“Hi, Charlie.”
“Hey, Les.”
“Still with the ‘Les’?”
“You never looked like a ‘Leslie’ to me”
“And you never looked like an older brother to me.”
He scoffed and they hugged; Charlie had to force Leslie to let go.
“Come on. Let’s get to the car. Karen’s waiting to see you again,” she said.
“Dating the doctor, still?”
“We do tend to date within our own. There’s a different peace of mind there. Try it sometime when you have the chance.”
Silence, amidst the LAX arrivals rush.
“I’m so sorry Charlie…”
“No. Don’t be. Where’s the car?”
“That way.”
***
“Charlie! It’s been too long,” Karen said, hugging Charlie.
“It has, it has.” Charlie held Karen at arm’s length, “Still looking as amazing as the first day my sister got you.”
“Thanks, Charles,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“If you weren’t les for Les, I’d take you out for a drink sometime. Nothing long term, though, you know.” Charlie winked.
“That’s quite enough, Charlie.” Leslie piped in while removing Charlie’s carry-on from the car’s back seat. “Wait. Did we forget to get your luggage from the airport?”
“I hope you’re more observant with your patients, little sis. No bags for this traveler.”
“Clothes? Shoes? Nothing? Did you bring anything with you besides that backpack?”
“Nope. I’ll run to the mall for some new stuff.”
“Yeah, let me just call the Waste Police for you. Why’d you do that for?”
“I’ve got the money. And where there’s money, there’s waste.”
The two women shared an incredulous glance, neither of them wishing to be the one to further chide Charlie.
He broke the silence. “What’s for dinner?”
***
“They never have pizza like this in Chicago!”
“What are you talking about Charlie? Chicago-style deep-dish? What about that?”
“Eh. The grass is always greener, I guess.”
“Come to think of it, your pepperoni do look better than mine.”
“Idiot.”
***
“So…” Leslie said, entering the guest room where they’d set up Charlie.
“So.”
“Talk to me, Charlie. You’ve barely said anything all evening. What’s going on? How are you doing?”
“Don’t really want to talk about it, Les. Not much to say.”
“It can’t be both of those things. Charlie, c’mon. I want to help.”
“Honestly, you’re already helping enough. I’d always wanted to come back to California, and now it’s happening. Don’t worry about anything else.”
“I’m not. It’s just…”
“Here.” Charlie interrupted her by holding up a Carpenters record he’d just pulled out of his bag.
“Oh my god! Where did you get that?!” Leslie reached for the vinyl.
“Used record store. Kid’s will sell off a lot of things they don’t have value for.”
“It’s amazing! I’m gonna go pop this in right now!” She moved off the bed and made to leave the room but caught herself in the doorway and turned around. “You’re not off the hook yet, Charlie. We’re still gonna talk. What are you doing tomorrow anyway?”
“Don’t know yet. I’ll let you know as soon I decide.”
***
“So, I thought about it. I want to go see mom.”
“Oh…”
“I know, I know, but I feel like it’s time.”
“Yeah, it’ll be good for her to see her son before…,” Leslie stopped herself.
“Ha, about that. I haven’t told her yet.”
“God fucking dammit. One disagreement fifteen years ago and the only time you’ve talked since was when she called about dad’s will.”
“It was a marvelous record collection, though.”
“Can I have it when you’re done?”
“Woah. Woah. What?”
“Hey, if you can make jokes, so can I, right?”
“Mmk. But I’m eating your last pancake.”
***
Charlie walked into his mother’s retirement home room. “Hey mom.”
“You’re dying, aren’t you?”
Leslie teared up and left the room.
“Did Leslie tell you?”
“No. You’re my son. I knew that you’d never speak to me again unless someone died. And Leslie’s palm’s life-line is too long for her to die now.”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“Cancer.”
“You smoke?”
“No, mom. Never.”
“Good. At least you listened to me about that. Never a better time to start, I guess.” She fished a pack of cigarettes out of her bedside table.
“What? Since when?”
“You and I are on the same clock now. Just enjoy it while it’s still got some battery left.”
Charlie scoffed. “Does this place not have smoke detectors?”
“It does. I took mine apart. God said it was alright.”
Charlie scoffed.
“Is he talking to you yet? He gives special consideration to the dying. Even if they’re insolent.”
“No, mom. No, he’s not. He wasn’t fifteen years ago, and he isn’t now. Give it a rest”
“I’ll give it a rest when you rest.”
“I didn’t come here for another sermon, mom.”
“Then why did you come here?”
“Just thought it would be nice to see you once before I, you know…”
“Kicked it?”
“Yup.”
“What’re you doing the rest of your time here?”
“I don’t know. I’ve got a couple weeks before I have to check in to the hospital back in Chicago.”
“So what’re you gonna do?”
“Are you free tomorrow?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t have any bridge parties, do you?”
“No. Just church in the morning.”
“Good. Let’s go to brunch.”
“Why?”
“Spending five weeks with you will probably take five weeks off my hell-sentence.” Wink.
“Save me a spot.”