>>58190560
>The fisheye lens of the peephole made them wide and distended
>Dad had his arm around Mom’s waist.
>Their faces didn’t show how great of a mood they were in.
>Hopefully this wouldn’t be too much a shock.
“Hi Mom, hi Dad.” You called through the door.
>Letting them understand you still recognized them would ease the news.
>They expected you to open the door after the loud ‘clack’ of the deadbolt was unlocked.
>It didn’t.
>You called to them again.
“Come on in, okay?”
>You backed out the entryway and stepped into the living room.
>Weird as it was, a freakout in the front yard might attract attention.
>Shaking your head, you waited.
>You should have told them this over text.
>”Hey, invite yourself in.” Was a lot less dramatic.
>”Hey, I look a little different now.” Would’ve lessened the blow.
>Too late now.
>You sowed.
>Now you reap.
>Maybe if you hadn’t spent the morning running across town you might have thought it sooner.
>Your parents looked at one another confused.
>After a moment of hesitation, Dad opened the door.
>”Hey… Everything alright?” He near-shouted into your tiny home.
>”We’re he-errrre!” Mom called, as if you hadn’t known already.
>The door creaked, shoes scuffed the floor, and unfamiliar walls were bumped and scraped.
“Yeah, good to have you over.”
“Uh, listen…” You said, trying to warn them.
>”You catch a cold, Bud?” Dad interrupted, walking toward you. “Sound stuffy.”
“Yeeeeaaaahhhh...” You dragged out.
>Your parents turned the corner.
>Dad came first.
>You stood with your hands on your hips, wanting to appear confident and nonthreatening.
>Mom, startled why Dad stopped in his tracks, peeked over his shoulder.
>Dad put out his hand, blocking Mom at the waist.
>Or, more precisely, putting himself between you and her.
>A small, defensive gesture.