L E O N I E

Mom leaves for London tomorrow. Her organised boxes were being collected when I got home from school. Despite the fact that she'd packed up most of her sentimental items - photos, jewellery, shoes and favourite bath bombs - she had left a lot behind as well. Her walk in wardrobe had a ridiculous amount of clothes still hanging or folded in the wall drawers. Her bed was made and the night stand digital clock and lamp remained.

I suppose it did look more like a guest bedroom than a lived in bedroom now and I stood at the threshold while Mom pulled on her suede pumps before we went out for dinner. She looked like a knock out in her long sleeve maroon fitted dress. The neckline plunged lower than my standards after three tequila shots and the bottom was tight around her knees. If I look even half as good as her when I'm her age, I'll be thrilled.

She'd made a big fuss about the fact that we were going out to Laurent's. It was a high class joint that she frequented with her work gals. The price for a side of garlic bread could fund an annual subscription for vogue. But she insisted that we make a night of it as a form of farewell. I had suggested that we host a rave with neon paint, UV lights and white t-shirts. It'd been a definite no when I told her how much more intense the experience would be if we railed some MDMA too.

I have never touched drugs.

Well, I haven't since I accused a bouncer of murdering bambi's mother, licking the pavement when I was told that it was a footpath made of sherbert and throwing three hundred dollars cash in the ocean as a donation to save the whales.

What a night.

When the valet opened Mom's door and we stepped out of the car beside the entrance which was bordered with seven foot tall glass panels with faux flames lapping at the narrow windows, I smoothed out the dress that I'd chosen for the evening. It was a deep rich purple. It sat at the thighs and had thick straps and a high back. The material was smooth to the touch. Like butter and a pair of platforms were the perfect finish to the outfit.

"I'm sorry Ma'm. We are fully booked," the maître D stood at his tall desk with his book open and his expression bleak. The foyer was dark. A water feature made waterfalls in the corner, lights twinkled under the small pool that gathered at the bottom of the fountain. A bag and coat check station was situated to the right and through a set of frosted glass electric doors, was the dining area. Where we would not be eating so it would seem.

"Mom," I stared in disbelief. "You didn't make a reservation?!"

She winced and gave me a little shrug. "I . . . forgot?"

"Unbelievable."

"Sorry ladies," Chad - the Maître D - apologised again with a sympathetic smile. His black hair was swept back with enough grease keeping it slick that he could oil the damn engine in my car. "We can't seat you without a reservation. We can fit you in," he began leafing through his binder as he clacked his tongue. "In three months on November twenty eight?"

Mom shook her head but thanked him. Of course I wasn't opposed to attempting another tactic. Two birds with one stone if I could embarrass her. "What if I show you my tits?"

"Leonie!" From the red in her cheeks, it was safe to assume that I had embarrassed her. Mission accomplished. Paybacks a bitch Mom. And so am I.

She gripped my shoulder and apologised to Chad who despite his silence was staring at my chest as if he wanted to be polite but still express that he was most definitely interested in seeing my boobs. Mom began pushing me outside.

"What?" I shrugged as she pushed me towards the valet station. "F Y I, it was a joke. But look, if men are going to take advantage of us and treat us like objects, I don't see why I shouldn't use the breasts that God blessed me with to my advantage. I have to carry the lumps of flesh around. Why shouldn't I use them how I want?"

The man on valet stared at Mom and I with his mouth agape and a flush blossoming across his neck. Mom sighed with exasperation and gave him the car ticket without bothering to apologise for my behaviour. Or forcing me to apologise. We were long past that point.

I had a feeling that the wait might have been awkward for the valet who hadn't gone to get our car. The three of us stood in silence and I could tell that Mom was hoping that another car would pull up and need the young man's car parking services, relieving her of the tension that she was feeling. I could never understand why she valued the opinion of strangers so much.

When we got in the car, Mom pulled out of the lot and exhaled with an undertone of disappointment and mild stress. "What should we do now? Should I call around and see what isn't booked up for the night?"

"Pass," I waved a dismissive hand. "I'm down for McDonalds fries and a McChicken."

Mom turned to me for a moment, mouth open, disappointment evident. "McDonalds? Leonie, we're meant to be going out for a nice dinner together."

