Clarissa was mortified. She was fourteen, she didn’t need her mom to drop her off! And especially not this mom. Not like this! “Why aren’t we using the car?”
Her mom shrugged as she flipped switches and checked her telemetry, hands on joysticks lazily adjusting her course. “Your sister needed it for her big game today, sweetie, so you get to ride with me on my way to work. Now hold on to the Oh Shit Handle, just like I taught you, okay?”
“Yes, mom.” The silent I'm-not-a-little-kid-any-longer coming through loud and clear.
“I can hear you rolling your eyes at me, young lady.”
“Can you at least drop me off a couple blocks away from the school?” Clarissa whined, giving it one last shot. People were going to freak out, and then not shut up about this for ages. Her life would be over, would become a living hell if people saw her mom drop her off in her freaking ridiculous warbeast!
“No can do, private. These streets aren’t safe.”
“Mom! It’s the area around Saint Olivia High School, not… I don’t know, the Olvedi Highlands or wherever you were last! This isn't a combat drop!”
“You know what I always say: you can never be too careful, honey. Now hold on tight, mommy’s gonna decelerate.” The retros kicked in, and the mech around them shook violently as they reached their destination, descending on great plumes of fire.
“Mom. Mom! Ohsaints! Mommommomomommoooom!” Knuckles white, Clarissa’s warning shouts turned into a scream as she tried to be heard over the crunch of metal and shattering of glass.
Her mom turned to look at her, concerned. “What is it, sweetie? It's okay, we’re down now, right in front of the school gate. Safe and sound.”
Clarissa stared at her, her face drained of all colour. “Mom you just torched and crushed mrs Yanuchek’s car!” Said woman, the mother of her class nemesis, was blankly gazing at them from the bush she’d been blown into, her usually stern and perfectly put together face slack with shock as her perfect little world had just been turned upside down. Blown up. Literally.
“Oh, that.” Something dark and ugly stirred behind her mom’s eyes. Clarissa sometimes forgot who her mom was. What she did for a living. “She shouldn’t have made that quip about you last time we talked.” And then, just like that, it was gone again, and she was all smiles. “Have a nice day at school. Your mother will pick you up tonight, okay?"
Her mom bit off her right glove and gently touched Clarissa's cheek before the girl could flinch away. Say she didn't want to be touched. Was too old for this. "I love you, sweetie. I'll see you when I get back. Now give your old mom a hug and get out of here. You don’t want to be late.”
A brief moment of silence. Of connection. Of realisation. No games on Tuesday. "Okay, mom." Clarissa hesitated. An intake of breath. A violent, desperate hug. A whispered "Be safe and come back." And then she was gone.
I didn't think of the trans thing myself, but I do wish I'd have a mum like that lol. It's what she would have been.