Morbid

Annie had styled her blonde hair so that it would stay out of her way and it framed her face perfectly. It wasn't until she and Arnold reached the other end of the hallway and his dorm room that everyone received confirmation of who Annie was. Arnold dropped off her bag and shut and locked the door as Emily stepped out of her room.

“Hi, Ms. Strickland.” Emily said.

“Hello.” Annie said. “Arnold.”

“This is Emily.”

“Hi, Emily. I hope you've been a good neighbour for my son.”

“She's asked to go out with me a few times and for sex once.” Arnold said and a ripple of shock rolled down the hallway. Emily's face flushed bright red as she blushed.

“Is that so?” Annie asked and Arnold nodded. “Since you only broke up with Kelly a week ago, I have to assume that most of her... requests... happened before that.”

“Yes.” Arnold said.

A few of the dorm room doors eased closed as a few of the girls disappeared inside.

Unlike the others, Janet didn't want to hide, which was quite different than how she would have acted before. “Hi, Ms. Strickland. I'm Janet and it's very nice to meet you.”

Annie gave her a wide-eyed look and Janet smiled.

“I've helped him quite a bit, and even helped him get dressed last week after he was hurt.”

“Did you?” Annie asked and Arnold nodded.

“Rachel helped, too.”

“Did you do anything else with my son?”

“We had sex.” Janet said and several gasps were heard from the other girls. “Well, to be honest, he was still pretty hurt and I was doing all the work.”

“Janet!” Cynthia exclaimed from nearby.

“I'm not going to lie to his mother, not after hearing about her and how she reacted when he was hurt.” Janet said and looked back at Annie. “It was only the one time and we also had lunch once. I haven't tried to take advantage of him for my own pleasure or use him for...”

Annie held a hand up and she stopped talking. “Arnold, is this true?”

“Yes.” Arnold said.

“Are you going to ask her out?” Annie asked.

“No, and I told her I wasn't going to.” Arnold said.

Annie looked back at Janet. “Why are you okay with that?” She asked, genuinely curious.

“Arnold's right. He doesn't have the time to have a girlfriend right now.” Janet said. “In fact, he spends most of his spare time reading biology and chemistry books. I'm grateful for the short time we got to spend together and I hope we can have some time together when he's all better.”

“Why are you waiting until then?” Annie asked.

“I took a chance when he was hurt and I was careful; but, it was really scary.” Janet said. “I would have felt so bad if he was hurt some more and I won't tempt fate by pressing my luck again.”

Annie thought about what she said and gave her a very tiny nod. She didn't like that he had jumped right into bed with someone else; but, at least the girl was responsible. She and Arnold walked down the hallway towards Cynthia.

“Have you had sex with anyone else?” Annie asked Arnold, out loud and without whispering.

“No.” Arnold said. “I haven't masturbated, either.”

Oh, my god! Cynthia exclaimed into her mind as the pair walked towards her. He's telling her everything! She thought in shock, then they were in front of her. “H-h-hello!”

Annie smiled, because she knew her blatant questions would unnerve the girls without her actually having to say anything to them. “Hi, there. Who might you be?”

“This is Cynthia. She has a giant television that I watched once.” Arnold said.

Annie peered into the room. “Oh, my.” She said. “It's almost the whole wall.”

“She invited me over to watch it again sometime.” Arnold said.

Cynthia almost sighed in relief that he didn't describe how he had watched it.

“I don't know if she invited Rachel and the others over, too.” Arnold said and Cynthia sighed in defeat.

“Rachel? Didn't Janet say she helped you get dressed last week?” Annie asked and Arnold pointed to the girl across the hall, who blushed as they came over.

“I did help... and I kept my hands to myself.” Rachel said and her face turned a deeper shade of red.

Annie chuckled. “Good, because my son isn't a toy to be played with.” She said and turned around and caught every girl's eyes, which was something they thought only Arnold could do. “He is also not a temporary prize to be fought over. He's much more important than that.”

The pair moved on and Arnold introduced them all to his mother and ended with Daisy by the elevator.

