Isabella: Part 1: Mom

Isabella stopped just before the steps that let up to the second floor patio of her apartment. She could already see Stuart’s truck in the parking lot. She did not like him very much and was not sure why her mom always invited him over. Reluctantly she scaled the steps and shuffled to the corner apartment.

“Oh, you’re home late, Isabella.” Her mother was standing in the small kitchen next to the entrance. There was a boiling pot on the stove and the smell of food cooking.

“Dad called, so I stopped and talked to him for a bit,” Isabella explained.

“Isn’t that sweet of him,” her mom was completely understanding.

“Hey kid,” Stuart’s gruff voice emanated from the couch in the living room, which made up the majority of the apartment space.

Isabella made a face at her mom, silently asking why he was there. She made a similar one back, warning her daughter not to be rude. Wanda was a small Latina woman with tan bronze skin and an hourglass figure. Her daughter, Isabella, was slightly less shaped but still quite slender. Only half Latina, her skin was much lighter but still held a glowing sheen to it.

Stuart was a large hairy man in his thirties who often never shaved and was usually without pants from the moment he stepped into Wanda’s apartment to the moment he left. Isabella confirmed this suspicion when she walked past the couch on her way to her room. “Hey now, give us a kiss.” Stuart grabbed her hand.

She turned around and showed him a giggling face, hiding her dislike for him completely. She kissed his bearded cheek lightly before continuing to back toward her room.

“Don’t hole yourself up in there,” her mother scolded her. “Just drop your bag and take off your shoes. We’re gonna be eating soon.”

Isaabella did exactly as she was told. She did not even bother changing out of her white blouse and beige skirt, which served as her school uniform. “Aren’t you adorable,” Stuart eyed her greedily as she exited her room again. She laughed nervously as she sat down on the floor on the other side of the coffee table. Apart from the couch there was almost no furniture.

Wanda came from the kitchen holding a pot in one hand and several bowls in her other one. She had a towel tucked under her arm that Isabella took and laid on the coffee table so Wanda could set the hot pot down without damaging the table. “Oh boy, what did you make?” Stuart rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

“I just threw some stuff in a pot. It’s mostly rice and beans,” Wanda admitted.

“Man, Isabella’s father really doesn’t give you much to live on, does he?” Stuart laughed.

“He pays for rent,” Isabella muttered. She had not seen her father in a while but she certainly preferred living with him rather than her mother. He was well off and always spoiled her; though she did not like his wife. She always seemed to be glaring at Isabella. The only time she smiled was when she was teasing her, which she actually did quite often.

“Oh, he gives us plenty,” Wanda assured Stewart. “I just like to save it for the good stuff.” She returned to the kitchen and came out again, holding two large bottles of tequila.

“That’s my girl,” Stewart laughed while taking one and opening it. Isabella was shocked when he took a long swig straight from the lip. Stewart was the textbook definition of an alcoholic.

He offered some to Wanda, who used a cup but still drank it plain. She eventually went to the kitchen a third time to get some juice to mix with it though. “Go on, eat up.” She pushed a bowl toward Isabella.

“Aren’t you going to eat, Mom?” Isabella was very considerate.

“If I fill up too fast, I won’t be able to drink.” Wanda waved her cup in front of her daughter’s face. Isabella reluctantly began to eat from her bowl.

The two adults talked and laughed as they drank, forgetting to eat entirely. Isabella tried to get up and head to her room several times but neither one of them would hear of it. “Sit your pretty little ass down,” Stewart would yell at her. “Don’t be rude. Keep your mama company.”

“Yes, Stu,” Isabella referred to him by his short name, just like her mother did.

After Wanda was thoroughly drunk, she began to get overly warm, as she always did. Stuart clapped loudly when she pulled her own shirt off over her head, exposing her bare chest.