Maybe Another Time Pt. 1

_____“Your sister’s flight is going to land-“
_____“I know!” Darren cut his mom off, irritated at the apparent lack of trust. He was just about to close his laptop, get his jacket and leave for the airport when she called up to him. The laptop stayed open however. “At gate B16, 9:43 post meridian, our adventurous Caitlin will finally be home. Goody.” The last part he muttered under his breath. His mom seemed to hear it however.
_____“I don’t want that attitude Darren. Just, please, get off of your computer and go pick up your sister.”
_____Darren complied. He didn’t want to upset his mom any more than the current situation already had, and her voice was beginning to show signs of strain. He closed the laptop and dropped it onto his bed. Looking outside only served to make things worse. The window was spattered with rain drops, and each one had a dull yellow glow from the corner streetlight.

_____It was an especially chilly November, and he could hear the wind rushing steadily against the house. This made the job of picking up his younger sister from the airport even less appealing. Why she can't just get a damn cab. Darren picked up his jacket and went downstairs, certain he had a brooding look on his face. He got to the bottom of the stairs and was turning into the living room when his mom called from the kitchen.

_____“Darren.” His mom’s voice was calm, but tired. He hesitated for a moment, not sure what she was planning to say to him. Probably more excuses for his sister, but he went to the kitchen anyway; he didn’t want to upset her. She was sitting at the small round breakfast table, dressed in her nightgown and leaning over slightly with her hands trying to keep themselves occupied. He went over to her and sat down. For a few seconds there was only silence. Feeling just a little awkward, he looked past his mother and into the back yard. The sliding glass door was bone dry, but he could see the kitchen lights shudder every time a strong gust of wind hit the house. His mom broke the silence.

_____“I don’t want you to say anything to your sister about her trip when you pick her up. She’s had a hard enough time without her brother piling it on. Just pick her up, and bring her home.” Darren was still looking outside, watching the tree in their backyard lean in the wind. “Darren?” His eyes left the tree and met his mother’s.
_____“Yeah.” He knew he sounded non-committal, but he talked through it. “I won’t say anything to her. I don’t even want to talk to her right now if that helps.”
_____“Darren, please. It’s not your sister’s fault. She thought she was ready for school, but it just didn’t work out.” The tiredness in her voice became more apparent, but it held no remorse, and that’s what finally served to set him off as he stood up from the table.
_____“Of course it just didn’t work out. She’d only been there a few months, and I doubt she even tried while she was there. Now because of that wasted effort, there’s a bill sitting around waiting to be paid and you don’t even care!” Darren heard the words he was only thinking come out of his mouth, and he would have regretted them if they weren’t true. He only regretted that his mother was the only one to hear them.
_____“It wasn’t a waste, Darren.” Her voice wasn’t like he thought it would be after saying what he did however; there was only more exhaustion in it. “Caitlin did what she thought was best, and I’d rather have you kids do that than do nothing. Just because you got through college in one go doesn’t mean that’s how everybody should do it.” Darren wanted to argue, but his mother stood up from the table and flattened her nightgown. He stood taller than she did, but the height made very little difference. “Darren, please just go pick up your sister. Okay sweetie?”
_____Darren sighed in mild defeat, though still upset with his sister and seemingly shrank a few inches. “Okay Mom.” She hugged and wished him goodnight, went to her room, and closed the door. The light from underneath met momentarily with the fluorescent light of the kitchen, but it blinked out and broke the connection. Darren looked at the clock on the wall, and headed for the door.