“This is Daisy.” Arnold said. “She's been watching out for me.”

“Oh?” Annie looked at her. “Explain that, please.”

Daisy opened her mouth and then closed it. “I just... I was trying to...”

“I know what you are trying to do. I know what you are all trying to do, so I'll let you in on a secret.” Annie said. “It won't work.”

Daisy blinked her eyes for a second. “What?”

“It won't work.” Annie said and walked over to the elevator and pushed the button, then turned to face the hallway. “None of the little schemes you girls are trying will work.” She said and smiled at them. “My Arnold is much too smart to fall for your tricks.”

The elevator opened and Arnold and Annie stepped into it. They both waved at the girls in the hallway, with similar waves, then the doors closed.

*

“She's gone! You can come out now.” One of the other girls said and all of the dorm room doors opened.

“Good god.” Rachel said and looked at her trembling hands. “I'm literally shaking!”

“Me, too.” Cynthia said from across the hall. “That woman is scary.”

“She barely met us and saw through everything we were doing.” Daisy said and exchanged looks with a few other girls. “If she saw through it...”

“...no wonder he ignored most of us.” One of the girls that hid said and looked at her roommate. “Now I feel like a fool.”

“I've felt like that before.” Her roommate said. “It was worth a try, though.”

“Was it?” Rebecca asked and no one could answer... except for Janet. She kept her mouth shut and went back into her room.

Was it worth it? Janet asked herself as she sat down to do more homework. Yes. Yes, it was. She answered herself and smiled as she got to work.

*

Annie was slightly surprised that they didn't stop at each floor. She had been almost sure that he would have at least met some of the girls from the other floors, especially if they gathered in the lobby and spent time with Doris. The elevator doors opened at the lobby and Arnold led her out, they both waved at Doris, who had a young woman at her desk asking questions, and left the building.

I think that was a normal scene. Annie thought. If Arnold always passed through the lobby that quickly, then he wouldn't have met anyone else, except in passing.

They walked by Building F because no one was inside on the weekends and went to the cafeteria. When Arnold approached the woman behind the counter, she smiled genuinely for only a second, then her smile turned sad.

“I'm not allowed to serve non-students on the weekends.” The woman said, her voice full of sadness.

“I know.” Arnold said. “I just brought my mother over to meet you.”

“That's your mother?” The woman asked, surprised.

Arnold nodded. “Mom, this is Mabel and she gives me whatever food I ask for during the week.”

“I hope he's not bothering you to much.” Annie said with a smile. “He's on a balanced diet kick ever since he read about proper nutrition.”

“Bother me? He's a delight!” Mabel chuckled. “He's polite and brings back the trays and plates.” She said. “In fact, he's done it so often that other people have been following his example.”

“Really?” Annie asked and the woman nodded. “I'm glad.”

“So am I.” Mabel said. “I really am sorry that I can't serve you.”

“Don't worry about it.” Annie smiled. “Arnold will be a student next month and you won't feel so conflicted.”

Mabel laughed. “Yes, having to say no to that handsome face really wrenches at the heart.”

“Oh, I know.” Annie said. “It was nice meeting someone that's treating my son right.”

“It was nice meeting where he came from.” Mabel said.

Arnold led his mother down the line towards the cash register and Annie almost laughed at the blushing girl that sat there. “Angela, this is my mom.”

“H-h-hi.” Angela said and held a shaking hand out.

“Have you been treating my boy well?” Annie asked and shook the sweaty hand.

“She gets me a drink every time, even though it's self serve.” Arnold said.

“That's very nice of you.” Annie said. “Anything else?”

“We hung out at the gym once and she keeps asking me to hang out.” Arnold said.

“Really?” Annie asked with a crooked smile.

“Maxine said she's hitting on me.” Arnold said and Angela's face turned beet red.

“I'm sure she... exaggerated a little.” Annie said and gave Angela a pointed stare. “You don't have to worry about it anymore, right Angela?”

