Ray's awakening was accompanied by a savage headache. It seemed to him that even the chronic pain from the traumatic brain injury that had tormented him his whole life was nothing compared to this hell. The last thing he remembered was Frank bringing him home.
The door to the room opened, and Amy walked in with pills and a glass of water. Seeing how her son was grimacing in pain, she smiled and said slyly:
"How was your first drinking spree?"
Ray took his phone and quickly typed:
"It was so good that it will be my last. I hope I didn't cause you any trouble?"
A mixture of anxiety, worry, and shame was written on his face. Hearing the question, Amy was clearly embarrassed but instantly pulled herself together. Ray, suffering from a hangover, didn't even notice this shift.
"If you don't count the fact that you threw up on both of us and sobbed almost until morning — everything went great," she said with a laugh.
Ray blushed in embarrassment — a sight Amy saw extremely rarely. Her sly smile grew even wider.
Trying to wipe that smirk off her face, he quickly typed a new message on his push-button phone and showed it to her:
"Have you already made Gary's day with the news that a date with a beauty like you awaits him?"
"Yes, that guy was very happy," Amy replied. "But don't get your hopes up: it's just a date. I'm not all that fond of men in general. Besides, when I hear his name, for some reason I'm reminded of the snail from SpongeBob."
Ray immediately typed:
"You said men don't appeal to you. Maybe I should introduce you to some beauty so you can avoid a lonely old age? We both know I have excellent taste in girls. I won't let you down. And then I'll have two gorgeous mommies."
Reading this, Amy muttered in embarrassment:
"Right now, I have a strong desire to smack you upside the head… but I'll show mercy and refrain from doing so."
"In that case, I am deeply grateful for your mercy," Ray replied.