I’d barely made it in the front door when my mother was descending on me from the top of the stairs, her eyes narrowed, mouth drawn in a tight line as she gave me a look that plainly said ‘you’re screwed’. I hung back in the hall, dropping the messenger bag under the coat rack, my eyes going from the mirror above the side table, to the light before to the coats beside me; anywhere but my mother. “Mom…” The woman bristled as she finally stood in front of me. It’s times like this I rued the fact I was shorter than her. She looked positively terrifying. There’s nothing scarier than a woman looking angry in my opinion. Silently, I prayed she didn’t castrate me. “Don’t ‘Mom’ me, young man. Alex just called. Do you know anything about that?” I stared at her, my eyes furrowed in confusion. Who the hell was Alex!? I hadn’t a clue who she was talking about. “Fighting in school, Justin, really! I thought I raised you better than that!” A pale eyebrow raised as I suddenly realised who Alex was. Well come on, I don’t usually refer to my principal by his first name, do I? She thought she raised me better than that? God, she really doesn’t know me at all does she? I bet you anything she doesn’t know I smoke. Or do drugs. Or hell, even fuck. It’s a miracle she even knows I’m gay but that’s only because Craig told her after he caught me fucking some poor guy in the bathroom of the Country Club. The fuck had been lousy, but it had been worth it to see the older man’s face when he walked in to piss. “Well if you have any plans from now ‘til Christmas then I suggest you rethink them because you’re grounded,” she held up a hand as my mouth opened to argue with her. “Don’t bother talking your way out of this one. That means no movies, no car, no money and, most of all, no Brian!” No Brian!? What is she on? She can’t just ban me from seeing my boyfriend! “Mother!” I shriek, resembling Michael in tone and pitch. “There is no way you can ban me from…from…MY LIFE!” My glare is now the twin of hers and it’s times like this it’s obvious that I’m her son. “I’M ALMOST EIGHTEEN FUCKING YEARS OLD! YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” “Don’t you DARE take that tone with me, young man. I have stood by and watched you THROW your life away. The sex, the drugs.” Obviously I look shocked because she laughs that hollow laugh she does when she’s mad. “Oh yes, I know all about them. The nights I’ve washed your clothes. Do you really think I’d never smelt weed or cum before!?” I wince involuntarily, it’s not my fault. I don’t want to discuss my nightlife with my mother! “I lived with your father long enough, I have a nose like a foxhound” A bark of laughter escapes my throat as I try not to picture my mother as a dog, but come on, it’s just so damn funny. Her brow only furrows more and, as she takes a step towards me, I find myself backed against the wall trying to find a way out of this madhouse. “So you lived with Craig, so what? All it did was hone your nose to the smell of perfume and other whores. Then again, what makes me so different? Oh right, I remember now. Unlike him, I take it up the ass!” I spit, attempting to move round her only to have my arm grabbed. “Let go of me, you slave driving bitch!” I know I’ve taken it too far when the palm of her hand connects with my cheek. There’s a gasp from the doorway and we both look up to see Molly watching. “Don’t you DARE lay a hand on Jester!” she hisses, pulling me away from my insane mother. She’s fiercely protective of me and everyone knows it. Only, now mother’s crossed me, all hell’s going to break loose. Molly looked ready to lay into her but I couldn’t watch what was left of my family fall apart. “Mollusk…no,” was my whisper as I tugged her arm. “C’mon, I’ll take you to see that movie you wanted and hell, then I’ll take you shopping, how does that sound squirt?” Her answer was a nod at him and a glower at her mother before she bounded off to grab her jacket. “Justin, honey, I…” “Mom, don’t.” My sister reappeared seconds later, slipping her arm into the coat sleeve before grinning up at me. “Let’s go, Jester” I nodded and followed her, trying to ignore the handprint that was forming on my cheek.