Chapter 1

As a single mom of a young boy, Angelina was used to playing the role of both parents. That meant being nurturer and limit setter, parental guide and playmate. Having raised Tommy alone since shortly after he was born, she was used to everything that went along with having a boy, including playing sports and rough-housing with him. But when he turned 11, Tommy presented his mother with some challenges she wasn't prepared for.

One day, seemingly out of nowhere, Angelina noticed Tommy making a certain hand gesture which she had never seen him perform before. At first she barely noticed it, but when she saw him holding his hands in the same way over and over, she couldn't help but feel curious. Had he learned some kind of gang sign? Was there some new version of giving the finger that he had learned at school? Finally, she couldn't help but ask him about it. She was soon somewhat sorry she had.

"Tommy Honey," Angelina said, "can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Tommy replied.

"Honey, I've seen you doing that thing with your hands, like you just did a minute ago. What is that supposed to be?"

"It's nothing, Mom."

"Tommy, it's obviously not nothing. I've seen you doing that same thing over and over for weeks. I'd really like to know what it's all about."

"Mooooomm," Tommy sing-songed.

"Don't mooommm me Tommy. I'm serious. Where did you learn that?"

He rolled his eyes and hoped that his mother would let him off the hook. But he was out of luck this time.

"Mom, it's no big deal."

"Thomas," Angelina said, using her most stern mother voice, "just tell me all ready. I'm not kidding."

"Fine. I learned it when we were at Aunt Claire's house last time."

"You learned it from whom at Aunt Claire's house?"

"From Jenna and Janie."

"O.K. So? I want to know what that finger thing means."

Tommy gave his mother a pouty but playful look, which he hoped would get her laughing and divert her from the conversation. She caught on to the playful part, but not to being diverted.

"All right you," Angelina said with a devious smile. "I'm gonna get it out of you one way or the other!"

She made a grab for Tommy, but he was fast enough to evade her.

"Nooo!" he screamed as he dodged her again.

"I'm gonna get you, Little Man!"

"Aaaahhhhh!!!"

Finally Angelina lunged and got her arm around Tommy's waist. She took brief notice of how much her son was growing up. She could still catch him and subdue him without too much trouble. But she could also tell that he was getting stronger and faster, and she knew she wouldn't be the physically dominant one for too much longer. But for the time being, she was.

"O.K., Mister," Angelina said in her mock-authority voice. "Now, talk!"

She started softly tickling Tommy's ribs, which made him scream again.

"Noooo, Mommy! Stop!" He said through his laughter. "Stop!"

"Mommy, huh? Calling me Mommy isn't going to get you anywhere, you know. No matter how cute it sounds. You're really in control of your fate, Tommy. Just pay the toll and I'll stop."

"Ohhhhh, Mommy!!! What's the toll?"

"A hug, a kiss, and information!"

She was tickling gradually harder.

"O.K.!" Tommy squealed. "O.K.! I'll pay the toll, Mom!"

She stopped tickling, but kept her grasp on Tommy's waist.

"All right," Angelina said. "Hug." Tommy put his arms around her and gave her a big hug. "Kiss." He planted a nonchalant kiss on her lips. "Now, talk!"

"O.K., O.K., Mom! These," he held up the index finger, middle finger and little finger of his right hand, "are the fun fingers." His ring finger was curled back toward his palm.

Angelina mimicked his gesture, holding up the same fingers on her own right hand and looking at them.

"Fun fingers? What the heck does that mean? Is this some kind of salute or something?"

"No, Mom. Come on! Do I have to tell you?"

"Your choices are, you tell me, or I call Aunt Claire and ask her. If Jenna and Janie taught you this, she probably knows what it means. If not, I'm sure she'll want to ask them."