Insomnia-pt. 29

Once we get settled in the house I go downstairs and into the kitchen to clean out my hand.  Damien follows with the Tylenol and peroxide.  I open the freezer and grab the ice, and a washrag to make an ice-pack.  i clean the dirt off my hand and then pour the peroxide onto my swollen, bruised and bleeding fist.  I watch it as it fizzes and cleans.  Once it's done I put the ice pack on, wincing.1

"Stupid, stupid, stupid."  I mutter to myself.2

"What?"  Damien asks, shaking two Tylenol out of the bottle.3

"Nothing, I was just talking to myself."4

"Oh, ok."  He says simply and hands me the Tylenol.5

I take it and we go upstairs and into my room where Alex and Jordan are watching Napolean Dynamite.  Damien and I pull out an old goose feather matress and lay down on the floor.  Damien puts his arm around my waist, his breath warming the back of my neck.6

After about half an hour we hear the front door open and someone stumbling around downstairs.  I stand up and start down the stairs with Alex, Jordan and Damien not far behind.  I feel my eyes widen in shock when I see my mom staggering around drunkenly, mumbling to herself.  I bite my lip, it takes all of me to keep from laughing.  I look back at my friends and see they've all got cock-eyed, confused grins on their faces as we watch my mom grope around the house blindly.  7

"Uh, mom?"  I say quietly.8

My mom looks at me, her eyes glassy and bloodshot, "Kami Jo?  Kami, sweetheart is that you?"  She asks.9

Wow, she must be hammered.  I think.  "Yeah mom, it's me, look let's get you ni bed, you need to sleep this off."  I said, taking her arm.10

"Kami, listen to me honey, listen to me.  I love you," she slurs.  I open my mouth to say something but she cuts me off, "I-you're my whooole world honey and-are you listening?" 11

"Yeah mom, I'm listening."  I say, it gets harder and harder not to laugh as the seconds tick by.  12

"You're my whole world and I just, I just, I just...I didn't mean to hit you honey, you know that."  She rambles.13

"Mom, how much have you had to drink?"  I ask her, raising my eyebrows and waving off our audience who is giggling insanely.  14

She bites her lip and thinks for a moment, "I lost track after my thirteenth shot, but Don said something about cleaning them out.  You know I'd been there since you guys left, I only wanted a beer but-"15

"You've been drinking for two hours?!"  I ask in shock. 16

She gives me a confused look, "is it that late?  Oh God, I'm fucked!  I have court in the morning and, and, and-you know I'm really sorry I hi-"17

"Mom, let's get you to bed."  I say and help her up the stairs, hoping she doesn't fall.  If she falls then we both take a trip down the stairs.  I lay her down in her bed, cover her up and give her a kiss on the forehead, "goodnight mom."  I say gently.18

"Night, honey."  She mumbles right before she passes out.19

I leave the room quickly and bolt into mine, I barely get the door closed before I slide down the door and burst into laughter, "she's so wasted!"  I cackle.  "She's been drinking for two hours...I've never seen her drunk before it's so great!  Why didn't I get this on tape?!"  20

They all smile, "so where is she now?"  Alex asks.21

"I got her in her room just before she passed out."  I tell them, a faint smile still on my lips.  "I have to get up early though, she has court tomorrow and I know I'm gonna have to get rid of her hangover so you guys should probably go."  I add lamely.22

They nod and I take them downstairs and walk them to their cars, I hug Alex and tell her to take it easy and I kiss Damien and watch them leave before going back into the house.  23

I go into the bathroom and take a quick shower before slipping into some loose pajamas and climbing into bed.  As soon as my head hits the pillow I fall asleep just from plain emotional exhaustion.24