Not for a week

Rick Johnson had the biggest news of his life, his mother had sent a letter to him in her delicate handwriting, that least it was the same as the one on the gift cards she'd sent every year. He was her youngest son and to think she would want to send a proper letter to him even after all these years and still, knowing what he'd done. He sat up uneasy on his sofa, in his empty, unclean house.

She had sent him to Australia three years ago, he reminisced that moment, as a failure to her, a school dropout.

At least he was an owner of a successful gaming company that was developed because he was infatuated with games and preferred it over schoolwork any day, he was living his own life, taking each day as it came with his fist held high. This must have been what she wanted.

Looking down at the envelope sitting flat and white against his muddy brown coffee table which was covered in plastic red cups, there were empty and half-empty ones scattered throughout his living room, the aftermath of the harsh party he throw the night before. He fidgeted, he was way too nervous to open the envelope. What could be waiting for him inside, he wondered, running his fingers through his long thick black hair and groaning irritably. What could his mother want? He did not want to be rude and assume it was something bad but maybe it was bad news, about something important but if it was she would have phoned, right? He stared that the letter for a long while tapping the fold, finally giving in to his fears or wonders, he ripped it open. The one thing he needed to know was if his mother forgave him, for what he did.

Moments later His jaw dropped, his parents were coming to Australia to see him. His heart was hammering against his ribs which felt like a belt was strangling his lungs to a point of hyperventilation. He skimmed and re-skimmed the letter, possibly hoping the words would somehow disappear off the page or reform to something else.

He needed to know why she decided this now instead of a year ago or two years ago. He had not seen them in a full three years. He intended to find out why she chose now to visit him, did she forgive him or had she forgotten? falling out of the envelope onto his lap was a small piece of paper labelled,' to Rick, call me, love mum'. she also left a number for him to call.

It was as though she read his mind, she knew him better than he knew himself, he guessed it was because they were very close at one point. He was ashamed of how foolish he had been thinking his mother did not understand what he was going through long ago and he has been living with that guilt for many years and he was never tempted to speak to her once, after the ordeal, it was a wonder why she would even want to see the likes of him but still, he needed to know.

Rising from his warm spot on the sofa, he stepped onto something slimy and when he lifted his bare foot a shiver ran down n his spin, he stepped on a used condom. Rick hopped awkwardly to the kitchen, being careful not to trap on the empty beer can. Once in the kitchen, he shoved his foot into the sink using the spray tap to rinse his foot.

As if his phone sitting on the counter was sitting there to drag his thoughts, to the real matter at hand. Contemplating what he will say when he called her, the phone exquisitely sitting on the surface gleaming at him, eyeing it warily as if it were a beast threatening to Devour him whole. He forced himself to lay down his fears and he Punched in the numbers from the small piece of paper he held and waited as it rang. ring rin-.

"Hello", a soft woman's voice answered, she answered before the second ring which was as tho she anticipated the call or not and now he was becoming paranoid her voice had a slight accent that stretched the end of her words along with that the woman sounded young possibly in her teens. A knot twisted in his gut.

"Hi, can I speak to a Mrs Frozer, please"? He managed through gritted teeth, trying to be as polite as possible, surprisingly his voice came out calm and collected while he felt like the complete opposite.

"May I ask who is calling".He froze, what should he tell her. (His mother never changed her surname after marrying his father long before he was born hence why she had a different one to his). swallowing he said.

"This is Rick Johnson her son".

"Oh, I see ". The woman said, she seemed surprised but that was understandable. He heard the phone being put down on a table or hard surface and little giggles started in the background. "Ilsa, you were right he did call, he is on the phone now". The women whispered loudly, he could even hear his mom's voice. He knew she was expecting this, this was all part of her master plan, his mother was smarter than she looked and hoped he would follow in her footsteps, be like her but he let her down, it was not the full reason she sent him away though. It was now or never, this was his first chance to apologize for what he did or chicken out and ask what is going on right now.

"Good. Hello". The Familiar whistle of her voice spiked his nerves. she spoke casually as no time had distanced them.

"Eh-Hi". He had to force the word out of his mouth.

"Is that all you can manged, Re Re".She shocked him with her reminder of his nickname, it made emotions well up in his chest.

"Mom".

"Rem did you hear his voice, it is so masculine!" He just stared at the phone, it was as if he said nothing. She just started talking to his father who must have been next to her." Oh, he sounds all grown up, it will be so exciting to see my little boy again".

"Mom".He called frowning, she was lost in her world, raving on about god knows what and completely ignoring him.

"Bye". came the same voice from before. Before he could utter another word she hung up, leaving him with a wet foot on the cold tiled floor in the kitchen, frustrated, confused and depressed because he failed to get his mother's attention.