With his mother coming for dinner, Ikher was in full cleaning mode. He had swept already and was vacuuming when he noticed someone standing on his porch. Opening the door, he found Jerrica in a stripped short sleeve button up over jeans and low top white sneakers.

“Hey Ikher, sorry to interrupt. I was wondering if we could do the thing?” she asked, eyebrows up and a begging smile.

He waved her in. “Yeah, come on.” After they made the exchange, Jerrica didn’t move. She gave him another big smiled and rocked on her heels for a second before speaking up.

“I’m sorry, but can I ask a huge favor?” she said, clutching her purse as she looked up at him.

“What’s up?”

“My husband’s hosting some stupid golf thing, so I can’t do this at home. I could really use the mellow to handle a ton of people at the house. Would you mind if I smoked some of this here?”

“Yeah, sure,” he said, waving her concern away. “Knock yourself out.”

Her shoulders dropped as she exhaled. “Oh my god, you’re a lifesaver! Thank you so much.”

“Don’t sweat it. You need papers?”

“Please! You’re the best,” she said as she dropped on his couch and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Ikher came back from his bedroom, gave her the papers, and went to tidy the kitchen while she got herself sorted. He pulled out and set the dinnerware by the time Jerrica had it lit. She offered it to him as he moved to tidy the living room.

“Oh, sure.” He took a small pull before looking at her joint. “This is a nice roll,” he said with a nod and handed it back.

“Thanks! We smoked a ton in my sorority,” she said with a giggle. Ikher busied himself tidying the living room while Jerrica put work in on the joint.

“Okay, this should be good,” she said, putting the half finished joint out in the ashtray before dumping the remnants back in the baggie. “Let me get out of your hair.” She stood. “I have one more favor to ask if I could.” Jerrica pulled a small spray bottle out of her purse and handed it to him.

“Umm, sure,” Ikher said, looking at the label. It was some sort of scent concealer. He sniffed the air as he sprayed her with the mist. “What is this stuff?”

“It’s the best,” she said, turning so he could spray her other side. “It gets rid of smells instead of just covering them up.” She undid her ponytail, took the bottle from him and sprayed over her head.

“This gets rid of the weed smell?”

“Yup. I spray a bunch, walk through it, and my kids are none the wiser,” she said and put it back in her purse.

“That’s awesome. I’m gonna have to get some.”

“You should. Cullen’s room used to make me gag before I got this stuff.”

Ikher chuckled. “Dirty clothes?”

Jerrica’s face wrinkled like she was smelling her son’s room. “I wish. He’s in a ‘can’t keep his hands off it’ phase. If he has a second of free time, he’s in his room pulling on it.”

Ikher burst out laughing. When he caught his breath, he asked. “Have you had ‘the talk’ with him?”

“My husband did, but it didn’t help. That just made Cullen stop using socks or towels and use up all the tissues in the house.” Ikher snorted and covered his mouth to keep from laughing again. She just rolled her eyes as she walked to his door. “Anyway! Thank you for this.”

Ikher walked her out and watched her walk back into the park until she disappeared.

“You look at my ass like that when I walk away?” Janine asked, making him jump.

“Jesus, you scared the hell out of me,” he said, holding his chest as he lowered himself on the steps.

“Yeah, cause you were too busy watching some tail.”

She grinned at him from the sidewalk in a tank top, distressed jeans, and some high-top sneakers. Her hair parted down the middle and tied back in two big puffs. Her lipstick and eye shadow sparkled in the sunlight.

She nodded toward the park. “You know who that is, right?”

“Yeah, that’s Jerrica. She lives across the river.”

“Yeah, but do you know WHO she is?”

Ikher shrugged. “I guess not.”

“That’s Jerrica Logan. Her husband, Bill Logan, is one of our state senators.”

“Oh wow.”

“Yup! Billy Logan, who ran on prison finance reform and renewable energy. The same Billy Logan who hasn’t done shit about either after two years,” Janine said, shaking her head. She looked back into the park, then back to him.

