Hudson Kelly

I couldn't believe it when my father told me that we were completely uprooting our lives to move to the States. Leaving my school, my friends, my culture. Having to hear people tell me over and over and over again how much they loved my accent. What they didn't realize was that they had an accent. I didn't. I've always been unsure about Americans. The only ones I've ever met were people on holiday. They always seem to think of themselves as superior.The first week I was here, I couldn't believe how Americans lived. The company purchased us a house in a place called the Lyndhurst Park Estates. It was 3800 square feet. Who needs that much room? There are only four people in my family. Excess. Americans loved excess. They have to drive through everything. People who will do your shopping or deliver your food. You don't have to get out of the car to go to the bank or the pharmacy or to get a healthy smoothie. No wonder so many people are unhealthy. Don't get me wrong, I love good. Quarter Pounder and Fries, and yes, in Australia, we call it even though we use the metric system. To us, it's just the name of the burger. And I love Starbucks. There is one in Sydney. My mates and I go there, but there is one on every corner. In every suburb. Sometimes less than 6 kilometers from each other. Who needs that many bloody Starbucks? Americans, apparently. We moved here 2 weeks ago. My mom, dad, and my little Sheila. That means sister to you, Yanks. Sorry, Americans. Her name is Margot and she's 6, and I love her to bits. She was a surprise as Mum and Dad like to call her. She wasn't exactly planned, but sometimes the best things that aren't planned are the best things that have been done.Dad works for the Fortune 500 company Berkshire Hathaway. The subsidy companies are endless. My family is what you would call extremely well off. Even though our parents like to keep us "grounded," we go to normal schools and live in an average house; that, as they say, is how we remain well off and how you blokes don't become wankers. We do not have an average house here in the states, but we are definitely going to a normal school.When I came into the kitchen, I saw my mum. She was quietly singing to herself. My mum is a beautiful woman. She was tall, about 5'10, and she had blonde hair and blue eyes. She is a wonderful woman who would do anything for her family. She is an angel in disguise. She was in a black pencil skirt and a red silk blouse with a pair of high heels. She was at the counter preparing dinner, and it looked like she was about to host her own cooking show. My mum is an excellent cook. "How was school?" Mum asked when I came into the kitchen."Bloody off my rocker.""Hudson, you need to start using a little more American and a little bit less Aussie. People won't know what you're saying.""All right. It was weird but full of interesting people."My sister was coloring at the kitchen table. "I like my school. It's cool." I looked at my Little Sheila. "Cool? Crickey, you're already an American." "I learned it from my new mate, Cara. She's nice. Oh, and then Norman! He's on those neat crutches that go around your arms.""See, Margot is adjusting. Did you make any mates?" Mum asked."I did meet a nice bloke and a couple of nice sheila's." "Anyone you might think you might be interested in?""Mum, it was my first day. You can't--" Thank God, at that moment, my phone went off. "Oh, look at that. There's one of them right now."📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱A text message came in from a number I did not recognize. But as soon as I started reading, I knew who it was. Chesney: Hey Hemsworth, we met in chem class this morning. I was the gorgeous girl that didn't sit next to you.Hudson: I remember you and the tall drink of water. 🫗 I think his name was Brian. Chesney: Exactly. How was your first day? Hudson: It was different. I don't mean to sound rude, but how did you get my number?Chesney: I got it from Brian. I can be very persuasive. Hudson: And, will you always call me Hemsworth? Chesney: Do you mind?👱 Haven't you ever had a nickname?Hudson: I never have, but I think it's bottler I have a nickname already.Chesney: Bottler? Hudson: It means excellent.Chesney: OK. You're going to need to come with a translation book.Hudson: I could say the same thing for you.Chesney: Aren't you going to ask me what I call Alora?Hudson: So, what do you call her?Chesney: Usually, I call her a bitch, but in a loving, caring way. If you're friends with her, you can call her. Alora. She doesn't like nicknames. Trust me, I've tried a dozen of them. However, I did notice she didn't protest when you called her darling. So, stick with that. She's really nice under all that gruff exterior. She's just a little damaged, literally and metaphorically.Hudson: Oh, that explains a bit. Chesney: I got your number to invite you to a party. It's tomorrow. Darling and I throw epic parties.Hudson: A piss up? Too right.Chesney: ???? What does that translate to?Hudson: Piss up means party, and two right means absolutely. Chesney: Maybe just stick to the English terms. If you need an Aussie-to-English dictionary, you may want to ask me first. You may want to make sure you don't piss anyone off? Because here, piss is not a good thing. I've also heard how freely you guys use the word cunt. Don't ever say that out loud. Hudson: I understand. Yes, thanks for the tip. I'll run it by my mom. Where would I be going? Chesney: 1642 Oakmount Rd. It's not Oakmont very important. It starts at 7:00, but don't show till 8.Hudson: I'm not sure I will ever understand you, Yanks. Will Alora be upset if you invite me?Chesney: If you get there at 8, she will already be buzzed and happy—unless her ex shows up. Hopefully, he's not that stupid.Hudson: Yeah, I met her ex. Apparently, he is very stupid. I'll be there at 8:30. Chesney: Hemsworth, you are going to fit in just fine. Hudson: I know my mum won't have any objection to me going to a party.📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱📱"Mum, a mate of mine---" I was immediately cut off."A mate! Oh, Huddles." Mom hugged me so hard I couldn't breathe."Evie, release the boy." Dad to the rescue.My dad strolled into the kitchen, putting his briefcase down on the counter. He took off his suitcoat and loosened his tie. My father and I looked a lot alike. He was 6'3, with sandy brown hair, green eyes, and a muscular build. My dad was one of those very involved kind of fathers. He always encouraged me and supported me. I knew he would be right there if I ever had any problems or was in any kind of trouble."Max! Huddles made some mates already, and they invited him to a piss-up." She planted a firm kiss on my cheek. I squirmed until I got myself free. "Use the word party. Piss-up is not a great phrase to use. So, can I go?"My father gave my mum a passionate kiss. I always was in awe of their love. I can only hope that I am lucky enough to find someone who looks at me the way my parents look at each other. "Too right. You can go. Just remember that 18 might be the legal age to drink where we're from, but not here," Max said, putting Evie back on her feet."You can vote for the president and join the military at 18 here, but you can't have a beer. Can't smoke either. 18 is an adult.," I said, confused at the American politics."Things are different in the States, son. I don't want you to be arrested until we are here for at least a month.""Funny, Dad." "Can I come?" Margot asked, not looking up from her coloring. "No, my Little Sheila, but I am sure your new friends will have parties you will go to." I tousled her hair. She looked at me and scrunched her nose. "Hands off the do.""Hands off the do?" I couldn't help but laugh at her. "What time is the party?" Dad asked, popping a carrot in his mouth."It starts at 7:00. They told me to be there at 8:00, so I'm going to go at 8:30." Mum looked at me like I was walking, talking physics problem. "What can I say? Americans are weird." I shrugged my shoulders. 💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝"Come on. I want to talk to you about something." My dad pulled me into his office. After the door was closed, my dad motioned for me to sit next to him."Son, how was your first day? "That's why you pulled me in here?""I wanted the truth, and I didn't need your mum going a wack-a-doodle on you if you said anything that might overexcite her.""I met a girl!""Like that. Did you really? Tell me about her.""She's beautiful, smart, funny, a bit of a spitfire, and I didn't want the day to end.""She sounds fun. She sounds like a mix between your mom and Margot.""Really, Dad! Please don't compare the girl I am enamored with to my mom and my sister."Enamored?""Do you believe in love at first sight?""I do. The question is, do you?""I did, but there was no way I was going to say it out loud. I know that the first time my dad saw my mum, he knew that he wanted to marry her. Time to change the subject.""After we left the university, we went out to lunch. I had the best pizza. You and Mom have to go there.""I could see on my dad's face that he understood that I no longer wanted to continue that part of the conversation.""Where was this place?""Little Italy. Did you know there are only five Little Italys in the States, and one is here in Cleveland? And I had a cannoli. Have you ever heard of one of those? They are amazing. There was this authentic Italian bakery down there." "Actually, your mom and I had them when we took that trip to Venice. From what I can remember, they were excellent.""What else did you do? ""We went to Lakeview Cemetery.""A cemetery? That is an interesting choice of place for a date.""It wasn't a date. She made it very clear that it wasn't a date.""I gather she doesn't feel the same way about you as you seem to feel about her.""As her best friend says, she's an enigma wrapped up in a riddle. At least, I think that is what she said about her.""So, will this girl be at this party you are so excited to go to?""Yes. She and her bestie are the ones who are having it.""I trust that you will make good choices. And that you will bring her by to meet us at some point.""I'm not sure if I want her to meet Mum. She can be a little... intense.""She means well, son. She just wants to see you happy. She knows how much you didn't want to come to the States. She's just being a mum.""It's like she already wants to marry me off.""No, she doesn't. But the way you talk about this girl, you may want to.""Okay. I'm done with this conversation. Thanks for the sane conversation.""Oh, hey. How was practice this morning?""I'm exhausted, but I landed what I wanted to.""Good. Look, son. I know that you want to have a normal high school life, but don't lose sight of things. And if you start to feel burned out, make sure that you let your mum and me know. Okay?""Of course. Thanks, Dad."