Suzie’s House 86: To Break a Mother’s Heart

This starts where last week ended.

“Fhuuuu!”

Suzie wasn’t sure which of the culprits in front of her had almost sworn – Ben or Miranda.

The two of them had whirled around to come crashing together, shoulder-to-shoulder, doing their best to block her view of the counter. It was a futile effort. Suzie already knew there were recipe cards scattered all around the file.

Her file.

Her special, third generation recipe file which she kept locked up in her desk.

How had they gotten to it? Stupid question. The key to the drawer where she locked the file was in another drawer in her desk. She’d never told anyone about it, but both her life-long friend and her son would figure it out quickly enough.

She sighed in exasperation.

She’d have to have a word with each of them later. Right now she had more important things to worry about.

“Ben, it’s time to do your homework.”

“Homework?” He looked so bewildered he nearly crossed his eyes.

“Yes. Homework. I know you must have some. In fact, knowing your father I would guess you’ve fallen behind.”

“No I haven’t. I do it in school.” Ben bristled, his chin coming up and his eyes narrowing.

“Homework, by definition, is what you do at home.” Suzie could feel her own temper rising. “I’m not talking about your class work. I’m talking about what your teachers expect you to do at home.”

“I don’t have any!”

Since when had Ben’s voice become whiny? Since when had he ever talked back to her? It rocked Suzie back on her heels. She didn’t know how to deal with him anymore.

The thing was, if she weren’t so badly out of the loop, she’d have counter arguments. She’d know if his grades were holding up. She’d know what assignments were due, and what was coming up. But because of the argument with Mrs. D. a few weeks ago Suzie had steered clear of all Ben’s teachers.

Maybe Ben was telling the truth? How would Suzie know?

“Aw, cut the kid a break,” Miranda said. “If he has any homework, he can catch up on it later.”

Ben nodded enthusiastically.

He’d rather spend time with Miranda than with his own mother. Her best friend and her son, buddies. It just didn’t sit well.

But what could Suzie do? She didn’t dare press Ben. Not until she knew more. She had to back down.

“All right, but you promise you will do whatever it takes to get your grades up if they aren’t all A’s and B’s, right?”

Ben swallowed hard, but nodded agreement.

Suzie sighed in frustration. She knew down to her bones he needed help. She just didn’t know how to give it to him.

“Fine. I’ll let you off for tonight.”

“Yes!” Ben pumped a fist in triumph. Miranda gave him a high – five.

Then they watched expectantly until Suzie walked away. Only when she reached the doorway into the hall did they turn around, at the same time, to poke through her recipes.

Miranda bumped Ben with her elbow. Suzie could see her friend’s grin even though Miranda had her back to the hall. Ben grinned back. She said something about what else they would cook.

Miranda was teaching Ben to cook? But that was Suzie’s job! And when had Miranda learned to cook?

Suzie almost marched back in there to take Ben in hand, but she couldn’t see anything good coming out of it, so she let it go. She didn’t get very far down the hall before she stopped. In the cool, darkness of the central hall, she breathed deep, fighting sadness and frustration.

Letting go was so hard. When she sent him off to safety, she didn’t realize she could loose him this way, too.

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