>>58190560>The fisheye lens of the peephole made them wide and distended>Dad had his arm around Mom’s waist.>Their faces didn’t show how great of a mood they were in.>Hopefully this wouldn’t be too much a shock.“Hi Mom, hi Dad.” You called through the door.
>Letting them understand you still recognized them would ease the news.>They expected you to open the door after the loud ‘clack’ of the deadbolt was unlocked.>It didn’t.>You called to them again.“Come on in, okay?”
>You backed out the entryway and stepped into the living room.>Weird as it was, a freakout in the front yard might attract attention.>Shaking your head, you waited.>You should have told them this over text. >”Hey, invite yourself in.” Was a lot less dramatic.>”Hey, I look a little different now.” Would’ve lessened the blow. >Too late now.>You sowed.>Now you reap.>Maybe if you hadn’t spent the morning running across town you might have thought it sooner.>Your parents looked at one another confused.>After a moment of hesitation, Dad opened the door. >”Hey… Everything alright?” He near-shouted into your tiny home.>”We’re he-errrre!” Mom called, as if you hadn’t known already.>The door creaked, shoes scuffed the floor, and unfamiliar walls were bumped and scraped.“Yeah, good to have you over.”
“Uh, listen…” You said, trying to warn them.
>”You catch a cold, Bud?” Dad interrupted, walking toward you. “Sound stuffy.”“Yeeeeaaaahhhh...” You dragged out.
>Your parents turned the corner.>Dad came first.>You stood with your hands on your hips, wanting to appear confident and nonthreatening.>Mom, startled why Dad stopped in his tracks, peeked over his shoulder.>Dad put out his hand, blocking Mom at the waist.>Or, more precisely, putting himself between you and her.>A small, defensive gesture. 