My rear-view mirror showed red and blue lights flashing as the cop car pulled into the plaza. I mashed on the gas and shot down the street.

I was driving from Vallejo to Suisun which, driving the speed limit, takes about twenty minutes. But getting to Mom’s house which was at the back end of Suisun took dang near thirty minutes if all the stupid lights were red. My eye caught my gas meter and I smacked the steering wheel. I’d forgotten to fill up the gas. Oh well. It wasn’t as if my pockets were full of money to spend anyway.

I continued down another block north, entered the freeway and kept it at seventy-five miles per hour. I didn’t want to draw any CHP attention but I also didn’t want anyone to approach me either. If I was lucky the Banshee wouldn’t know which way I went.

It was a warm night but I had the chills and turned the heater on full blast. I put Boston on to calm my nerves. Some songs don’t have the same power though, after you’d faced a life or death situation. There weren’t many lights on this stretch of freeway. I blinked and realized that I’d been staring off into space, trying to process it all. Focus on the road.

“What just happened?” I asked myself. My reflection in the driver’s side window showed a young man, eyes wide with fear. “That lady was... a monster.”

And I had been way off about Nehemiah. My bad. From a certain perspective, it looked like something completely different was going down. Just saying. That magic stuff saved my life back there, both mine and the other guy.

“How had I attacked that demon thing?”

Running over the incident again, I realized that some kind of power had come out of me, released through my hand. Sure, I could sense things, but I had no idea I had magic. And with just my fist. Imagine what I could do with a sword. Or even a gun. I could make Gun Kata real. Eat your heart out Christian Bale!

The voice in my head reminded me, but how’d you do it? Could you replicate it? Who cares? No time to think about that, said another voice in my head. Time to decide what you’re going to tell Mom.

How long ago had I left? I looked at the clock. Holy crow! I left almost forty-five minutes ago. She would not buy just any story. And I was also missing the UFC fight by now.

I passed by a McDonald’s and remembered I was starving. And if I was then, my family was too. Why had I forgotten to buy meat? I ruined family night.

I tried to conceive a story for Mom. “I’ll just say the shopping lines were backed up, the credit card readers were down, and then there was this homeless guy asking for money so I had to go the ATM for cash…” But as I listened to myself there was no conviction in it.

Noticing my gas tank again, I kicked myself for not taking my mom up on the offer to give me cash. Meat was way more expensive than I remembered. Was this how it felt to be an adult? I’m not a very good adult.

I used to think my parents were squares because they enforced strict rules just to be mean. But now I realize that they are great at juggling a bunch of different priorities. I on the other hand, was not a good juggler. Hence the near-empty tank. I’d have to be discrete about that though. If she even caught a hint I needed any money she’d give me a $20 or a $50. Mom, gotta love her.

I exited the main freeway and entered the highway that led to the house. The event had only started an hour ago, but I wanted to fire up the barbeque ASAP so I could watch the fight and eat at the same time.

Watching UFC at our home was a family event. Chalk it up to the fighting Irish blood in us. We loved to see two combatants battling it out with their fists. May the best man win. It was one of the few things that still brought our family together, small as we were now. Though we didn’t say it aloud, it reminded us of times when the whole family was together, when we were all still alive.

I took back roads to the house to make sure I wasn’t followed. Besides being attacked by a Banshee, what bugged me the most about tonight was seeing my brother. Well, brothers. But Aiden doesn’t count as I see him all the time.

Gavin would be there for the first time in a couple years and we hadn’t talked for a while, besides short and vague texts. He left on a bad note after a heated argument. It wasn’t the only reason he was gone, but it was the last straw. But after two years he finally figured he’d pop in all the way from Washington.

Turning left on Grayland Court down Mom’s street, I slowed down to the speed limit as a means to slow my thoughts. Deep breaths.

Despite still feeling anger and resentment towards Gavin, admittedly I was looking forward to seeing him. I wondered how he was managing it up there in Washington by himself. Living by myself and renting in the Bay Area sucked; it was rare to get enough hours at my part-time job to afford rent.

I pulled up to the driveway and noticed that Gavin’s truck wasn’t anywhere in the court. He must be running late too. Mom was going to be thrilled. She hadn’t seen Gavin in a long time either. And Aiden would be so excited he’d pee himself. I swear that kid acted more like the family dog, Tain, than acting like my actual brother at times. But I couldn’t blame him; he needed attention and a father. Ever since Anna died, he hadn’t been the same. None of us were. And then Dad passed right after that…

I sighed and was once again reminded that life likes to kick you in the groin at times. But I needed to move past that and reflect on the positive things, the good things in life: my mom, my little brother Gavin, and my kid brother Aiden. Tonight Gavin and I would put our differences aside. We were eating meat and watching a UFC fight. How could anything go wrong?

