Wine and Words

Joey tried not to fidget as he sat across from his mother in the intimate back corner of the restaurant. It was a fancy place, all other patrons wearing suits, and he clad in the casual clothes of a high school senior. He was also younger than the average diner, at least five years younger than the next most junior person. Neither of these facts, though, were what was making him uncomfortable.

The problem was Joey's mother. Given what had happened with Madison and Miss Matthews, it quickly became painfully obvious that his own mother was now under Joey's magical influence. She wasn't a cold woman, nor was she a mean woman. She was driven, career minded, accomplishment motivated, all traits that Joey couldn't connect to, but at least he knew she loved him, even if she didn't believe in him.

But now things were different.

For one thing, she was on her third glass of wine. Third glass since he got there, that was. Joey's mother was rarely one to fall into a bottle. On rare occasions like anniversaries or birthdays she would have a few drinks. When Joey's father took her on dates, she often came home tipsy, leaning on her broad-shouldered husband for support.

Then there was her behaviour. Joey's mother was flirting with him. He was sure of it. Of course, he had very limited experience with women flirting with him. He wasn't the kind of guy who got that kind of attention, at least not until the last twenty-four hours. But he didn't know how else to interpret what she was doing, how she was acting.

"I hope you don't mind me saying this," she said after putting her emptied wine glass down on the table, her left hand tracing the deep cleavage of her neckline, "but I've noticed so many changes in you lately. Maybe I haven't told you enough, but you have really grown into an amazing young man."

"Thanks," Joey answered uncomfortably.

"Any woman," she continued, pouring more red wine into her glass, "any hot woman would lose her mind over a guy like you. I bet every hot girl in that school is chasing after you."

"I mean, not really," Joey said, really wishing he'd just headed home to have dinner with his dad.

"I can't believe that," she reached across the table and took Joey's hands in hers, "You're practically the perfect man, sweetheart! I don't know how hey wouldn't find you irresistible!"

Joey waited for his mother to release his hands, but she didn't. Instead she just stared at him, a look in her eyes that he'd never seen on her face before, something between need and desperation. Her thumbs began to feel the skin on the backs of his hands as she sighed.

He didn't know how long that would have gone on if the waitress hadn't come along at that very moment to bring their food. A chicken salad for his mother and fish for him. His mother, distracted, released his hands. He thanked the waitress, picked up his silverware, and stared intently at his plate, afraid to once again make eye contact.

"How about that girl from yesterday?" Joey's mother said with a giggle, a sound that he'd never heard her make in his life, "She was a real cutie. Reminded me of a younger me, back before I grew into this old hag..."

"I mean, you're not an old hag," Joey looked up and said before he realized that he was being baited.

"Oh sweetie," she giggled again, this time blushing, "You're good looking and kind. See what I mean? You're a catch!"

He **** a laugh, again returning his eyes to his plate.

“Sure, uh, I guess.”

Joey's mind was not on his fish. His mind was racing, approaching panic. Something terrible was happening, and it was all his fault. His power. His weird, dangerous, impossible power, was affecting his mother. He didn't understand it. He barely even believed it! But just like it had Madison, his mother was changed by him somehow.

Madison.

The memory of their kiss outside the ice cream parlour flashed through his mind, the soft press of her lips against his, the warmth of her body as she leaned into him. His first kiss. His first real kiss from the most beautiful girl in school. The thrill of it still sent shivers down his spine. But along with the excitement came a gnawing guilt.

He hadn’t earned it. He hadn’t done anything to deserve her sudden, overwhelming interest in him.

It wasn’t real.

And yet... it had felt real. The softness of her lips, the taste of her breath, the way her hands had clung to his hoodie. It had felt perfect.

Was he a cheater? Was he stealing things that didn’t belong to him? The thought churned in his stomach, a knot of excitement and shame twisting together.

“Joey?”

He blinked, realizing his mother was still speaking. “Sorry, what?”

