Chapter 2, Dinner night
Bex Pop
I look at the bathroom mirror, checking out my nose bridge, where an old childhood scar formed a while ago. Right before placing the band aid back on, I just stare at the mirror; wondering what Tommy would think of it. Would he hate it? Oh well, I guess I’ll find out later. I get ready for the day, I walk into the living room, here sitting my friends Lily and Billie.
“Oh hey Bex,” Billie replies with, “How are you doing?”
“I’m good, what about you two?” I say back.
“I’m doing alright Bex, just a little stressed with some stuff but I think I can handle it!” Lily tells me,
I see them two play rock paper scissors, and I get a little confused.
“Um… Girls? What are you doing?” I ask, sounding a little confused.
“Oh! We’re just deciding who’s going to be the driver.” Billie tells me back.
“Well, I could drive.” I offer myself.
“That’s nice Bex! Have you got your stuff ready?” Lily says.
“Uh, just a sec.” I replied to her.
I enter my dorm room, preparing a little handbag; filling it with my wallet and a powerbank for our phones. It takes me around 2 or 3 minutes to get ready, just making sure I have everything I need. Once I exit the room, I see Billie and Lily stand up to get ready.
“You’re ready now Bex?” they both say in unison.
“Yeah, come on gang, let’s go.” I reply walking to the exit.
We walk to the elevator, then to the parking garage to enter my car, as we start to head towards the market. It takes us a bit as it’s on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena, knowing that i80’s traffic is going to be horrible as always. I wanted to arrive early to hopefully avoid this, though as always we wait like 10-15 minutes trying to get on the bridge. Me and the gang just bum around saying jokes of different levels of rating to pass the time, though after a bit we finally made it to the island.
“Finally… We survived the traffic…” Lily says, breathing a sigh of relief.
We hop off the car, checking out if we have our tickets and our bags. Once confirming that we do, we enter the market and check out the stands. Though the height of the day was unbearable. I felt like we would just melt like popsicles, so finding the shade of the venue’s canopies was a sigh of relief. Many of the stands on the side we first explored contained many old records, collectables, and old electronics. I see Lily observing many of the venues there, she’s quite a fan of old electronics/tools like rotary phones or old 80s and 90s computer stuff.
“Hey Lily!” I tell her, holding my laughter, “I feel like this is up your alley!”
I showed her some replica bone and flint tools which hunter gatherers would have used.
Both me and Billie laugh while Lily only slightly chuckles, “Hah… Quite funny Bex.”
We walk north throughout this market, there are more artisan and local businesses here on this side. As I find a booth selling pins, I go to check it out. I enter the canopy, escaping the fierceness of the sun, I cycle through the selection of pins. I decided to find a gift for Tommy, for later tonight when I bring him to meet my family. I tried going through the pop culture section of the pins; out of everything they had, none I believed suited Tommy and his style. Though I strike gold, one I know Tommy will appreciate. The pin contains the Salvadoran flag wave in the wind; a nice reminder of the care I have about him. From what he told me plus the party from last night, he’s half Salvadoran on his mom’s side. I stare at the pin for a bit, wondering if I should get it or not.
After a few or so minutes, I hear the booth owner ask me a question,“Hey, I see you’re interested in that pin?” She says.
“Uh yeah, I am!” I reply, as I start to shuffle through my handbag.
“Would you like it wrapped for an additional 2 dollars?” She tells me, getting the card reader ready.
“Yes please.” I reply, as I smile.
As the booth starts to wrap the pin, I start to get excited; I know that Tommy will love it. Once I receive the pin, I return with my group; having to face the wrath of the fierce sun again. As the afternoon started to wind down, we decided to return back to the dorm. I started to relax, I started to think about the party later tonight. I take one last look at the pin, smiling, knowing that tonight is going to be the night.
Bex Pop: Later in the Evening
I start to brush my teeth, thinking about the big event in the coming hour. I’ve briefly mentioned Tommy to my family, though this is the first time they’ll actually see him. It’s a small family dinner party, just my parents; my brothers Ken, Lorenzo, and Brenden; his wife, Clara, and their son Maxwell. I like Maxwell, he’s a really good and social kid; though I had to inform him of Tommy’s shyness. Anyhow, once I finish brushing my teeth; I start to look for an outfit in the closet. I don’t really have much here, pretty much as barren as a desert, though after digging through the tee shirts and sweaters I find a nice red dress. After putting it on, I return to the bathroom to start combing my hair; though my sights move towards the band aid over my nose bridge. Wondering if I should take it off for the event, but I decide to keep it, still feeling too embarrassed to show what the scar looks like to Tommy. Once I finish preparing, I go to the living room to see my friends’ reaction.
