Running From Bears: Chapter One--"Bye, Mom!"

1

Jason stood in the hallway, hesitating a moment. He had mixed emotions about his mother's trip, but then he had mixed emotions about everything these days. He wasn't sure if it was just what adults call 'growing pains' or if it was merely the restlessness of a city boy stuck in Stillwell, Oklahoma.2

"Jason, I need you to come in here, Sweetie. The cab is on its way. We only have a few minutes." His mother's words floated from somewhere inside her bedroom, along the walls of the corridor, until finally identifying and closing in on their intended target.3

Reluctantly he obeyed, walking toward her room and entering it. 4

The space felt strangely empty to Jason in spite of its current chaos. The usually tidy floor and dresser top were littered with hangers, discarded sales tags and rejected bits of clothing. On the edge of her bed, his mother sat prissily with outstretched legs crossed at the ankles and perfectly manicured hands folded between her knees. A large suitcase lay on the bed to her right, a garment bag sprawled to her left. Behind her an open carry-on waited hungrily, mouth open, to be gorged with the last of the impulsively packed "necessities of travel" that might come in handy. Tucker, the family mutt, was apparently thinking of stowing away inside, along with the puzzle books and reading material. 5

Jason stood in her doorway, leaning against the jamb, both hands in the pockets of his baggy black jeans. He looked at her from between the long strands of brown hair that overhung his forehead.6

Mother smiled bravely at him, as if to divert his attention from the tears pooling in her eyes. She extended her hand, beckoning him to her. 7

"There's my young man. Come. I have some instructions for while I'm gone."8

Keeping his head lowered slightly, he awkwardly approached until his full 5'10" towered over her. She took his hands from their hiding places and held them as she looked into his deep brown eyes.9

"You know I need you to help me on this. I don't like it any more than you do. I'm scared leaving you guys alone so far away. I'm scared I'm going to get there and fall flat on my face. I'm scared about how we're going to make it if that happens. I know you're scared being left behind..." she rambled.10

"I am NOT scared," Jason defended, feeling slightly injured but also unnervingly transparent. He leaned back in avoidance.11

Still clinging to his hands, she bit her lip and looked at their feet as if they held a better angle from which to approach this subject with her son. Unfortunately they didn't. However she did realize talking down to him wasn't the answer, nor was allowing him to talk down to her; so she stood to meet him eye to eye. The gesture was purely symbolic since even in heels, she still wasn't quite as tall as he.12

She spied her reprieve on the nightstand next to her purse. "Let me redirect," she said leaning over to pick up the item.  "I'm leaving you the car keys," she offered, waving them by the ring like a truce flag.13

One corner of Jason's mouth began to curl upward without consulting his permission. Soon a renegade smile took over his entire face.14

"Thought that would do the trick," his mother said grinning back at him.15

As he grabbed for them a high staccato "ut!" squeeked from  her, and she yanked the keys back out of his reach a moment. 16

"Only for emergencies! You can't drive around cruising with your brothers on a learner's permit. Deal?" Mother warned.17

He considered for an instant. "Deal!" he exclaimed, snatching them greedily.18

"You've got phone numbers. NO PARTIES!' she began to recite as she turned away to lean over, zipping and gathering her luggage. 19

"Shoo, Tucker! Keep your cell phone on you at all times. Keep it charged. The three of you are to remain together AT ALL TIMES until I get back.' 20

Then she paused and looked up at him for effect. "And be nice to your brothers...I'm sure they ARE disturbed about this trip.' 21

Considering the probability, she stood up and placed one hand on her hip and rested her chin on the other. "You know, it was maybe a little harder on them when your dad left. They're not as mature and nonchalant as you are about things. They need..."22

BEEP! BEEP! The cab was on the curb in front of their apartment. Displaced, Tucker shot to the front door to perform his duties.23

"Mom! Cab's here!" Andrew called from the living room window. Tucker made a convincing show of fending off the evil intruder from safely inside the apartment.24

Andrew and Jason helped their mother wrestle the bags outside so the driver could load them. They tuned out her nervous drivel, silently  pondering why she needed so much stuff to last from Wednesday to the middle of the weekend. 25

Too soon it was time to kiss them good-bye. She had to turn off the TV and roll Matt, her five-year-old, over onto his back to get his attention. Tucker thought this must be some great new game. He came over to lunge, nip, lick, and dodge at Matt.26

"I'm leaving, VideoBoy! Don't you want to say bye to me? I won't see you for three days..." 27

"Mom! You made me get killed! Now I gotta do that whole level over again! You didn't even save it first!" Matt whined. "Cut it out, Tucker!" he said crossly, pushing the dog out of his face.28

"You can do that level over again as many times as you want while I'm gone. Right now..." she said leaning down and straddling over him to tickle his sides, "I WANT A BIG WET SMOOCH! Get some kisses for me, Tucker! GIT him!"29

His little body flailed and wiggled hopelessly before he gave in to their torture. "Okay! Okay!" he finally conceded, simultaneously giggling and grimacing as he wiped doggy slobber from his cheeks. He threw his arms around his mom's neck to indulge her. She smothered him with kisses which he also wiped away, although they weren't quite as sloppy as Tucker's.30

As she went out the door the last time, Mother hugged Andrew and swayed him in some crazy-Mommie waltz. "Bye, Guy," she said pecking his forehead, "I love you." She whirled him to the left and pointed to Jason. She said, "Help your brother." Then she twirled them around and leaned him to the right, directing, "And protect your brother," indicating Matt who was already reengaged in his virtual war.31

"'kay, Mom. Have a nice trip," he answered, blushing. He felt a little dizzy, off balance. He wasn't sure if it was from the dance number or because the situation of his mother leaving was unfolding too quickly for him to keep up with it.32

The cab pulled away a couple of minutes later, bound for an hour's drive to the airport in Fort Smith. Jason closed the door and each of the three boys busied himself with his own activities. Matt continued his video game while Tucker curled up next to him. Andrew signed onto the computer and Jason set about arranging a party with his friends via cell phone.33