Mom slapped me so hard the keys dropped out of my hand and onto the floor. “Where have you been, you tramp?”“What? Ow! Mom!” I bent over to retrieve the keys. “What are you doing here?” I gasped.“We’re going to go in the morning,” she said, now calm after the storm. But she still stepped towards me, pushing my back into the door. “Where were you?” She exhaled and finally stepped away. “It’s almost midnight. I know you have to be in bed early because of the bakery. Where the hell were you?” She took a few deep breaths. “Your little friend Lisa left a message. Wondering if you had any time to get together because she misses you and apologizes for being such a pill about Evan.” Mom made a face on the “misses” part. “So don’t bother with some garbage about being with your friends. I know you only have her and the queer.”“Travis is, well, not for sure anyway …”I heard the toilet flush. Of course Joey would be here. He came out into the living room still zipping up his pants.
