Nice Little Tuesday

Karl pulled up behind his brother’s car and for a moment considered mashing the accelerator, ramming the other car and then making a getaway, disappearing off into the night. Kyle was never on time to these things and so it upset Karl that he was the latecomer this evening. He figured Kyle must have got here early to ask for money and didn’t want him to know about it, didn’t want him to say anything. Well, Kyle was in for a big surprise if he thought he wouldn’t find out or say anything. He had not even stepped out of his car yet, and Karl was already in a bad mood and ready to get in an argument. That’s what working all day will do to you. He opened his door, got out and stretched, spat on the ground, closed his door and stepped up the path double-time toward the front door of the house. He then remembered the bottle of champagne and flowers in his car and had to turn back around for them. He wondered if his brother brought her anything at all? He hoped he didn’t, as this would underscore his thoughtful gesture all the more. He was starting to get a headache. He stopped walking for a moment and bent over, hands on his knees, taking slow, deep breaths.



Inside the house Kyle heard a car engine and then the sound of a door slamming outside. He assumed it would be his brother Karl arriving and he felt a twinge of excitement to see him, they had not hung out in a few months, not since Christmas, actually. He hoped Karl wouldn’t be in a bad mood tonight. When Karl was in a bad mood, he could really be mean and make Kyle uneasy. It was weird. It had always been this way, at least ever since they started going to school. He didn’t know why Karl was so serious all the time, but he wished the guy would just take a Xanax or a rip off the bong with him and look at the bright side sometimes.



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“It’s so nice to have my boys with me here! Thank you both for coming. I couldn’t ask for more. I know you’re both very busy and have better things to do than drive – “ she said, brightly lit on her side of the table.


“It’s no trouble, mom!” said Kyle


Karl was silent for a moment, glaring at Kyle before he said “No problem. What else would I rather be doing with my free time than seeing my family?”


Kyle shot a glance at Karl, wondering if he was being sarcastic. Karl got up and walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “Is there a beer or something in here?” he shouted back. Kyle shot a glance at his mother to see how she would react. Was there beer?



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“That looks great, Mom! I’ve been thinking about your meatloaf all week!” said Kyle while eyeballing the sad and blackened log. Karl stared at him silently for a moment before adding “Yeah. It looks great.” After another moment he asked his mother “Have you had your hearing checked lately? I heard they give free tests at Costco.”


“Hearing? No. Why?” She answered while sawing a fat portion of the loaf with a dull knife before placing it on the plate in front of Kyle.


“ I just figured the oven buzzer must have been making a lot of noise for a while, maybe the fire alarm too. Have you checked the batteries lately? Would you like me to do it?”


“The buzzer? What buzzer?” said his mother while carving off another piece with some effort. He could see the thing was raw and pink in the middle. His mother knew only one setting on the stove or oven, and this was HIGH, five hundred degrees or more, and everything seemed to emerge burned in appearance, but uncooked within. He had tried to think of some analogy to their life with this culinary constant, but could not. “Would you like one piece or two, Hon?” she continued, dropping a double-slice on the plate in front of him.