Bus Station I caught the next bus to Los Angeles, taking the groceries with me.
I got home two days later. I called my friends to pick me up from the bus station. As I stepped out, Jack, Patrick, and Reggie were outside by the car waiting for me.
"You are a real fucker," Reggie said after he hugged me.
"So are you, Reggie," I replied.
Jack and Patrick freed me from my baggage.
"Hi, Carter," Patrick said.
"We missed you, man. I'm sorry for what happened to us the last time," Jack said.
"You still remember that? It's okay, man, no hurt feelings."
We got in the car and drove off in the middle of the night, heading home to surprise my mom. The night was hot but breezy.
The guys wanted to celebrate my homecoming. On our way home we made a couple stops to get some beers. I thought about going to see Peggy, but I changed my mind.
Amanda's House A big yellow envelope lay on the piano. Amanda and I had just finished interpreting a song. After the practice, Amanda got up to get some wine.
"That was great! You still have your perfect skills."
I nodded with a smile. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
"No, thank you for saving my ass. I really enjoy working with you. We have a tour coming up," she replied as she lit up a cigarette.
She grabbed the envelope on the piano and handed it to me.
"Here are seven airline tickets. We are going to tour all over Europe," she said behind the smoke of the cigarette. She waved away the smoke with her hand.
"When?" I asked.
"Three weeks from now. All the info is in the envelope," she said as she sipped her wine.
"I'm not gonna blow this one. Trust me," I said to her while craving some wine.
"I realized that it wasn't your fault the last time. And I'm sorry for over-reacting."
I gave Amanda a hug, wishing she could let me go tell the news to my mother. However, she kept talking. The alcohol was taking over her senses.
"You're very talented, you know that. It's going to be good for your mom to see you in Paris."
"She will be excited." I tried to keep the conversation brief, and slowly walked toward the door.
"Now it's time to go home."
Finally she decided to let me go. I quickly walked out the door before she said something else.
Home Chriscile sat at her piano. She had just started to play a romantic song when suddenly someone knocked on the door "Come in."
I stepped in, carrying the envelope and a rose that I had bought for my mother.
"How was your day?" I asked her. I sat on the edge of the bed near her. "Mom, guess what?" I showed the envelope to her.