"We'll still be together," I shrugged. "And although I think that the fact that you like Fillet - O - Fish burgers is diabolical, I'll allow it for tonight."

"What's wrong with Fillet - O - Fish burgers?"

"It's fish," I gagged. "Fish belongs in the same food group as coffee and almonds. Unless the almonds are covered in chocolate. Then I'm down."

The giant yellow M came into view as we drove down the road. It was tucked in beside the Mobil gas station and a Dunkin Donuts. Mhmm dessert after dinner. Perfect. Before Mom could even consider driving past, I leaned over and flicked her indicator on so that she had no other choice, but to pull in.

"Leonie," she snapped and gave my wrist a slap. It just missed and I laughed as she panicked and pulled into the drive. The roads weren't chaotic and she hadn't made an illegal move so I grinned as she guided the car through the lot. "Fine. We'll go through the drive thru."

"Na," I argued, pointing at a space. "We're going in. Remember, we came out to dine together? McDonalds is a restaurant."

"We're not dressed for it," she wailed as she killed the engine. The lot wasn't packed. There were more cars going through the drive thru than there were in parking spaces. So I figured that meant it wouldn't be hectic inside.

"Mom, I've seen girls in this McDonalds with their ass cheeks falling out of their dresses and their tits so far out of their boob tubes that they were one slip from being a free the nipple campaign. I think if they can get served, we'll be just fine."

She grumbled as we hopped out of the car and met up at the tail end. "I meant over dressed," she slipped her handbag over her shoulder, her heels click clacked on the pavement. "We look ridiculous."

"Bitch, I look fabulous."

"Don't call me that!"

I scoffed with an eyeroll, holding the door open so that she could walk her nervous ass inside. "I was being sassy, Mom. It was a figure of speech."

The line wasn't long. There were a few tables that were occupied with people around the same ages as me. Perhaps a bit older. The aroma of deep fried potatoes was mouthwatering and I ignored the curious stares from the staff as we stood in front of the counter. Mom was attempting to read the menu but her gaze kept drifting to the occupants of the establishment. She was so wound up.

"Hey," I said to the tall boy in his McDonalds cap and headset. I could never understand how the staff here were so good at multitasking. If I had to listen to a headset, serve food and take the counter, I would have a brain malfunction. "Can we get a Fillet-O-Fish combo with a frozen coke. Same drink for a McChicken combo. An extra serving of fries. A hot apple pie and two cheeseburgers."

Mom quietly gasped behind me. "Leonie," she hissed. "What in the—"

"I'm starving!" I practically shouted. "You never feed me, Mom. Never. I'm skin and bone."

She slapped me on the arm, her cheeks blushing furiously as I ran the debit card through the machine. "And she's abusive," I sighed at the cashier who was attempting a professional smile that screamed 'this is awkward. Please just pay and leave.'

"I can not wait until I'm safe in London and not being humiliated by my daughter in public," she said as we stood to the side and waited for our food. "Isn't it supposed to the other way around? Isn't the mother supposed to embarrass the daughter?"

"Give it a go," I challenged and encouraged her with a smug nod.

She raised an apprehensive brow and glanced around the restaurant. No one was paying us any attention. So she cleared her throat and adorned a misplaced confidence. "Remember— remember that time," she stumbled over her words and spoke about a decibel louder than her usual volume. "Remember that time you had dihorrea?!"

I stared at her proud expression and blinked. It was all I could do not to burst out laughing. "Yeah I do," I shouted again. "You had to wipe my ass."

Her eyes became impossibly wide and with how red she had been tonight, I was surprised she didn't just remain a natural blushed complexion. "Leonie!"

"Good effort Mom," I patted her shoulder. "You're up against someone who has no shame whatsoever. You would never win."

"Uh did I hear what I think I just heard?"

I turned around and saw Heath standing beside us. He was with a petite thin girl who I acknowledged with a polite smile. She was wearing a beanie and I couldn't help but notice how sallow and thin her skin appeared. I didn't want to stare though. So I moved my attention to Heath and laughed.

"Yeah we were just playing our own version of the penis game."

"The penis game?" He questioned and I could see Mom pinching her nose in my peripheral vision.

