Home for Christmas

Chapter 1 The last thing Joe wanted to be doing on his final day before winter break was put on a happy face for his mother and pretend he was looking forward to Christmas. Especially after getting her latest text. “Mom, look—” he began, but she was on a roll. “Joey, don’t take that tone with me,” she said in the no-nonsense voice that made her famous. “I’m not sure what the problem is, but the holidays are coming and I expect you to be your usual charming self to Michael, Kris, and Karen.” He chewed his lip and considered his options while he paced his dorm room. Joe didn’t like to argue with his mom, but what she was asking him to do was just too much. Not today. Not after what he’d been through. “Joey?” He also knew that arguing with her was futile. He sighed, rolling his eyes. “Fine…I’ll give Kris and Karen a ride home tonight.” “That’s my boy,” she said. “So, I’ll see you around midnight tonight, right?” Joe couldn’t help it, but rolled his eyes again as he plopped onto his bed. “Yes, Mom. Midnight.” “Quit rolling your eyes. You’ll enjoy this. They’re only one year younger than you. I’m surprised you don’t know them already. They live on campus, too.” Joe wasn’t going to bother explaining to her again that there were over six thousand students living on campus. He rubbed his temple with his fingers, wondering how this day had gone to s**t so quickly. And how was it possible mothers always knew when you were rolling your eyes at them, even on the phone? Mercifully, he was allowed to hang up with the promise of a call to her when they got close to Kansas City. He pressed END on his phone and fell back onto his bed, feet still planted on the floor, and flung his arm over his eyes. Seriously, how had this day gone to hell so fast?