Suzie’s House 294 : You Have Enough Time For Breakfast

“Sit down. You aren’t going anywhere until you eat.”

“But Moooom. I have school.” Lisa stared at the plate full of waffles that hit the table where she usually sat and frowned.

“Luscious, right?” Tracy grinned at her across the table, already eating.

Lisa’s mom pressed on her shoulders until she collapsed into the chair. Well, it probably wouldn’t hurt just this once. It wasn’t like she needed to be on a diet or anything, and she did have time.

There was already whipped topping on the stack of waffles, but Lisa added some blueberry syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Delish.

“We haven’t had a chance to talk much lately,” her mother said. “I know, I know. It’s my fault for pulling so much overtimes. Just with an extra mouth to feed….”

Tracy flinched, but didn’t say anything.

“Mom, that isn’t fair. Aunt Cherry sends money every month.”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that,” Mom said to Tracy.

Tracy’s smile looked kind of like a flinch, but nobody was going to say anything about that.

“I just meant that we haven’t had a chance to really talk in a while. I’m going to be late again tonight, so this is it. Our big chance to communicate.” Mom sat down with a coffee and a single waffle. “What’ll you two do for supper tonight?”

“We’ll eat over at the Hammaker house, right?” Tracy grinned conspiratorially at Lisa.

“I don’t think I better. I’ll just eat here.”

“What’s at the Hammaker house?”

“Our boyfriends,” Tracy grinned proudly.

“Boyfriends?! But you two are only in middle school!”

“We’re in the eighth grade, Mom. We’ll be in high school next year.”

“But…”

“Besides, we already broke up.”

“What?” Tracy stood up fast and knocked over her chair. “When did that happen?” Then she had to turn around and pick up the chair.

“A couple of days ago.”

“But why?” Tracy looked more upset that Lisa felt, and Lisa felt like nothing would ever be quite right again. Not that she would ever admit it.

“He made me try to be a writer, then told me to quit because it made him uncomfortable.”

“Oh. Well, that’s Ben for you. He’s not exactly the brightest bulb in the box.”

“Excuse me,” Lisa said, feeling highly offended.

“I’m not saying he’s stupid.” Tracy plopped into her chair. “Just, you know, not always logical.”

“Well, isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black,” Lisa grumbled. Tracy just shrugged it off.

“Wait. Ben? So the other would be Gene?”

“Yep. Gene is mine.” Tracy grinned. “He and I started a rock band together. Can we practice here?”

“Absolutely not. So, you actually call them your boyfriends? I thought they were just playmates.”

“Mooooom.” Lisa rolled her eyes up in frustration. “We aren’t little kids.”

“Uh, huh.” Mom said it while sipping her coffee like she was humoring them.

Lisa clinched her teeth. It wasn’t like it mattered now anyway, since she wasn’t going to see Ben again anytime soon. Not outside of school, anyway. Funny. Even though she was still mad at him, not seeing him felt kind of dismal.

“Better eat fast, Lisa. We gotta go soon. Right?”

“Yeah. Right.” Lisa shoveled the food in, barely tasting it.

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