“Anyway! Damn boy, what is it about you?” She laughed as she lifted the leg of his shorts.

He moved his leg so she couldn’t see. “What are doing?”

“Trying to figure out what these rich and powerful women want from you.”

“Dude, whatever! Oh hey, speaking of that. Your advice sucks,” he said, pointing at her.

Janine scowled at him. “Hold on, what advice did I give you?”

“About Nancy.”

She narrowed her eyes for a second. “The rich blonde?” He nodded. “Okay, but what advice did I give you?"

“That she liked me. I kissed her and it did NOT go well.”

She sighed and shook her head. “First, all I told you was that she was checking you out. Second, you deciding to make a move was a rookie mistake.”

“Rookie mistake?”

“Yep,” she nodded as she sat next to him. “See, you’re used to these young ass little girls. They want you to be all over them and chase them for their attention. Older women? We know what we want and we bide our time. Especially women with something to lose, like your friend.” She poked him in the shoulder. “You should have kept your cool and let her come to you.”

“How was I supposed to know that?!”

She shook her head. “You weren’t. But you do now. Shame you blew your chance on the rich one, but a senator’s wife is an excellent runner up.”

Ikher’s shoulders dropped, and he shook his head. “It’s not like that.”

She laughed and stood. “You said that last time.” When he just grunted in response, she smacked his knee. “Stop pouting, it’s not the end of the world. Anyway, got a question for you.”

“What’s up?”

“Have you seen or heard from Robin?”

Ikher’s face scrunched up. It had been a bit since Robin had bought from him. Ikher couldn’t remember even seeing him come or go from his house. “I haven’t.”

“Hmm. I’m thinking he’s avoiding me.”

“If I see him, you want me to tell him to find you?”

Janine shook her head and waved his question away. “Nah, not that crucial. All right, I’m heading to my friends for a barbecue. I was coming to invite you when I caught you creeping.”

“I can’t. I’m making dinner for my mom tonight.”

Janine reached out and pinched his cheek. “Awww, you’re such a boy scout.” He swatted her hand away, making her laugh. “Aight, I’ll see you later. Tell your mom I said hi.”

“More curry, less coconut,” his mother, said putting the ladle back in the pot before turning to watch him cut the chicken. After a moment, she elbowed him in the ribs, taking the knife. “Your cuts are too big. Out of the way.”

“I like big cuts.”

“Yes, but not everyone does and smaller is easier to chew,” she said, cutting one breast up and showing him. “Sixth or smaller if you have guests. Do those massive quarters when you’re by yourself.” She waved the knife at him before laying it on the cutting board.

“Yes, Mama.”

After they ate, she dropped herself onto the couch as Ikher collected the plates and silverware. He glanced over his shoulder as he put the dinnerware in the sink. “I don’t suppose I could guilt you into helping me clean again?”

“Nope,” she said and pulled a book from her purse. When he finished, Ikher came over and dropped onto the couch. He laid his arm across the back and let his head fall towards her. She paid him no mind and flipped the page.

He tipped the book cover up: Mechanics of Relativity and Thermodynamics. As far back as he could remember, his mother had loved science. She always had some sort of science text with her, and it was never the same kind. Sometimes it was physics. Sometimes biology. Sometimes just plain old math.

“Hey, Ma.”

“Hmm?” she said without looking up.

“How come you didn’t become a scientist?”

She noted the page, closed her book, and set it on the table. “There was a need for social workers,” she said, turning to him.

“I dunno, just seems like you really love science.”

“I do,” she said, her eyes flittering over him. “But there are greater goods that are more important. I’m able to make more of a difference doing this.”

“You don’t think you could have as a rocket scientist or something? You could have made a ship that could make it to mars.”

She chuckled. “Those already exist.”

“You know what I mean,” Ikher huffed. “If nothing else, you would have made more.”

She shrugged. “I make enough now. Once I retire, the state pension and your fathers will keep me from having to live with you.”

