Chapter Nine: Montreal:

Now, let’s go up back north. Away from the warmth and back into the cold. We’re going up to Canada this time. All the way up to Montreal.

He was going to have a small Christmas this year. It was just going to be Joseph and his mom. The plane landed in the morning. His mother was already waiting at the airport.

“Welcome home,” she said. She walked up and hugged her son. Joseph slowly hugged her back.

“How have you been, mom?” he asked. She looked up at him.

“I’m fine,” she said in a quiet voice. His mother looked down and away at the floor. Joseph moved her face so he could look into her eyes.

“Has it really been that long?” he asked. She shifted her eyes away from him.

“Let’s go home,” Joseph said.

“Okay,” his mother whispered. He put his arm around her shoulders and walked her out of the airport.

That first night was quiet. They just had dinner and watched TV. Mother and son didn’t speak at first. She looked down at her plate.

“How is Japan?” she asked. Joseph pressed his lips together and nodded.

“Good,” he said. “It’s good. How are you doing?” His mother looked down at her hands.

“I am main,” she said. She looked like she was ready to cry. Joseph wanted to tell her that it was okay to cry. It’s okay to let out her feelings. He wouldn’t want her sad like this every year around Christmas. Well, she did do a little decorating this year.

Instead, Joseph took his mother by the hand. She looked up at him with a tired face.

“Do you want me to get out the cake?” he asked. His mother was about to answer when the doorbell rang.

“Who is that?” Joseph asked. His mother didn’t answer. He got up and walked over to the front door. The man looked out the peephole.

“Who is it?” he asked. A woman in her forties looked up at the peephole. A brown scarf covered up her mouth. Joseph raised his eyebrow as he opened the door a crack.

“Yes?” he asked.

“Joseph?” the woman asked. The man looked confused as he tried to figure out who this was. It took a moment for it to sink in.

“Mrs. Brown?” he finally asked. The woman looked up at him and lowered her scarf.

“How is your mum?” she asked. Joseph looked behind him in the house.

“She’s struggling,” he whispered.

“Oh,” Mrs. Brown said.

“Do you want to come in?” he asked.

“If that’s okay with you,” she said. Joseph looked into the house again.

“I think she would love that,” he said. “Come in.”

“Thank you,” Mrs. Brown said in a low voice. She followed him into the house. Joseph closed the door behind her. Maybe a little visit from a neighbor would make things more bearable for his mother. He would have to try and see.