He left the thought unfinished. He knew how much it still hurt her even to talk about him.

"You wouldn't be ashamed to take your old mother?" Bernice said, feeling her throat constrict.

"I'd have the best-looking woman there," Mike said.

God, what a charmer! Little bastard! She could nip this whole thing in the bud and say no. What might she do there in the car with him?

"I'd love to go," she said. "Just let me get dressed."

A short time later, as they sat in the darkness, watching the fuzzy picture on the screen, Bernice shot her son a glance from the corner of her eye. He looked bored.

Well, the kids didn't come to this particular drive-in for the movies. That was obvious from what people around them were doing. She knew that Mike was probably regretting asking her out.

"How are you and your girlfriend getting along?" she asked, trying to sound casual. "Do you…"

"Well, I'll be Goddamned!" Mike said suddenly, looking sharply to his left.

"What's the matter?" Bernice asked.

"That little cunt is over there with Bobby Randolph!" Mike said, fuming. "I ought to go over there and break both their fucking necks!"

"Don't, Mike," Bernice said, touching his arm. "If a girl would stand you up, she's got to be crazy. Just leave them be."

"But she's probably fucking the living…" He stopped suddenly, turning beet red. "I'm sorry," he said, looking at his mother. "I'm… just so pissed." He looked again at the car where his girlfriend and Bobby Randolph were. "I think I will go over there and kick some ass," he said, his hand on the door.

"No," Bernice said, digging her nails into is arm. "I'm not going to let you. Don't be an idiot. She's not worth it."

Mike turned and was about to say something, perhaps vent his anger, but he stopped short. He'd never seen his mother look quite like that. Not like a mother at all. Her eyes were pleading, yet filled with a strange light.