It's saturday, Ryan and his mother are ready to go to the grocery store. They have to walk just a few blocks to reach the store. Their neighborhood has everything, they don't have to drive for an hour or so to get what they wanted. The neighbors are friendly and everyone knows everyone here. That's why they are greeting people on the way to store and making a small talk with them.

"It's been too long since I last saw you" Joshua the shop keeper greeted both Amanda and Ryan with a smile when they reached the store.

"How was your summer vacation with your family?" Ryan asked offering a polite smile.

"Awesome. What happened to you? You lost weight." the shop keeper inquired and got a glare from his mother. He looked taken back by the sudden hostility for a second before he realized his mistake. Poor Joshua didn't know what to do to change the topic suddenly. Of course his big mouth would get him into trouble. The whole neighborhood knew about his mother's condition. They don't have to be genius to know what is eating away at him and his sudden lost of weight. He just had to ask that question and make the situation tense. Joshua is calling himself all types of names not knowing what to do to salvage the situation. He was saved when someone entered the store and greeted Ryan.

"Ryan" Mr. Dildo greeted him.

"Mr.Dildo" Ryan greeted him back. While poor Mathew seemed to turn red with embarrassment. The other two people in the otherwise empty store burst out laughing. "He's new here. The one I told you about the other day." the boy introduced new teacher to his mother.

Amanda seemed to notice his discomfort and explained "Forgive my son. He has this habit of calling weird names."

"Figures" Mathew muttered under his breath.

"Yours is by far the weirdest name I've come across." Joshua laughed "Damn this kid, when I thought it wouldn't get any better" he then seemed notice Mathew being uncomfortable and said to ease him. "There's a person who named grass man who lives just the corner of this street."

"He always mows grass. I've never seen him doing things other that." Ryan defended himself.

"There's a girl named jiggly cheeks." Joshua and Amanda laughed again.

"Hey! In my defense I didn't know it's called twirking then. Damn, that girl has some amazing skills, Cardi B got nothing on her."

Mathew seemed to be amused at the names and forgot about his previous embarrassment.

"I sometimes wonder if he remembers my name." Ryan's mother said still laughing.

Ryan gasped "How could I forget your name mom? Of course I know your name is Olivia" he said giving a proud smile to indicate he got her name right and walked off to pick up some groceries.

All the colour drained out of his mother's face and she stared at her son's retreating back with a disbelieving look. It made Joshua loose his cool who is laughing hysterically clutching his stomach like a mad man. Mathew was lost. He didn't know what was going on. Joshua took pity on him and manged to get out while laughing "Amanda. Her name is Amanda."

Mathew laughed at that and followed Amanda to the aisles. "That bad huh?"

he asked laughing with hint of concern in his voice. Ryan explained that he's bad at names, but he didn't know it was that bad.

"No, not that bad. He's just irritated that we were making fun of him." she said while shaking her head. "It would take 2 to 3 weeks for him to learn new names. After that he won't forget."

"Oh" Matthew released a sigh of relief.

"It was so bad when he was kid we thought he had ADHD or dyslexia. But, he came out negative every time we took him to doctors."

Matthew was quick to defend his perfect student "He doesn't. He is the topper of class and he has really good grades"

Amanda looked proud at that and said "I know." While looking at his son who is contemplating on which packet to throw in his basket holding two similar types of packets in his both hands.

"Left one" Amanda said lowly so that only Mathew could hear.

Mathew looked in the direction and saw what Ryan was doing. As she said after some more thinking like something important is depended on his decision he threw the one which is in his left hand and moved onto next one. The teacher seemed positively surprised at that and voiced out his thoughts "You really know him."

"Of course I do. He's my son after all " she said while looking at Matthew and asked as she detected the far away look in his eyes"Not close with your parents?" Matthew just nodded his head with out offering any kind of explanation. Amanda didn't pry either. It's his business.

Ryan finished what he was doing and went to counter to pay. Joshua picked up a perfume bottle and offered it to him.

"Take this Ryan. It'll help you get a girlfriend" Joshua told Ryan.

"I'm sorry Joshua, I'm not into girls " Ryan placed his basket on the counter.

"It'll work on a boy too. I heard it's smells the best. " Joshua replied interpreting his previous statement as him being into boys. This neighborhood accepts everything. There's no discrimination or what so ever.

Ryan chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not into boys either Joshua. Oh and I saw my mom glaring at you. You don't have to do anything. She won't kill you I'll make sure of it." he assured.

Joshua shook his head and insisted him to take.

"I'm into scholarship. If it gets me one I'll take ten of them. Besides, I never use perfume. My partner have to deal with my sweaty self" Ryan is one of those rare humans who doesn't sweat much. So, he never used one and he thinks they are waste of money.

"I pray for whoever that is" Joshua said fake pitying them.

"Then pray for your daughter. She's having a huge crush on my son" Amanda said walking with Mathew who heard the entire conversation.

"Mom!" Ryan looked shocked. "She's what 13? I bet she doesn't even understand what a crush is. Stop imagining things"

"You'd be surprised. She's 14. That's why your mother didn't do anything on it otherwise she would have been planning your wedding." Joshua said. It seems he's the only one that doesn't know about little Amy's school girl crush.

"Not you too Joshua. What are you doing by the way? Shouldn't you be mad at me and threaten me or something?" his hand reached to his pocket to pick out some bills to pay.

The shop keeper laughed at that "Why should I be? You didn't even know about it. Besides I'd be a happy father-in-law" and gave him change.

"You both are unbelievable." Ryan shook his head "you need to stop watching those romance movies mom. Maybe I should do something about it. " hinting he would stop paying for them.

"I dare you " Amanda said looking straight into his son's eyes letting him know that there would be consequences that he wouldn't like.

Ryan knew when to back down and it's time for him to let his mother have her way. Because of them she is not on his ass 24/7 asking for a girlfriend or setting him up with someone. If he take that away from her, she would do anything to keep herself entertained.

During their argument Matthew paid for his items and followed them out.

"You need to smile more sweetheart and try to stop glaring at people. No one is coming near you because of that "

"Mom I don't glare. I just stare blankly."

"You say it's staring blankly. I call it bitch face."

"Whatever. If you don't know, this bitch face is what stopping bullies. " Ryan said pointing at his face with his index finger "Even if I smile no one will glance at me a second time so stop bothering me."

"Ryan Parker you're handsome. Don't you dare degrade yourself. "

"I basically look like you mom. So, if you want to call yourself beautiful do it directly. Please don't involve me. I know I'm not handsome." except his black eyes he looks exactly like his mother and masculine. And he's not handsome where you stop doing everything and stare at him. He looks like a typical American with pointed nose, half lips and a strong jaw.

Still bickering they said their goodbye to Matthew and reached their home.