“You know you can,” he said and laughed when she scowled at him. “I know, I know. You like your space and your quiet, but you know I’d have you in a heartbeat. We could cook together and go for walks in the park.” His eyebrows shot up. “Oh, hey! I’ve got a surprise for you!” He grinned and held his hands out to help her up. She squinted as he lifted her off the couch.

“Should I be concerned?”

“No. You’ll like this. I promise.” He jumped over and opened the door. His mother chuckled, taking his arm as they left the house and entered the park, walking at her ambling pace.

“Do I get a hint?”

He smiled down to her. “Nope.”

When they rounded the corner, his mother gasped and squeezed his arm. “Oh! Oh my! You’ve gotten so big!” She released his arm and walked forward with her cane. “I’m so sorry my friend, I’ve been so busy with worldly affairs I’d forgotten about you,” she spoke out loud as she approached the tree. “Can you forgive me?” As she reached out to the vines, the wind answered and blew the fronds to her. His mother’s giggle made him smile as she turned back to him.

“Oh junior, come here.” She held her hand out for him. He took it and walked her through the root maze to the base of the trunk. She put his hand on the trunk as she craned her neck back to look up.

Running her hand over its bark, she grinned larger than he had seen in a long time. She wrapped her arms around the trunk. Ikher stepped forward and hugged the tree as well, its familiar warmth seeping into him.

When he felt his mother’s hand take his, he let go of the tree. They stood there, watching the fronds blow in the wind before she put one hand on the tree to steady herself.

“Help me sit.”

They sat against the trunk. He put his arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder.

“This tree was sooo little when your father bought that house. It was only twice as tall as him. I used to come back to sit and talk with it every day. Your father would make picnics and we’d watch the clouds through its vines,” she said, pointing up to the sky through open spots in its canopy.

“We once had a big storm blow through that almost knocked it over.” She looked up at him with a mischievous grin, making her pronounced cheeks even more so. “I made your father help me right it and redo its soil before he could make repairs on the house.”

She giggled and closed her eyes to lay her head back against the trunk. She ran her hands over its roots and through the surrounding grass. There was a gentle peace and relaxation about her he had never seen before.

“What have I always told you?” she asked, without opening her eyes.

“We’re all connected.” When she said nothing and waited, Ikher continued. “Everything. Us. The plants. The sky. So we have a responsibility to be good to each other.”

“Do you believe that, or is it just your crazy mother’s rambling?”

He smiled. “No, I believe it.”

She patted his knee and opened her eyes. Tilting her head back, she became quiet, lost in the sky above. After a moment, she asked. “What other planet has organisms as wonderful as trees?”

Ikher glanced over at her, grinning. “I dunno, Ma. I’ve never been to another planet.” He poked her with his elbow, bringing her back into the world.

She sighed as she looked up at him. Any other time, his mother’s eyes would dart and roam as she took in all the details. But now she stared at him. There was a hint of... something in her eyes, but he couldn’t tell what. She spoke before he could ask what might be wrong.

“Humanity isn’t ready to leave this planet. They still have far too much to learn about themselves and their home.” She squeezed his arm, and he wrapped it around her. They sat, watching the wind blow through the vines. His mother explained how trees communicated with other life around them and pointed out which parts had various medicinal properties.

After some time, she held out her hands for him to help her up and said. “I want you to make me a promise.”

“Sure.”

She grabbed his wrist and looked at him as she put her hand on the tree. “This tree is your friend now too, so come visit every day. Tell it stories about things you’ve seen and experienced elsewhere. If you’re here for it, it will be here for you.”

He nodded. “I can do that. It’s a cool tree.”

“Good boy. She released him and brushed off her trousers. “All right, my friend,” she said as she hugged the tree. “It was wonderful to see you. I’ll come back soon by myself and we’ll catch up.”

His mother’s contented sigh as she ran her hands through the vines of the umbrella made him smile. They were half way back to the house before Ikher realized she didn’t have her cane. He left her and ran back to retrieve it. She waved him off when he tried to hand it to her.

“I feel good. You keep it for now.” She hooked her hand in his arm as they walked. Her normal hobble was barely noticeable, replaced with an almost light spring in her step.