Page 32 of Searching for Beautiful
Before
Standing up, I stick my hand deep into the open top on the piece of pottery I’m making. I let the wheel circle, my hands smoothing out the inside.
It’s almost done. And it’s going to be gorgeous.
“Brynn De Luca! Get your butt out here. It’s almost time to get ready. ”
I roll my eyes at the sound of Mom’s voice. Just as I turn around, she and Dad walk into my pottery room. Dad’s standing behind her, and he puts his finger up to the side of his head and makes a circle, as if to say she’s crazy.
I chuckle.
“Do I want to know what your father is doing behind my back?” She smiles.
“What? Me? I’m not doing anything at all, am I, dolcezza?”
“Nope. Nothing at all. ”
Mom crosses her arms and pretends to pout. “I don’t believe either of you. Stop ganging up on me on my favorite holiday. ”
“Whose favorite holiday is Halloween?” I say at the same time Dad says, “I thought that was Christmas. Every holiday can’t be your favorite. That’s cheating. ”
Mom turns to him. “I do not cheat, Anthony, and don’t you accuse me of it again. Halloween and Christmas are tied for number one and all the other holidays are number two. ”
Dad and I both laugh at her. She always makes us laugh.
“I’m too old to dress up,” I tell her.
“There’s no such thing. Your father and I are dressing up and I’m pretty sure we’re older than you. ”
“You don’t act like it,” I tease.
“Only on Halloween. I deserve one day a year to be a kid. Now, scoot. You have about fifteen minutes to finish up in here before you need to get on your costume. We have a haunted house to run. ”
“Brynn, help me!” Dad laughs, a smile on his face as Mom drags him from the room. I finish my piece and then go get dressed.
My stomach hurts from laughing so hard as I watch Dad chase kids around the haunted house. Mom makes all sorts of corny noises that I’m pretty sure she thinks are scary but sound like a Disney princess trying to act tough.
After about an hour, my friends call to ask if I want to do something with them.
“You can go,” Mom says, but yes isn’t even an answer I’d consider.
“That’s okay. We’re having fun here. I’ll catch up with you guys tomorrow,” I say into the phone.
After I hang up, Mom clips me with her hip. “Did I hear you say this was fun? I thought you were too old. ”
“AHHHH!” a group of kids yells as Dad starts chasing again.
My eyes catch Mom’s. “There’s no such thing as being too old for Halloween. ”
Chapter Twenty-One
Now
Is it ridiculous that I’ve spent the past couple weeks leading up to Halloween watching Christian’s house? I’m sure it is, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s one of the smaller reasons I have to feel ridiculous.
Author: Nyrae Dawn
I can’t stop wondering what he’s doing in there, and wishing I hadn’t thrown away those gummy bears, and my apology along with them. I can’t stop thinking about Brenda and remembering how she smiled at me and how she almost, for one second, made me feel like I had a mom. Or maybe not a mom, because I don’t know her, and there’s no one in this whole universe who could take Mom’s place. Mom was beautiful and vibrant. Loving and perfect. But Brenda gave me a couple minutes where I felt like there was another adult I could trust. Someone who I could maybe talk with, and also be quiet with, the way I could with Mom.
