Orphans

10

10 “Daaaaaaaaady,” Joey screams when he sees me by the door. I drop my bags, scoop him up in my arms and as he melts into my chest I think, bursts of joy, bursts of joy, bursts of joy, savor it, hug it, love it, all of it. “What did you bring me?” Joey says pulling away and pointing to the bags. “What do you mean,” I say, “like what?” Joey crosses his arms across his chest and stamps his little foot on the ground. I try to keep a straight face. “Nothing?” he says with a huff. “How was school?” I say ignoring him. “Nothing,” Joey says, “you got me nothing? What about a snack, more astronaut ice cream?” “Nothing, sorry dude, I thought you would just be happy to see me,” I say. “Mommy always brings something,” Joey says uncrossing his arms and walking away. “Yeah, well, mommy is the best,” I say grabbing the bags. No response. He knows that already. “C’mon, how was school?” I shout as I run after him, “Give me something.” “Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” he says as we walk into the building, past E.C. and his queries about Joey’s day, onto the elevator and into the apartment. “Mommy, mommy, mommy,” Joey yells as we walk into the living room, “look, daddy picked me up and he’s got stuff.” O R P H A N S 32 “He does? What kind of stuff?” Shalla asks. “I don’t know,” Joey says, “none of it’s for me. Can I watch television?” “Sure honey, twenty minutes though, that’s it,” Shalla says. “Thirty?” “Ten!” “Twenty sounds great mommy,” Joey says before plopping down on the couch. The microphone on the ceiling lets out a slight metallic belch. “What would you like to watch Joey?” E.C. asks. “Hey E.C.,” Joey says looking up at the microphone, “what’s on Disney?” “Would you prefer something more educational perhaps ?” E.C. asks. “No,” Joey shouts, “I’ve already been to school today.” “Fine Joey, but only twenty minutes, you heard your mother,” E.C. replies. “I know, I know, good-bye E.C.,” Joey says. “See you at bedtime Joey,” E.C. says. I walk into the kitchen and the lights turn on. I stand over the stove. “Steak, medium rare,” I say and the stove begins to heat-up. “Vase please,” I say looking at the flowers, a flash of color arrayed against the once vibrant, now drab counter. “Would you like the clear vase or the blue one?” E.C. asks as the microphone in the kitchen belches to life as well. “Blue,” I say, “thank you and if you wouldn’t mind, I will need a skillet for these steaks and a bottle opener for the Tsingtao. B E N TA N Z E R 33 A slot over the stove opens up, a metallic arm extends out and a skillet is placed onto the stove. Another slot opens on the counter in front of me and a smaller arm extends out with a vase, places it on the counter, disappears back into the slot, and extends again with a bottle opener which I take. I open two bottles of Tsingtao and turn around to see Shalla just inches away from wrapping her arms around my waist. “What’s going on?” she says. “I got the gig. You are officially married to the newest member of the Joyful Future Real Estate sales team,” I say. “Wow, really,” she says, “you got it, awesome. I’m so proud of you. When do you start, can we go do something first, I don’t know, together, as a family?” “No baby, sorry, tomorrow, I’m leaving tomorrow. Isn’t that incredible,” I say trying to sound positive and full of excitement about all that is to come, though not too excited , never too excited when it involves leaving. “Yeah, that’s awesome—tomorrow, okay,” she says looking sad, and then recovering, smiling and adding, “let’s celebrate.” “Sounds good,” I say smirking, “Joey is still up though you know.” “True,” Shalla says one hand on her curvy hip, “I was thinking maybe we could dance.” “Yeah, okay, that sounds like almost as much fun,” I say. “Dance, dance, dance,” Joey says. “Dance, dance, dance,” I say jumping around. “Dance,” Shalla says grabbing Joey’s hands and swinging him up in the...