and his freckled face unmosturized. "What have you been doing up there this whole time? You look like you just got out of bed."
      "I was playing with Pluto!" He excused. Pluto was my all white, almost 150 pound Newfoundland. "Oh my god." I sighed. "Go get a brush and a hair bow please." I shooed.
       "Yes mama!" He raced off back up the stairs. I could here Pluto and him thumping around like a herd of elephants. As I grabbed his breakfast from the counter, the doorbell rang. There was no need to do all of that hollering because I knew who it was before I even got to the door.
      "Hey! Is Ashton ready?" Edwin stood in the door way with his puffer coat and baggy jeans that he must've thrifted. "Just give me a few more minutes. I have to get him together."
      "I can help."
      "No thanks Ed. I've got it." I assured. He never set foot in the house. EVER. It was like a house rule when he came to pick up Ashton. After what he did, he was never allowed back in. "ASHTON! GET DOWN HERE!" I hollered again. Pluto and Ashton came tumbling over each other down the stairs. I shut the door, so the ac wouldn't get out and went over to my clumsy son that was clearly fine. I took the brush from his hands and the bow. I didn't use chemicals in his air, maybe natural oils that I made myself but never things from the store. I took the hair cream that I left on the side table, brushing it up against the base of his hair to make it nice and silky. I put his now tamed for in a low ponytail, tying it all together with the bow. "Two strand or no strands?"
     "Two strands!" I took a pin from my pocket, pulling down strands of hair infront of his face. "Alright, now shoes." I instructed as I grabbed bud coat from the hook by the door. He hurried to me after putting on his strap on shoes and held his arms up for the coat.
       "I'll see you later bubs, okay?" I crouched down kissing him on the forehead. I could see his eyes beginning to erode with tears and his face was starting to look like a cherry. "Hey, hey! We've talked about this.! I'll see you in 5 hours." I
       "I know.!" He nodded, wiping his nose in his sleeve. "I want you to have fun! I want you to make new friends.! I want you to dance like no one's watching! Understand me?"
       "Yes mama.!"
       "Okay, give me a hug." I held out my arms, holding him for just a few more seconds. "I love you so much bubs."
       "I love you too mama." His arms had a death grip around my neck but I embraced it. I stood from the floor, releasing my hold. I opened the door once again and this time with Ashton all ready to go. "I want him back by 6. No later than that."
     "Could we maybe extend it.? I wanted to take him to see the lights tonight at 8."
      "6 o'clock."
      "But-"
      "You bring him back at 6 or you don't come up here to see him again." I warned.
       "Okay, okay fine! 6 o'clock on the dot!"