She chuckled again, another soft, strange sound that didn’t fit the Donna Granger he knew. “I said, you look like you’re a million miles away. You're not thinking about that girl from school when you're already out with a beautiful woman, are you?"

The knot tightened.

“No, just... it's nothing. School stuff.”

"You're always so closed off," his mother sighed again, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at him, "So private. It's absolutely adorable. How have I never noticed before?"

This was getting out of hand. Joey had to do something.

"Mom," he said, putting his fork down, "Can you do me a favour?"

"Anything."

"I need your help," he continued, "I need you to think things through for me like a lawyer would."

"Honey," she took his hands once more, "Are you in some sort of trouble?"

"No," he said, "It's just that I need to figure something out."

“Mom, just... try to think back over the last day or so,” Joey said, his palms clammy beneath her soft, lingering touch. “Have any of your beliefs about me changed?”

Donna’s brows knitted for a brief moment, but the smile returned, wide and radiant. “Sweetheart, I already told you—I’ve realized just how amazing you are. I’ve finally opened my eyes! All those girls you go to school with, they’re lucky just to breathe the same air as you.”

Joey swallowed hard. “Yeah, but why? Why do you think that now? What made you... realize it?”

Her eyes sparkled, and a deeper flush spread across her cheeks as she leaned forward, her voice lowering as though sharing a secret. “Honestly? It was something you said. I had never thought of you that way before, but once you said it, it just made so much sense; so perfectly true, like I’d known it all along but had never connected the dots.”

His pulse quickened. “What did I say?”

She pursed her lips, her expression turning thoughtful, playful. “You were explaining something. That’s what stuck with me. Not just what you said, it was how you explained it.”

Joey’s heart raced. Explained. That word felt like a key. Madison, too, had told him that he'd explained things before she changed.

“What exactly do you remember?” He kept his tone steady, trying to mask his urgency. “Can you walk me through it, step by step? That's what you'd do as a lawyer, right? To get to the bottom of things?”

"You've never taken so much interest in me before, baby. You're going to spoil me!" his mother bit her lip, then giggled again. She seemed almost embarrassed, like a schoolgirl sharing a crush, “You were talking about how women, girls who were hot and popular in high school don’t want the old-fashioned idea of a ‘perfect guy’ anymore. Big muscles, loud bravado, all of that... that’s so outdated, isn’t it?” She rolled her eyes with an exaggerated laugh. “You made me see how silly it all is. Girls like that...”

“Wait,” Joey interrupted, his mouth dry, “You didn’t believe that before?”

She shook her head, her eyes wide with wonder.

“I mean, I thought I did. But when you explained it, it was like...” She exhaled a soft breath. “Like a light turning on. Everything just clicked into place. Why wouldn’t they be drawn to you? You’re kind of shy, thin, not a fancy dresser, very relaxed about your future, about your ambition. You’re... irresistible.”

His stomach clenched. It wasn't just saying something that changed people. He had explained something. When he'd spoken to Madison, he had explained what kind of guy she should like. He'd explained to his teacher what her job should be. And his mother, it seemed that he had accidentally explained the kind of guy that she should find irresistible! It was like the plot of a story for a porn website.

The whole thing was a disaster.

And yet it was still just a theory. He needed proof. The information about explaining was a good clue, but what he needed was to do it again, but this time on puporse. Looking around the restaurant, he saw the waitress grabbing a water pitcher. He pulled one hand away from his mother's grip and raised it slightly, getting the waitress' attention, indicating that he'd like her to come to the table once she had a moment. He could try with her, something small, but something obvious.

He looked back at his mother, meeting her gaze head-on. The love in her eyes, the pride, the admiration, the adoration, was all-consuming. As she held his hand with one hand, took another sip of red wine with the other, she never broke her stare. Was there still conflict inside of her? Had she completely given herself over to her new belief system? In her eyes he saw no sign of doubt. Instead, all Joey saw in his mother's eyes was desire.

And he’d put it there.