“Nope! He doesn't have to worry about it at all!” Angela said.

“Good.” Annie said and looked around. “Do you know anyone else here?”

Arnold looked around, too. “There's Amy, Cissily and Maxine.” He said and pointed. “I don't know the names of the other girls.”

“Cissily is Doris' daughter, isn't she?” Annie asked.

“Yes. If what Maxine said is true for Angela, then Cissily hits on me all the time, too.” Arnold said.

“Is that so?” Annie asked. “Is she a nice girl?”

Arnold told her some of the things Cissily did as they walked over to the table. Maxine noticed them at the last second and it was too late to warn anyone.

“Hello, there!” Maxine said, a little excitedly.

“You already said hello and we're sitting right here.” Amy said with a laugh. “You don't have to speak so loudly.”

“She was saying it to us.” Annie said and Amy froze, because she recognized the voice.

Amy seriously considered not turning around and hoping she would just go away, then she changed her mind and turned to face her. “Hello.”

“Long time, no see.” Annie said with a smile. “I hope you have been behaving yourself.”

“I've been nothing but nice and never once made any kind of pass, sexual reference, or done anything to make him uncomfortable.” Amy quickly said in her defense.

“I know.” Annie said and looked at Cissily. “It seems it's your friend that hasn't been behaving herself.”

“Excuse me?” Cissily frowned slightly. “Now, wait just one fucking minute.” She said and started to stand.

Amy grabbed her arm and stopped her. “Cissily!”

“What?” Cissily spat.

“You need to stay calm.” Amy said. “Remember who you're talking to.”

“I don't give a fuck who I'm talking to.” Cissily said and finished standing up. “Other students, the professors, even the head of the college. I'm going to speak my mind and fuck them if they don't like it.” She said and locked eyes with Annie. “Just because you're Arnold's... mother...” She had barely managed to not curse at her and everyone knew she had struggled not to call her something else. “...it doesn't give you the right to tell me what I can and can't do.”

Annie didn't flinch at all under the intense stare. “I expected more from Doris' daughter, like having some self-respect and a bit more composure.”

“Excuse me?” Cissily squinted her eyes and took a step forward, then she somehow bumped into Arnold's chest. She stepped back and looked up slightly to see Arnold's blank face in front of her.

“I believe I need to make something clear.” Annie said and Arnold stepped aside. “You are under the false pretense that I can't control how other people act around my son. You. Are. Wrong.” She said. “I love my son and if you can't be respectful to his mother, why in the world would you think I would accept that you would be respectful to him when all you're trying to do is sleep with him?”

No one at the table said anything in response.

“I suggest you go and find someone else to toy around with, because you are not toying around with my boy.” Annie said. “Do I need to tell you the same thing I told Amy?” She asked and looked at everyone at the table. “I guess not, because I can see it on your faces.”

Annie took Arnold's hand and he stepped back beside her.

“Just remember. It's not an empty threat. You've all read the newspaper articles.” Annie said and saw recognition on their faces. “I don't mind you being his friend, as long as it's not another scheme to get him into your beds. That I won't stand for.” She said. “Oh, and to prove that I'll easily find out if it happens...” She looked at Arnold. “...when was the last time you had sex?”

“Monday night after supper.” Arnold said and that surprised everyone at the table. It wasn't what he said, it was because he said it without hesitation.

“What about masturbating?” Annie asked, even though she really didn't want to know.

“Monday afternoon.”

“I want you to call me as soon as anyone at this table tries to coerce you into any kind of sex.” Annie said to her son, who nodded, and she gave the girls at the table a smile. “I hope you all learned a valuable lesson today, even though it's Saturday.” She said. “Have a good day.”

Annie and Arnold walked away from the table and they all watched them go.

“I did not just witness that.” The girl at the end of the table said as she shook her head. “Someone tell me that didn't just happen.” She looked back at the other girls at the table. “Wow. Okay. That really did happen.” She said and she wasn't sure if she was going to include this new material in her sociology paper or not.

They all sat there quietly and no one said anything else.