Homecoming
by Jimmy
“Your brother is coming home.”
Aldo was not exactly listening to his
mother speaking, but he was now. Aldo’s brother was in and out of prison for a
while now. The thought of him coming home, Aldo twists in his seat not
realizing that he has not taken a breath. When he does, he coughs and quickly
takes a drink of water but spits that back out mid cough.
“You don’t need to be so dramatic,
Aldo. Looks like that bunk bed will get some extra use soon.”
Aldo backs up from the table, coughing
in his hands and turns to grip the window sill, eyes dark as midnight staring
out at the sunken sun on the horizon bleaching the tree tops in brilliant hues
of red gold.
Wiping the back of his mouth, Aldo
turns to her unsure of what to say but knowing that he needs to say something.
“When?” he finally manages to get out.
She clears her throat. “Tomorrow
night, I’m going to get him in the morning. I want you here, no extra wrestling
practice and be on your best behavior.”
Aldo nods his head. “Si, Mama.”
A small smile comes over her, “That’s
my good, nino.” Kissing him on the cheek.
Aldo watches her go, feeling wretched
but never in his life would he say something to her that would make her smile
disappear. They were too rare already.