"You know the one? Surely? It's a challenge. You and a partner take turns saying penis. You have to get louder and louder until someone gives up and backs out," I explained and noticed the amused grin on the girl's face. "Want a round?"

"No," he quickly declined with a light laugh. "No that's alright. Perhaps some time when our sisters aren't around."

I heard Mom almost choke on her own saliva beside me. Mom was gorgeous but she wasn't mistake-me-for-a-twenty-year-old gorgeous. She had aged well. What a smooth talker.

"Mom," I sighed with amusement. "This is Heath. Heath this is my Mother."

"Could have fooled me," he smiled and took the hand that she extended. "It's nice to meet you Ma'm."

"It's Meredith," Mom corrected, giggling as if she was sixteen and talking to the most popular boy on the football team. In all fairness, if I was her age and a twenty one year old told me that I looked half my age, I would be the same.

It wasn't even just his age.

He looked so good in a fitted long sleeve shirt with a V neck. His dark jeans were snug and fit him in all of the right places. He was so much more polite than he looked. He had the exterior of someone that you knew would break your bed and your heart but you still let him tie you to the headboard and wrote 'use me' across your forehead.

Ooh. Fantasies.

"This is Sarah," he gestured at the girl who was wrapped in a robe with slippers on her feet. "Sarah this is Leonie."

She smiled and let me shake her frail hand but our introductions were cut short when our food was delivered. I told Heath to come and sit with us after he and Sarah had theirs and we slid into a booth seat in the middle of the restaurant.

Mom had returned to her usual nervous self and practically inhaled her burger before Heath and Sarah joined us. She was so fickle about eating in front of strangers. While she was demolishing food faster than a starved dog, I gave her a brief run down on Sarah's condition. She pouted with cheeks full of fish burger. But I told her to get a grip and not make things uncomfortable.

I was two cheeseburgers down when they finally joined us. Who knew what the wait was. It wasn't busy.

Heath and Sarah sat on the opposite side and I smiled. "So what are you guys doing here?"

"We just went and saw a movie," Heath explained, opening his burger box. "Figured we'd grab something to eat before we went home. How about you two? You're dressed up."

His gaze gave me a quick once over but the moment was disrupted by Mom nudging me with her elbow. "I told you we were too dressed up."

"I think you look beautiful," Heath said, his attention on me. But Mom blushed and waved her hand dismissively as if she was embarrassed at the attention that she wasn't getting.

It wasn't that she couldn't get that attention. It was just somewhat obvious who he was talking to.

Sarah swallowed a bite of her nugget and straightened up. "Leonie?"

"Yeah?" I smiled.

"I'll have a round of that penis game with you."

Heath and Mom looked alarmed but I dropped my burger in front of me and pointed at her. "For real?"

"No," Mom shook her head. Sarah nodded with enthusiasm.

"Penis," I said with a whisper.

She raised it just a little. "Penis."

"Penis."

"Penis!"

"Shut up!"

"Penis!!"

"Stop!"

"Penis!!!"

"PENIS!!"

"Leonie," Mom slapped a hand across my mouth and Sarah and I dissolved into laughter as all six of the diners stared at us in shock. Some of them - the younger ones - were laughing. Others didn't seem so amused.

Heath shook his head, rubbing his stubble with amusement. "I think that I understand the game now," he chuckled and popped a fry into his mouth. "That's something else."

"Something else, alright," Mom sighed, rubbing her temples. She sipped on her frozen coke and waited for Sarah to stop laughing before she spoke again. "Sarah, what school do you go to, love?"

"Oh I don't go to school," Sarah explained, scratching her head through the top of her beanie. "I do correspondence. I have too much time off school with being close to death and all."

She said it without hesitation. It was so casual and it drew all of us up short. Apart from Heath who looked hurt but not surprised at her blunt approach to the situation.

"I'm very sorry that you're going through that, sweetheart," Mom gave her an awkward pat on the back of the hand. She meant well. She was sincere and sweet about it. But it still made me sigh.

Sarah shrugged but stole a quick peep at Heath before she continued eating. I had a feeling that she was going to say more but she didn't want to make her brother upset. Mom was quick to turn the conversation anyway. "What do you do Heath."

