Chapter 2

"Next week? Oh, right. Aunty Imogen is coming to visit. How can I forget that? Does she ever take a break?" John remarked, a hint of exasperation evident in his tone.

"Don't speak of my sister like that, young man. After you received the nourishment from my tits when you were a baby, she fed you from the feeders and even changed your diapers and she never complained." His mother gently scolded, her words tinged with affection.

"Ew!" The twins chimed in, their expressions a mix of amusement and distaste.

"I mean, Mom, she does talk a lot about her dog, Humphrey, and she just doesn't seem to stop. It makes her visit hellish." John remarked, echoing the sentiment shared by his siblings.

"She never seems to run out of stories about Humphrey," Lilly added, her voice tinged with a hint of exhaustion at the thought of it.

"When you say 'often,' you mean the once-a-year visit, right? I understand she may be attached to Humphrey, but it seems like she uses him to fill a void in her life due to her relationship struggles." Their mother tried to explain, offering her perspective of her sister's once every year visits and her attachment to her beloved pet.

"Don't take too long in your room, the dishes can not lie around all day!" His mother added, the warmth of her affectionate tone underscoring the familial bond that defined their interactions.

"Got it, Mom. I'll head in now," John affirmed, acknowledging the pending household chore that awaited him.

His father chuckled amusingly as he watched his son go up the stairs, "Oh my God, he is such a chump." He remarked.

"Micheal! He is your son," his wife berated playfully.

"So I have been told. Are you sure he is?" He teased her with a straight face.

"What!" Her face dropped unconventionally.

"Gotcha!" Micheal chuckled again playfully at his wife.

"What is wrong with you?" She fumed with wrinkle lines on her forehead.

He laughed heartily, "You should see your face; it was like you have been caught red handed"

"No, it wasn't like that! What have I done to be caught red handed?" She rejected his jokes.

"Yes, mom, it was exactly like that. Dad got you good," Lilly chimed in and added to her father's amusement, with a wink she directed to her mother.

"You know what you all deserve?" She asked rhetorically, "empty stomach!" she said, stood up and started to collect the plates that had their unfinished meal away.

"Come on, honey, we're not done with the meal yet; we were just joking." Micheal pleaded.

"Oh yeah? Well, fill your stomachs with your jokes then."

"But mom, I didn't say anything," Lizzy protested.

"But you laughed!" She countered instantly.

"Yes, I did." Lizzy admitted with a sober expression.

"This is retribution." She pointed at them. "You'll learn not to upset mommy next time." She headed into the kitchen and clattered the dishes into the sink.

"Let's go grab some ice cream; we won't take mommy along." Michael said playfully, hinting at his revenge.

"Ice cream after lunch? Cool!" The twins exclaimed excitedly.

He brought them to his car and drove away from the house.

Meanwhile, mom stayed in the kitchen. Despite her earlier conversation with John about the dishes, she eventually started cleaning them up herself.

She scoffed, "Can you believe they went for iced cream without me?" Her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment as she muttered to herself. After scrubbing, rinsing, and meticulously drying each dish with a soft white towel, she delicately returned them to their designated spots on the shelves.

"I'm even doing the dishes. You can't get away with skipping your turn next time, John!" Her voice echoed through the house, resonating up the stairs, through the first room, and into the second before finally knocking on her son's closed door, where he barely registered her words.

"I can't hear you, mom!" his muffled voice floated back down the hallway, the sound splattering lightly against her face.

"Imagine what he'll do when he returns from the army. Lock his own mother up and make her do his laundry?" she grumbled under her breath, a mix of frustration and amusement evident in her tone as she concluded her chores in the kitchen and went away to her room where she took her time with ladies stuff.

As the house fell into a quiet lull, the only noise emanating from the 'B4 reality show' playing on the television screen. A while after, she came out of her room with her purse in hand. Opening and closing it absentmindedly, she felt a sense of contentment in knowing she had the means to escape her troubles, even if just for an evening with the ladies at the club. A few drinks would serve as a gentle reminder that it was essential to prioritize her own well-being.

Stepping out, the click of her heels against the floor echoed in the hallway. She wore a stylish mini gown that accentuated her figure, and her matching earrings added a touch of elegance to her ensemble. With a determined stride, she prepared to set out of the house, eager to immerse herself in the joy and laughter that awaited her in the company of her friends.

The anticipated fun and relaxation filled her being, providing a much-needed break from the routine of daily life. This moment was about her as a lady and not as a mother, about rediscovering, thinking of the pleasures brought a sparkle to her eyes and a smile to her lips. In that warmth, she embraced the freedom to let go and indulge in those simple pleasures which would remind her of the vibrant spirit that resided within her.

With each step, she left behind all the worries of being a mother, hurriedly to embrace the promise of the evening that would be filled with laughter and fun. As the city lights twinkled in the distance, she felt a sense of liberation wash over her, a reminder of the importance of nurturing one's own happiness.