I could also hear Joey’s mom saying something to him. She sounded so very far away. An overwhelming empty feeling began to grow in the pit of my stomach that quickly overtook me.

“Alvin, are you feeling okay?” Beth asked me.

“Mom, he don’t look so good.” Joey sang out and right then and there I vomited.

“OH COOL!” Joey exclaimed with odd reverence in his voice.

I was surprised how much came out of me. For a dreaded moment, I thought Beth was going to get irate with me for blowing chunks in her bedroom, but she did just the opposite. She felt bad for me and mothered me like I was her own child. She even gave me another one of her amazing hugs.