Then all I've got to say

 

Aaron knew it was bound to happen sooner or later. He could hear the thrashing of pans in the kitchen. He was at the bar getting ready for the after-work crowd. There was a game on the TV tonight. It was relatively warm. It was as if they were thawing out for the next cold snap. Sure there had been days of fog that left frost and slick spots, but it was a white January.

Sal was paying his dad Alton a little these days, cleaning the restrooms and the kitchen pots and pans along with bar glasses and mugs. Of course, Aaron cleaned the restrooms because he already knew that was beneath his father. No way would he stoop that low. 

Aaron looked to Sal who only gave him a sigh. Yes, that fool of a dad of his was drinking. God, they needed the old bastard out of here. He was just a drunk. Alton was having a pity party, stomping around singing a very off-key song of "Nobody loves me."

"Hush!" Sal went in first. Aaron could hear Sal in the kitchen. "How and hell do expect to catch a woman if she sees this side of you, man!"

Aaron with clinched teeth gnashed. He wished Alton would just go away. Why did he have this nuisance in his life?

 It was never easy with his mom who thought he was an idiot all this time and yet, he'd had to take care of her most of his life. He never managed to finish high school. Just when he thought misery had left him, his dad showed up like a bad door prize. Aaron cringed at the thought of how far his father might go to mess it all up.

Aaron's cell rang, which was quite unusual. Jody only texted him when he got to work and usually when he was on break. Of course, it was always sweet nothings but it always made him smile. He couldn't imagine anyone having his number. And that's when he heard the news about his mother.

MUDSLIDE. Oh, he couldn't get the word out of his brain. His chest tightened. He thought he might lose consciousness. What were they saying? "She's in California!" He shouted into the phone. Oh, she was just a statistic now in the cleanup.

"Damn, she never said nothing about going to California," Aaron said to no one after he got off the phone.

"What's going on, son?" Sal awoke him from his stupor.

"It's..it's mom." That was all he could manage to say.