The front door opened and Aiden ran out to meet me along with Tain.

“Hey Sean,” said Aiden, giving me a big hug. “What took so long?” he yelled. That kid has no filter. That’s why he’s a kid.

“How’d you know I was here?” I asked.

“Heard your car.”

Tain leapt up and put his paws on my chest, trying to lick me. “Hiya boy.” The gray-haired German shepherd loved being scratched behind the ears. “Is Gavin here?”

Aiden looked like he wanted to say something but bit his lip instead.

“He’s not coming, is he?”

Aiden shrugged. “I’m starving.”

I was starving too and shot from the front door straight to the back patio, with Tain and Aiden trailing beside me. The barbeque pit sat on the back patio. I took off the protective tarp and fired it up.

“Scissors please,” I said to Aiden and he ran off.

Stinkin’ Gavin. Initially when my mom said he was coming for the event I didn’t want to face him. But after a while the reunion grew on me and I was ready to make amends, only to find out he’d dodged it completely.

“He could’ve told me beforehand,” I mumbled. It’s not like he didn’t know yesterday or the day before that he wasn’t coming. It’s at least a couple days drive.

Aiden retrieved the scissors and I cut open the meat and threw it on the grill.

“Did the main event happen yet?”

“It’s all over,” he said.

“Already?”

“They were all really fast fights.”

“Crap!”

Aiden stood there awkwardly until I said, “Go play your games, dude.”

He didn’t skip a beat. “I’ll go tell Mom you’re here.” He then bolted off leaving Tain and I standing there in the dark with the grill. “Welcome home Sean,” I sighed.

Mom joined me on the patio. She wore a flowery blouse and jeans. She looked good and I smiled as I greeted her. “Hey.”

“Hi baby.” She gave me a hug.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing much.”

“Thanks for running to the store,” she said. “What took you so long?”

I ran her through all the excuses I had made up. Hit every red light, long lines at the store, the register broke, the homeless guy that needed cash, and going to the ATM.

“You know how it all adds up,” I finished.

“Sorry you missed the fight,” she said.

“Aiden didn’t say who won.”

Mom pursed her lips.

“Awe crap! Did the other guy win?”

She nodded.

“Dang it. I still would’ve liked to watch it.”

“You realize Sean, none of this would’ve happened if you had remembered to buy the meat in the first place. Are using the planner I bought you?”

“Not now, Mom! I already understand; I messed up.”

“Hear me out, son. I realize you’re juggling a lot of things. If you take the time to write them all out it really helps sort your thoughts.”

“You’ve told me this a million times.”

“Well it doesn’t seem to get through, does it? We’re all hungry and irritated. Not just you. Not utilizing the planner affects other people.”

I sighed. I wasn’t going to win this one.

“So how’s the new apartment?”

I knew what Mom was after. She was seeing if I needed financial aid. “It’s cool. I’ve got everything under control.”

She reached out and rubbed my shoulder. “You have to be tough because you’re the man of the family now but if you need help please tell me, okay?” She put her hand in mine and I felt the wadded $50 bill.

“Mom, I can’t take this,” I said.

“Sure you can.”

I returned it to her. “Thanks. It means a lot. But I have to figure this out myself,” I said, shuffling the meat around.

She changed the subject. “How are your classes?”

College. Ugh. I had a ton of homework for community college and I’d fallen behind. Of course, I put most of it off until the last minute and forgot about the barbeque dinner. Responsibilities weigh on me even if I neglect them. “They’re okay. I have unfinished homework I’ve been putting off.”

“Are you making any new friends?”

I grinned a little and she noticed.

“So, that’s a yes?”

“Yeah…”

She folded her arms. “Care to elaborate?”

I used the tongs to flip over a few pieces that were almost done. “There’s this girl in my history class I’m kinda interested in.”

“Who is she? What’s her name?”

“Come on Mom, it’s nothing serious. Her name’s Charice.”

“And what’s she like?”

Charice. She was so cute, so half Asian, half Mexican. Sigh. Oddly enough, we were paired up together for a project. We hit it off strong and I suggested that we discuss our project over dinner this week. She must’ve been attracted to me too because she agreed to it right away.

“She’s cool,” was all I said. “I mean, I don’t know her. But I have to work with her on this project tomorrow night.” I flipped several more pieces of meat, some of the juice falling down into the open flame and sizzling. The smell made my mouth water.

