a quick hi and bye

For the past few weeks I’ve been asking Alexander if he's coming home for the long holiday weekend.    And for the past few weeks his response has been the same.  “Yeah, I think so.”

I speak to him Wednesday night.  He tells me his classes and papers and exams are done.  At least for a few days.  But he wants to stay up at school to celebrate on Thursday night.  I ask, “So what bus are you taking on Friday?”  He doesn’t know, and gets annoyed at me for even posing such an intrusive question. 

This morning I text him with today’s bus schedule.  There’s a 12:15 bus.  Forget that one.  He’s not even awake by the time that bus leaves.  He’ll take the 2:25.

It’s Friday.  Traffic is brutal. Alexander informs me via text that he is meeting friends for a 10:25 movie.  He also tells me he has to eat quickly as he needs to polish up a small essay that is due today.  I try not to ask him why he didn’t complete this short essay yesterday, since he had no classes.  I am not successful.  Then I realize it doesn’t matter.  I'm not being graded.

A little before nine,  Alexander is home.  He’s wearing shorts and a T-shirt.  It’s 66°. 

We grab a slice of pizza — his default dinner at school, but hey, he doesn’t have much time.

After our fast and fattening meal. Alexander finalizes his essay and sends it off.  His bags remain unpacked in the living room.  I haven’t seen him in three months.  I see him for thirty minutes before he’s off meeting friends.

Still, it’s nice to know he’ll be waking up here in the morning.