The Family Cox/Alex Cox/Who cares, skip ahead, you're at school now.../Fine, you go meet your Mom
You hop in to Mr. Holder's car, there is a musky smell, you don't like it very much, and the seats look to be falling apart.
CRUNCH!
"Oops," there is a bunch of paper and garbage on the floor, somehow you don't think your teacher will care you stepped on it. 'This is silly, I'm just going to end up playing a game in my room while mommy does what ever she does.' You stop and think for a second, 'What does mommy do during the day, it must get pretty boring.'
"Alright, buckled? Ready to go?" he asks, you shake your head definitively 'Yes'.
As your teacher pulls out of the school parking lot, he turns in the opposite direction of your house.
Pressing your nose up against the window, "Hey, this isn't how I get home."
"Oh, your mother isn't at home, she is at her work."
"My mom has a job?"
"Yes...yes she does, and she is very good at it." Mr. Holder looks like he is daydreaming about something.
The drive doesn't take very long, but you are in a part of town you don't recognize. The buildings look old and dirty, but there are lots of neon lights everywhere, some say 'liquor,' 'nude girls,' and some just have XXX. 'Cool!' you think, this looks like a set from an rated R movie. The car comes to a stop right beside an alley. A big bulky man stands just inside it leaning against the brick wall of one of the buildings.
Mr. Holder turns to you, "Okay Mr. Cox, take this," he hands you some folded bills.
Your eyes widen, "Sweet!"
"Now, that is for your mother, understand?" He raises an eyebrow.
You shake your head 'Yes.'
"When you get inside, ask for the 11 o'clock with Holly Cumming."
"Inside where? Who is Holly Cumming?"
"This man will show you, now hurry up and get out, I need to get back to school and fu...talk with Ms. Wood." As you open your car door, Mr. Holder turns to the man in the alley. "Hey, Little Jimmy, this kid is taking my appointment today, okay?"
"What? You can't be serious?"
"I'll owe you a favor, alright?"
"That's fucked up...but alright, if that's what ya want, Willie."
"Thanks. Oh, and Alex..."
"Yes," you respond as you come up to 'Little' Jimmy.
"Make sure to ask about the magic tongue." Mr. Holder winks and then drives away as you stand in front of one of the tallest men you have ever seen. You look up, straining your neck to make eye contact.
You are scared shitless...
Or...