The fight cooled down as quickly as it started as a teacher sprinted at the young boys yelling, "No fighting!"
Each of the boys dashed away in opposite directions like scurrying rabbits. Leaving Carter to the teacher's inescapable scolding.
His backpack held the homework he had to do for the night, he felt dizzy just thinking about it. He decided to visit his mother's bookstore before going through any of it.
He kicked a can out of the way with familiarity, the small street was lined with businesses and restaurants.
He lived in a small town just on the edge of rural country. Not much was there so he left when he hit eighteen and never looked back.
As he opened the door to the bookstore 'Dwellers Books' it chimed as he walked through. Raising her head hurriedly, his mother's long dark brown locks fell haphazardly around her face, she spit some of the hair that unfortunately flew into her mouth.
"Son, what brings you here? How was school?"
She said while holding a children's book. She placed it down on the counter, and walked over to him, smothering him in hugs.
"I need to borrow a book. School was great, and thank you for the lunch."
His mother gave him a thumbs up smiling.
He laughed and went to the back for a dictionary. As he shuffled through the books he felt his heart ache, he hadn't been here in so long. The smell of books and the sound of pages being turned gave him a nostalgia that started from the heart and surrounded his thoughts.
He could have been able to run his mothers shop if he just took the effort, just a little bit of effort would have meant a life of comfort for his mother. His mother who single handedly raised him only for him to leave her alone and dying.
"What are you looking for, honey?" His mothers question reached the back of the store that stood at a small 1,666 square feet.
The bookstore had 10,000 books at best, not including small toys, bookmarks, etc. it was a bit cramped but it had its own cozy nook in the back with fluffy beanbags, couches, and kid toys. It was obvious from first sight that this was his mothers family's life long work.
She put most of every penny into having the quality of the store kept reasonable for customers, however very few there were or how terrible the street of the store was. Even with some of the books pointing out of the shelves, it only added a visual of comfort.
"A dictionary." He puts the book he was skimming through back into the shelf, as he turnt around.
"You should've read the signs I put up. You've runned along these shelves since you were little. It's surprising you can't remember where everything is." She pointed to the white tabs that stuck out of the top corner of the shelves. The little words in colorful writing would catch anyone's eyes as soon as they were lost, it was a wonder how he didn't notice.
Music poured from the speakers. This brought back so many memories that it painted a smile across his face.
This was the song that played at his prom.
He laughed to himself when he remembered running out of there with his past girlfriend, everyone chased them down several streets.
His fingers gilded happily across the books, his fingers stopped on a green covered book with no title. He felt almost compelled to pick it up. A little curious, he gently removed it from the light brown shelf.
Its cover was a dark green with no title, it was spotted with age and its spots were each a different shade of green.
His fingers opened the book to the first page. Blank. Page after page was blank.
Sighing he closed the book, he didn't know what came over him. He assumed it was a diary then placed it under his armpit, he was in need of a new book to write his school notes in.
**
His room's desk was loaded with books. His head hurt. He would have to stay up all night to get his homework done.
"Here are some snacks. Work hard son!" his mothers crow feather eyes turned to crescents, her eyes warmed looking at her son. He could tell she was proud of him.
He felt his mood lift and decided no matter how hard it was, he would make sure she was happy for however long he had with her.
His mother was a gentle soul, she was scared of pain. She would cry with the tiniest of wounds, she liked sweet things and she always made sure her son was happy before herself. He needed to make sure she would live the rest of her life eating sweets and never experiencing something unpleasant. She had given him so much and he had given her too little.
He smiled and thanked her for the snacks.
Her rough hands patted his hair.
As he worked he'd nibble on the apples then write something down. His notebook was soon filled with information he needed to remember.
His homework was done after a few hours of work. He'd finished quicker than he expected. His young body wasn't tired in the slightest.
'This is great. I should exercise before bed.'
He did 10 squats, 3 pull ups, and 10 sit ups with breaks in between. He drank constant water throughout his routine. He could feel it all heading south.
"Gotta pee, gotta pee."
He rushed out of his room to the bathroom, but his mother had already occupied it.
"In the shower!" She shouted, he could hear the water running.
Feeling everything going down he started getting more anxious.
"Just head over to Jackie's place next door like you always do."
'Jackie?' He had forgotten Jackie, he was this boy he used to hang out with before becoming rebellious. He ran out the door, he had no time to think about it.
Knocking repeatedly the door finally opened and a young boy opened the door. "What?!" He shouted angrily.
He saw him hopping anxiously, his face full of sweat. "Go go go." He didn't want him peeing at his front door.
Rushing through the house he instinctively found the bathroom and hurriedly locked it. He could feel all the tension releasing. He sighed contentedly.
Washing his hands he exited the bathroom.
"You two really need to get your second bathroom fixed."
"I forgot we even had a second bathroom."
He pointed at a wall while popping his bubble gum at him. "It's to be expected. It's been two years since you broke it."
He couldn't remember that at all, which wasn't surprising since he could barely remember this friend of his too.
"I did?" He asked.
"Yeah. You overflowed the toilet, no one knows what came over you when you suddenly decided you were an expert plumber and started messing with it. All you had to do was use a plunger."
He could feel his face heating up.
Swallowing his gum he pointed at him with a glare and said, "I thought you said we were no longer friends and you wouldn't be using our toilet."
He thought hard but couldn't remember. "Sorry, friends?" It was best he just apologized and tried to befriend him again. He was turning over a new leaf. He was willing to let him, someone who decided not to be friends and probably even insulted him, use their restroom. It showed he still cared for him.
"You won't suddenly get angry with me again, right? Pinky swear." He stuck out his pinky while smiling childishly.
He, embarrassed, locked pinkies with him after he kept egging him on. He was quick to forgive, but that just proved even more how deep their friendship was before he started being rebellious.
Thanking him he left his home, his sweaty shirt stuck to him uncomfortably. He needed a shower.
**
After a warm shower and a sumptuous dinner, he could feel his eyes shutting on their own. He stretched comfortably on his bed and wrapped himself like a burrito with his blanket.
He closed his eyes.