“Looking good Becky!” Lily replies to me.
“Yeah, looks really nice,” Billie says, “Tommy would really appreciate it!”
“Aw thanks!” I respond back, smiling.
I quickly go and text Tommy that I’m ready and on my way.
“Alright girls, wish me luck!” I say.
“Got it! See ya Bex!” The two both say in unison.
I start to head to the floor elevator, pressing the 3rd floor button. I start to head my heart pound, as I start to head closer and closer to Tommy’s room. Once the door opens, I start walking towards Room 185; where Tommy is. As I arrive, I knock on the door, waiting for Tommy to answer. I wait a few seconds and the door opens, and I see him.
“Hey Bex, so um…” I see him try to come up with something, “Hi.”
“Hey Tommy, are you ready?” I reply, smiling.
“Yeah I am.” Tommy replies to me with, as we both start to head to the elevators.
As we enter, our little small talk continues.
“So Bex, how large would the party be?” he says.
“Well, it’s a small party, just my parents, my brothers, my sister-in-law, and my nephew.” I replied.
“Ah nice, glad to have a small party, you know.” Tommy responds, as I see him smile.
As we arrive at the parking garage and enter my car, we start to check if we have everything. Once we both confirm we are prepared, we hit the road to San Mateo. On the stereo we start our karaoke by singing to different Weezer songs, both of us laughing and having a good time in general. Taking the over 35 minute journey just to get back home. Once arriving off the freeway and into the neighborhood, I get a rush of nostalgia seeing the old park where I used to play baseball at. I have a bunch of good memories from here with several of the neighborhood friends I used to have here. But it’s time for me to think about the present, not the past I think to myself; as I park close to my parents house.
“Well hon, here we are!” I tell Tommy, as I get out of the car.
“It looks like a nice place!” He replies back with.
We both hold our arms as we head towards the front door, and I knock on the door. After a bit, I see my dad answer the door.
“Hi Bex! Been a while hasn’t it?” He says.
“Hi dad!” I reply while hugging him, “Here’s Tommy! My boyfriend.”
I see Tommy shake my dad’s hand, “Hi Mr. Pop, pleasure to meet you.”
“Pleasure to meet you too.” My dad replies.
We both enter the house, the living room looks the same as the last face lift my parents did when I was 16, with the white and slate blue look. I see my mom, Ken, Lorenzo, Brenden, Clara and Maxwell in the living room, waiting for me and Tommy to arrive. Maxwell starts to run up to me, while the rest remain setting, smiling at my arrival.
“Auntie Bex!” He exclaims, hugging me.
“Hi little Maxwell!” I say back.
I see him turn to Tommy, as start to greet him, “Hi! You must be Tommy. Bex has said some nice things about you!”
“Aw… Thanks!” Tommy tells him back.
We head to the dining room, sitting down to eat. I greet the rest of my family here at the table, in between taking sips of water from the appetizer water that has been poured.
“Well guys, I want to introduce you to my boyfriend, Tommy Santos.” I replied first.
“Nice to meet you, Tommy!” Ken says first.
“Hi Tommy!” Clara, my sister in law, follows up with.
“Oh hey Tommy!” Lorenzo and Brenden speak at the same time.
As we start to prepare dinner, I hear my mom start to chuckle; this can’t be good.
“Oh Tommy! Guess what.” My mom speaks out.
“What is it, Mrs. Pop?” He replies.
“Did you know Bex ate crayons as a child?” She replies, showing an old photo of me as a child; showing me eating a crayon.
I get flustered in embarrassment, my mom and Brenden really like to test this story to guests and what not
“Mom!” I exclaim, “Not this story again!”
The table to laugh, minus Tommy. Seeing how flushed my cheeks are, he holds my hand. My scowl of embarrassment changes to a small grin of joy, the flushed cheeks turning to a blush as soft as a pink rose. As the night progresses, we have a wonderful dinner; filled with laughs, stories, and joy as Tommy gets to know my family. Seeing everyone have a great time reminds of the parties which I used to have back when I was little. Filled with family; as me, my brothers, and my cousins played video games throughout most of it. Seeing as the night folds to end, driving back to the dorm rooms with a heck of a fun night, it makes me feel like one of the heights of my relationship with Tommy. Definitely a night I don’t want to forget.