It was dark by the time they reached the suburban neighborhood of Marcel’s home. The white burning fluorescent streetlights shine vibrantly under the glittering starlit sky as its vigorous rays illuminate the surrounding areas with striking clarity.

Cairo rubs his face tiredly. They have been up all night, himself for three, with little in the ways of relief except for a few capsules of caffeine pills.

With a soft click, Marcel gently closes the door and waves goodbye to Cairo and Lance. Cairo watches silently, as his friend tentatively walks up the short flight of steps to his front door and into his mother. Cairo continues to watch in growing horror as the porch lights suddenly flick on, and Marcel’s mother opens the front door.

Marcel, surprised, could be seen waving his arms frantically trying to come up with an excuse. Cairo gazes apprehensible as Marcel’s mother repeatedly and furiously berates her son, striking at his head in every other interval. It would almost be comedic if Cairo wasn’t worried about Mrs. Yen turning her great wrath onto him.

“Cairo,” Marcel’s mother suddenly yells out.

Cairo ducks down. He could hear Lance chuckling to himself as Marcel’s mother finally notices them on her driveway.

“Cairo,” Marcel’s mother shouts out again as she approaches the car. “I know you’re in there. Get your ass out over here.”

“Lance,” Cairo quickly whispers to his partner, “we’ve got to jet. She’s going to give me a beating I don’t think I can survive a second time.”

Cairo eyes widen in alarm as Lance gives him a broad smirk.

“That’s too bad,” Lance, says sadistically, “I still remember the time you told Avery I had something prepared for Valentine’s Day.”

“Oh, come one,” Cairo begs as Marcel’s mother comes closer to the car. The flaming fury emanating from the exaggerated sounds of her footsteps, as they came closer and closer, further increased his desperation. “Dude, my ass still hasn’t recovered from the last time yet.”

“I’m sure those soft cheeks could use more firmness.”

“If I die tonight,” Cairo frantically mutters just as Marcel’s mother knocks on the window, “I’m totally going to come back as a ghost and haunt you. Hi misses Yen.”

“Cut the crap,” she angrily says, “where have you boys been tonight?”

Cairo opens his mouth to respond but nothing came out. He was too frightened of the five feet and two-inch tall woman to even think of an excuse.

He quickly turns to Lance while she waits with her arms crossed. Sweat drips down his face as he contemplates whose scorn he would take.

“I’ll make a deal with you,” he whispers to Lance, “I’ll spend the entire of Friday taking Avery out. Anything she wants will be on me.”

Spending an entire day with Lance’s wife was better than a “talk” with Mrs. Yen.

“It’s a deal,” Lance agrees triumphantly. “You better take her to the upper end malls.”

Cairo puts his hand to his face in defeat.

“Cairo,” Mrs. Yen screams again.

Lance rolls the window down.

“I’m sorry Ma’am,” he says politely, “but Cairo is coming home with me tonight, so he won’t be able to answer any questions you might have for him.”

Lance steps on the pedal and they hurriedly drive away. Cairo notices the dumbfounded expression on Mrs. Yen face and glares at his friend.

Another outburst from Mrs. Yen catches Cairo by surprise just as Marcel launches through the rolled down windows.

“Drive,” he feverishly shouts.

The car accelerates with a kicking jolt, throwing Cairo to the back of his seat.

As they leave the vicinity, Cairo could here Marcel’s mother shout, “stay out of trouble.”

“Your mom is awesome,” he compliments to his friend.

Marcel smiles as he climbs off Cairo and crawls to the backseat.

“Where too now?” He asks

Lance wryly smiles as he suggests, “Arcade?”

Cairo and Marcel’s eyes both light up.

Lance chuckles.

“What a bunch of kids.”