"Mama, can I ask you a question?"
She does not look up from her book when she states, "Do your homework, Steve."
"I am," He says. "I have a question."
Irritation ticks behind her jaw as she slides her bookmark into her book. She lets her eyes filter around the diner for her husband who said to 'go ahead. I'm leaving the office now' before settling her gaze on the five year old across from her.
Steve gives her a small smile. She says, "I don't know when your father will be joining us."
"We're not ordering until he gets here."
"Not that either," Steve says. "You said that you gotta go to work with Dad sometimes to make sure he's workin'. You said that, remember?"
Steve watches his mom press her lips into a thin line, breathes out before saying with barely there patience, "Yes, Steve."
"Homework is kinda like work," He says. "Maybe, you should stay home with me to make sure Iām doin' my work, sometimes. Maybe. Instead of going with Dad."
He pauses and when she doesn't immediately respond, reiterates, "Homework is like a job."
He looks back down at his math worksheet.
He can feel her eyes bearing down on the top of his head and then - "I thought you were responsible."
"Then why on earth would I need to babysit you, Steve?"
"It's not - it's not babysitting, Mama. Iām not a baby," Steve says. "Dad is responsible too and you-"
"He is!" Steve insists. "And he's a grown up. I'm a big kid but Iām not a grown up. What if I need help with my homework?"
"So dumb and irresponsible?"
"No! That's not what - you're making my words mean sometime else, Mama," He protests. "It's like when you go to work with Dad but you - but you get to stay with me."
Angela looks back down at her book before stating, "Do your homework, Steve."
"Traffic was awful," Richard says, sliding into booth. He gives a halfassed apology, leans in to kiss his wife, and frowns when she ignore him. He opens his mouth to express a little irritation but-"
"Then don't be dumb, Steve."
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