Strange Night

Last night was Homecoming. Well, pre Homecoming, actually.

I told Tanissa to "have fun and be safe"

I fell truly asleep after having heard her walk up the stairs and crawl into bed.

A short few hours later, my mommy radar wakes me up from a deep dream and alerts me to once again, the sound of feet coming up the stairs.

Chris is next to me,  and I am not sure what is going on. Wondering if Tanissa went out again  - which would not have made me happy at all - I get up and look in the hallway.

A guy is standing there - petting Roxy.

I say: "What are you doing here?" (fair enough of a question, right?)

To which I hear Tanissa, annoyed that I would ask her such a stupid question, answers :"Nothing Mom. I am sleeping." Duh.

Then I hear Chris mumble: "It's just Marco, baby."

Well, Marco it is not.

Marco is asleep at his Dad's and sure as heck, this is not Marco.

So I ask "Who are you?"

To which he answers : "I am Cal."

Well, now we know.

By now, Chris and Tanissa are up and we are all standing in the hallway.

I request that we move the party into the living room where I ask an obviously intoxicated Cal  what is going on.

Roxy is still at his feet, supremely pleased with the ongoing petting.

This is so weird.

Part of me is alert to potential danger but the biggest part of me knows that we are safe. Chris' large presence holds the space for me to tap into a fearless place in me, the one that reminds me that this kid is someone's son and that kindness is the best tool, right now.

So, I ask him a few questions. He says that he is sorry to invade our space. I ask him if he wants a glass of water. He says no thank you. He gets up to leave. Chris asks him if he wants us to call someone for him. He turns around and asks US if we want him to call someone for us.

He gets to the door.

This is so weird.

He leaves.

I lock the door - a new habit for us to hone.

I guess by then it is actually Homecoming.