“So, you’re gonna meet with her tomorrow?”

“Yep, during dinner to talk about how to best tackle the workload.”

“So you have a date,” she said elbowing me in the arm several times.

I tried not to crack a smile. “It’s not a date, Mom! We’re just hanging out.”

She was grinning from ear to ear. “So, describe this Charice girl.” She knew me and Gavin had an infatuation with exotic girls.

“She’s not white,” I said.

“That’s not what I…”

I chuckled. “Of course that’s what you wanted to know.”

“It makes no difference either way,” she said.

“She’s half Asian and half Mexican.”

“Wow! I can’t wait to meet her.”

“The barbeque is done. Can you hold the plate?”

I loaded the barbeque onto the plate. Then she covered it in foil and we moved inside to eat dinner. “Dinner’s ready kid!” I yelled to Aiden.

---

“My meats burned,” Aiden complained.

“Oh stop,” said Mom. “It’s not burnt, merely a little crispy. Here,” she handed him barbeque sauce. My mom’s usual remedy for any meal that wasn’t stellar was to add more sauce.

I didn’t want to ruin dinner, but the empty seat reserved for Gavin nagged at me. “So where’s Gavin, Mom?”

She frowned. “I’m sorry son. He’s not going to make it.”

“Why not? We’ve planned this in advance for him.”

“Well, unfortunately your brother had the flu last week and used up all his sick days. So when he tried to come down here his boss wouldn’t let him off.”

“That’s weird,” I said. “Gavin never gets sick.”

She nodded her head in agreement. “He’s bummed that he couldn’t be here.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Mom put her hand on my arm. “We’ll just make the best of it.”

Besides some pieces being slightly burnt, it was a great meal. I hadn’t sat down with my mom and brother in a while, and when you’re starving almost anything tastes good.

“Besides being sick,” I said, “how’s he doing?”

“He’s doing just fine,” said Mom. “Working the lumber mill and making good money. More than what any 18-year-old needs. Supposedly he’s working 50, 60, sometimes even 70 hour weeks.”

“He’s a workaholic, just like how Dad used to be,” I said. “I bet he doesn’t take weekends off.” Or that was his excuse for not talking to us much. That guy. I don’t understand him sometimes.

Mom simply nodded, so I didn’t continue. Instead I had Aiden relay the fight blow-by-blow. “And that’s how he lost.”

“Geez. That sucks,” I said.

“Language,” Mom said.

I rolled my eyes. “That stinks.”

Aiden laughed.

I pushed my plate away from me. There was plenty of food left but I’d gorged myself. I threw some scraps at Tain who was at my feet under the table.

“You boys wanna watch a movie?” said Mom raising her eyebrows up and down. Whenever she did that it meant she was attempting to make us watch a movie we wouldn’t like.

“Are you trying to watch the Wedding Planner again?”

“How’d you guess?” she said, irritated. “J Lo’s in it.”

“Oh, Mom! Not the Wedding Planner,” groaned Aiden.

“Yeah, not a stupid rom com,” I said.

“You boys got your fight and now I get my romantic comedy,” she explained.

“I didn’t see the fight,” I said.

My phone vibrated as I got a text in my pocket. I pulled it out see who it was. On the screen I saw Charice’s name.

“Who’s Cha-rice?” asked Aiden.

“Quit being nosy, kid,” my Mom said and winked at me.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m going out back for some fresh air,” I said and excused myself from the table and stepped outside.

Charice and I hadn’t talked for a few days.

Charice: We never talked about where we wanted to go tomorrow night

Me: Hamburgers?

Charice: Cheeseburgers! With bacon.

My kind of woman.

Me: Five Guys?

Charice: Definitely!

Me: 6:30 PM?

Charice: Sounds good

I realized that I had been typing super fast and my stomach felt all jittery. Calm down bro, I reminded myself. Like you told Mom, it’s nothing. I smiled and sighed. But Charice and I could be something.

Then I remembered my brother. I found his name on my contacts and typed a text to him.

Me: I thought you were supposed to be here, bro? WTH?

He texted me back right away.

Gavin: I tried to be there… but some stuff came up

Me: It must’ve been really important stuff

Gavin: It was

This guy. Why must he be so flippin’ vague? He was so much like Dad.

I looked up at the stars and the moon, remembering Dad and my sister. My chest hurt at the memory of them. I never realized how much I would miss them. Why wasn’t I spending time more with the family I did have?

I turned to go inside when I heard a loud noise in the backyard.