"He's a massage therapist that specialises in happy endings," I lied with a straight face.

"I'm a med student," Heath smiled as if I hadn't even spoken. It was more impressive that he hadn't blushed. He'd seemed a bit flustered since we met. "I go to Miami Dade with Leonie's friend, Bray's sister. Jade."

"Oh," Mom pursed her lips but kept her opinions to herself. I couldn't blame her. It wasn't her fault that she'd walked in on me with my legs behind my head and Bray naked as the day that he was born. She'd forever have that image burned behind her retinas.

If Heath noticed that there was an awkward tension, he didn't let on. Instead we spent another half hour at the table. Heath led the conversation about what being a med student required of him. It sounded like a lot. But Mom was sufficiently fascinated and kept the questions coming.

Occasionally I focused on Sarah and found that she was endowed with a fantastic sense of humour. It wasn't surprising after the penis game. But she had a quick wit and made for interesting conversation. It made me hurt to think about the fact that she was on borrowed time. It didn't seem fair that this bright girl would be taken too soon. It was always the best ones. But her attitude was something to admire. She clearly wasn't letting it get her down.

I found myself becoming very fond of these two.

The next morning, or so I assumed it was the morning, it was still dark but Mom was tapping my cheek. Her voice becoming louder each time she said my name.

"Leonie."

"Leonie."

"Leonie."

"Leonie."

"I will actually punch you in the tit," I grumbled, swatting her hand away while I remained on my stomach and considered smothering myself with a pillow. She pushed her finger into my back and continued to wake me up so I turned my head to the side and stole a peek at my new digital alarm clock - Mom made me get it, she didn't trust me to set a phone alarm - which read that it was just after four.

"Mom," I groaned and rolled over on to my back, getting tangled in my own hair as I moved with awkward lagging arms and legs. "This is child abuse. Get out."

"I'm leaving," she whispered. Which seemed pointless. There was no one else in the house and she was forcing me to wake up. She might as well have been screaming at the top of her lungs for all it mattered. She'd disturbed my sleep and now I would never drift off again. "I'm going to the airport now."

"Okay. Love you. Bye."

"Is that it?" She scoffed, no longer whispering. "You don't even want to come to the airport or stand up and give me a hug?"

"Oh fuck, that's right," I sat up, palming the sleep out of my eyes. "I forgot about that. Got a thirty gram or something? I need to wake up before I drive."

"Hilarious," she flicked the light switch on, essentially blinding me before she walked out of the room. "I'll drive to the airport. You can use that time to wake up. Ten minutes. Quick please, Leonie."

Despite the fact that I wasn't a morning person, drugs were out of the question and I had ten minutes to have both feet in the waking world, I managed to throw on some clothes and get out of the house in time. My hair was tied into a dishevelled bun on top of my head and I was swallowed my comfiest oversized sweats. It wasn't the best look for the public to witness. But I wasn't concerned.

When we arrived at the airport, I followed Mom around while she checked in and confirmed that all of her extra boxes had made it on to the flight. There was a long wait between having to check in and actually boarding the plane. So when the sun started to rise, I considered the fact that I could end up late for school if I didn't leave soon. It felt mean to ditch her and I would have suggested having the entire day off. But Mom wouldn't have it. The principal is aware that Mom is moving so my attendance will be watched even harder.

"Mom, I'm going to be late for school."

We were sitting in the waiting lounge in cushioned arm seats. Mom was watching the departures board with disinterest. She was tired but snapped to attention when I mentioned school. "You should get going."

"I feel a bit stink leaving you here alone."

She waved me off with a pssh noise. "Don't. I've flown a million times before. I'm an adult Leonie. Go to school."

I stood up, still a bit reluctant but she was right. She had done this a lot before. She usually came back but the concept was the same. Sit in the airport, get on the plane, order the terrible food and chew on the lollies to stop your ears from bursting. She had it covered. She stood up as well and swallowed, letting her trepidation seep into her features. "Are you sure you're going to be alright?"

"As long as the rival gang don't find and kill me for burning down their production warehouse."

She closed her eyes and sighed. Her exasperation soon disappeared as she pulled me into a tight hug.