Goodbye
by Tablynvan
“You’re what!?” Irene Bell screamed at her first-born son in such a tone she
had never used before with him.
“I’m quitting the band.” Carey whispered, he was a grown man but
at the moment very afraid of his mother.
“Why?” She had noticed her voice was too loud and tried her
hardest to calm it down.
“Sorry I can’t tell you.” He hated not being to tell her, he
always felt he and his parents had a very good relationship with one
another. But there was no way he would be able to answer her question.
“Will you be going back to school?” Those were the first words
Ned had said since the discussion more like argument began.
“I doubt it.” Carey knew that would be opening a can of worms.
“Son you can’t get far in this world with just a high school
diploma, how are you going to find work?” Irene’s calm voice was
disappearing.
“I can just play my guitar at clubs and stuff, I’m sure it won’t
be long before I’m hired to play for someone.”
“Carey it’s not that easy! The only reason you got this gig is
because of obvious personal connections.”
“Mom I’m not a child anyone, there’s no need to protect me from
the big bad wolf.” His parents look at him thinking over what he just said.
“Do you think we baby you? Is that why you want to leave?”
“Yes, I mean no, well maybe.” Carey had no way to explain this to
his parents. No matter what he said someone was going to get hurt. He was
beginning to wish he did what was originally planned, leave in the middle of
the night no questions to answer. There was a long silence, the
uncomfortable kind that you try hard to avoid. Carey looked at the door, at
his parents, and back towards the door.
“You’re right son you are no longer child, me and mother can not
tell you what to do anymore.”
“But also as a parent we are still allowed to look out for you,
even when were rocking away in rocking chairs without any teeth, you and your
brother will be our first concern.”
“I realize that. Thank you. But this is something I really need
to do. I’m sorry.” Carey knew it was now or never, so with that said he rose
from his seat and grabbed his suitcase that was hiding behind the sofa.
“You’re leaving now!?” Both of the Bells said at the same moment.
“You spring this on us out of nowhere and even before we can
adjust to the news you just leave?”
“Carey I at least thought you would finish this tour, you know
what a pain in the ass it’ll be for me to find a new guitar player in such
short notice? Plus we only have a handful more of stops.”
“I can’t do that!” Carey didn’t mean to holler like that, but
they just weren’t listening to what he was saying.
“I am really am sorry about this, I have to go my train leaves at
11:00.” They all looked at their watches, he had two hours, but it was a
semi-long ride to get to the station.
“We can give you lift.” Ned said while picking the car keys off
of the coffee table.
“I appreciate the offer but Gary is going to give me a ride. I’m
supposed to meet him over at the Phillips’ house. So I can say goodbye to
everyone there and the rest of the band.”
“Oh Carey I don’t like the way Gary drives it’s too dangerous—”
“Mom!”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. Let Gary drive you, you better pray
hard though.” She said that last part under her breath but Carey heard her
just the same. He decided to be the better man and not say anything about it.
“Where exactly will this train be taking you?”
“New York.” Carey could tell by the looks on their faces they
had a thousand objections, but they realized voicing them wouldn’t
change anything. He picked up the suitcase and walked towards the door. His
parents right behind him. When he turned around his dad gave him a bear hug
and a fatherly kiss on the forehead. The hug from his mother was much softer
and lasted longer, it ended with two kisses on each cheek. Carey felt his
eyes start to water up, he hoped they didn’t notice, he however noticed his
parents’ eyes were doing the same thing. He mouthed the words goodbye, opened
the door and walked out.
Carey decided to walk to the Phillips’ house, it was only a few
blocks away, thank god they decided to move closer he thought to himself. His
parents were the last to find out, he was afraid of what they would say, and
it looks like he had good reason to be. He had lied when he told them he
wanted to say goodbye to the band and the Phillips, the only people to be at the
house were Molly and Gary. His parents must have been so overwhelmed with
the news they forgot Jack and Annie would be at school this hour. And that
most of the band was hired to play some new club for one week only without
Molly. Carey was happy they had failed to remember those things, it made
things much easier on him.
When the house came into view Carey took a deep breath and walked
in without knocking like he had a thousand times before. Gary was sitting on
the sofa watching what sounded like Rosie O’Donnell while sipping on a diet
coke.
“Hey man.” Gary said without looking up.
“Um we should get going.” Carey decided he just wanted to leave
now. He felt very uneasy.
“Molly’s in the kitchen.” He should have realized no matter how
hard he wished to disappear it wouldn’t be that easy. With a sigh and after
putting the suit case down Carey walked into the kitchen. Molly was at the
counter slicing carrots unaware she was being watched. He just stood there
for a few moments doing just that, watching her.
“Hello Molly.” She screamed at the sudden voice and dropped the
knife. Luckily she missed hitting any fingers.
“Carey.” That evil silence had returned to haunt him.
“So I’m leaving now.”
“Yeah I know.” Molly whispered.
“God Molly I don’t like this either but I don’t have a choice
here!”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“What for? I’m equally to blame for this.”
“No you’re not, I’m the adult I should have stopped it even before it
started.”
“Do you regret what happened?” Carey was afraid of the answer but
he had to know. Molly thought for a second then began to smile.
“Not at all Carey, I only regret it had to end like this.” He
nodded in agreement.
“Sorry to intrude but Carey we really should get going.” Gary
said from the doorway and quickly disappeared as if he was never there. He was
the only one that knew what was going on, hopefully it would stay that way.
Carey walked over where Molly and just stood there, their eyes
grilling into one another. At the same moment they leaned forward and shared
what was likely to be their last kiss. It was more passionate and powerful
than all their other kisses put together, making this harder on both of them.
Finally Molly pulled away and started chopping again as if nothing just
happened. Carey gives her shoulder a tight squeeze and walked out of the
kitchen. Gary was waiting for him, with no words to say but he gave his now
former band mate a I'm sorry for your pain kind of pat on the back. He grabs
the suitcase and slams the door shut on what could possibly be the best thing
that ever happened to him.