Chapter Forty-Four: Call with Mom:

With nothing else to do, Wallace makes a call to his mom. He got into his room and pulled out his phone.

“Hello?” his mother asked.

“Mom?” Wallace asked.

“Baby? Is something wrong?” she asked. The country boy shook his head.

“No, everything’s fine,” he said. “I just wanted someone to talk to.” Wallace sat down on his bed.

“What did you want to talk about?” his mother asked. The country boy rolled over onto his back.

“I found Julia again,” he said. He put his hand on his forehead as he closed his eyes. “I think I’m still in love with her. But she’s changed.”

“Changed? How do you mean?” his mother asked. Wallace shook his head.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” he said. “It’s just…”

“It’s college,” she said. “People change.” She sounded a bit sad in her voice. Part of Wallace didn’t want to believe her.

“I think I still love her,” he said. He stared at the empty wall across his bed.

“How is everything back home?” Wallace asked.

“Good,” his mother said. “Mrs. Blackwell fell and dislocated and broke her shoulder at Y.” Wallace sat up with big eyes.

“Oh no! What happened? Is she okay?” he asked.

“Yes, yes,” she said. “She’s fine. Mrs. Blackwell just tripped and fell on the driveway. Her son was there to get her into the house and call 911. She’s not going to need surgery, but her arm is going to be in a sling for a while.”

“I see,” Wallace said. “Anything else happening?”

“No, not really,” his mom said. “How is school up there?” Wallace laid back down onto his bed.

“It’s fine,” he said. “I’m going to be acting in a play before fall break.”

“Oh, that’s great, honey!” she said. “What are you playing as?”

“A guy walking into Heaven,” the country boy said. “I don’t have any speaking lines or anything.”

“Well, you’re still acting,” she said.

“Yeah,” Wallace said. He noticed something as he kept talking to his mother.

“Thanks, mom,” the country boy said.

“For what?” she asked. Wallace rolled over onto his side.

“For talking to me like this,” he said. “I feel so much better now.” There was a pause on the other line.

“Um… You’re welcome, I guess,” his mother said. Wallace smiled to himself.

“I think I picked out a major,” he said.

“Oh?” she asked. “What would that be?” The country boy broke into a huge smile.

“I’m going to be a theatre major,” he said.

“Oh…” his mother said. Wallace frowned.

“What’s wrong with that?” he asked.

“Uh… Nothing! Nothing at all,” she said. “That’s all you.” The country boy could tell that she was lying, but he wasn’t going to say anything.

“Hey mom,” he said.

“What is it?” his mother asked. Wallace rolled over onto his back.

“Can you stay with me on the phone for a little while?” he asked.

“Sure, honey,” she said. Wallace closed his eyes and smiled to himself.

“Thanks, mom,” he said. His mother started to endlessly chat about what was going on back in his childhood neighborhood. Wallace let it go in through one ear and out the other one. He couldn’t help but smile. Just hearing her voice put things into perceptive. Maybe he could figure out what he could do with Julia. No matter the outcome, he would have to do it.

It would have to be before the Fall party.