I lower my newspaper to look at my fourteen mwaka old son. When I looked at him, I saw the younger version of me. A bit slimmer, and with (Y/N)’s eyes. His dark hair kind of greased back, black muscle shati and jeans, lounging on the couch, eyes still on the football game. If he kept it up, I could be watching him playing on the screen.
“How did wewe ask mom out?” He says casually, his eyes songesha from the game to me.
I set the newspaper down; rub my chin, remembering how it went down. I smile.
“Well… she worked as a secretary at the roofing company I worked for. I met her in the summer, and I taught her how to lock up. I remember walking into the office and seeing her there, and I was just shocked. It was like my world just stopped for a second; then started going again, much faster and with a different angle on life, wewe know? Anyways, I was speechless. I probably looked like an idiot.” I laugh softly.
Danny smiles at me, waiting for me to go on.
“So I taught her how to lock up… And afterwards, we got to talking. I thought she was the most intelligent, funny, and beautiful girl ever. Besides my mom. But she was close. It was starting to get dark, so I asked her if I could walk her home. And things just went from there I guess.” I shrug. We were so young.
“That’s all?” Danny asks.
“I was nervous as hell, that’s for sure.” I say. “I kept telling myself don’t screw up, don’t screw up.” I smile.
“Ok,” he says, his attention turned back to the game. But he wasn’t focused on it, he was thinking.
“Why did wewe ask?” I say, shifting in my chair.
“No reason.” He mumbles.
“Don’t lie to me, boy.”
He pauses, exhales. “I want to ask a girl out.”
I was kind of stunned. I kept forgetting he was fourteen. Not little anymore.
“Who is this lucky girl?”
“Dad,” he groans.
“Sorry, sorry. I just want to know.”
“Janie.”
“Janie Mathews?” I ask.
“Yeah. We’ve been hanging out for a while now.”
“Well if she says yes… If anything happens, Two-Bit’s going to get you.”
“I know, I know. I’ll make sure nothing will happen to her. I swear.” He says, with dead seriousness in his eyes.
I smile. He was becoming a great young man.
