Playing the 'Son' Card by Wilson James Page B

first to my privately, but then I realized that
for all her success at work, she still needed the support from her
good friends for many things.
    It was time to say yes. “Well, sure.
It sounds as if you’ve thought it all out, Uncle Jack. It could be
really nice to all be part of this big family.”
    Mom got up to give me a hug, and in
a moment I was surrounded by all three adults congratulating
me.
    After a bit more time, I headed off
to bed. It had been long day, with some momentous news and plans
revealed.
    The next morning, I was awakened
early by Jesse. He was jumping on me, clearly excited and
happy.
    “You’re going to live with us, and
we all get a new room in the basement.” He repeated his little
sentence over and over until Trevor complained.
    “Okay, Jesse, we hear you. Yes I
agree that it’s great, but you can stop saying it over and over.”
Trevor smiled as he spoke, to show he was not mad or
anything.
    “I take it you two think it’s a good
idea, then?” I was sure of the answer.
    A chorus of yes’ from Jesse and a
solid, “Absolutely,” from Trevor.
    We talked a bit about when I’d
arrive to move in, and Jesse complained that was too long. I
reminded them that the basement needed to get finished and ready,
so the timing was about right.
    I saw them off to school, and then
packed myself up. I was going to go to the office with Mom, and
then go to the airport from there. Sally gave me an extra hug, and
told me to be careful and that she’d see me soon. Jack shook my
hand, and then gave me a hug, and then Mom and I were
off.
    I was wearing a jacket and tie for
the office and for my later travel. I thought it might forestall
any questions about my age at the airport.
    I attended the regular Tuesday
morning weekly agent’s meeting, where I was introduced, and I was
given a couple of minutes to speak about my sale. I followed two
others, so I knew what to say. I spoke about the things that I
thought had made the difference and getting the sale, along with
the problems and how I’d overcome them.
    I also mentioned that I’d used a
computer link to print the offer right at the showing, and that I
thought it had made something of a difference. I almost made it
sound like I’d set up the laptop and printer inside the house, to
forestall any thoughts they might have had about me and a
car.
    When I was finished, I sat down, and
even got a little applause. My mom remarked that she didn’t think
she’d ever heard of anyone getting a sale only three days after
first entering an office and I heard some agreement.
    I had about an hour back in my own
office before I left. As I sat at my desk, I thought about trying
to just stay on, and not go back home. I looking at my name on the
open door, I considered the pros and cons. If I stayed, my new life
would stay, but I would be letting my Mom down by not getting our
old place ready for sale.
    If I stayed, I might have trouble
transferring schools, and I would almost certainly not be able to
finish school two weeks early in June.
    No, it was better to go back, I
decided. It wasn’t too long, and I could tough it out. With that
idea firmly embraced, I felt a little better.
    I had lunch with Mom, and then left
to go over to the airport. I had no trouble with anything. They
didn’t question my age when I checked in for the flight, and I had
no other problems. I didn’t move when they called for early
boarding for those with children. I figured I was not a child
anymore.
    I made the transfer just fine at
SeaTac Airport, and arrived in Spokane as planned, where I got a
taxi to go home.
    What was soon to be ‘our old place’
was strangely quiet after the house in Bellingham. I walked through
to the kitchen and put my pack down on the table, looking around as
if to see if anything had changed since I had left a few days
before.
    Nothing in the house was different,
of course, but I was. I’d had an amazing time, and the fact was
that I had a new life was waiting