“RAYMOND! TIME TO GET UP!”<br/><br/>A groan and he rolled over in bed, vision blurry as he patted about his side table for the clock he knew to be there. The analog arms of the old clock waved in and out of view before he made the move to grab up his glasses. With some sleep laden coordination that resulted in him nearly poking his own eye out, Ray was finally able to get his glasses on.<br/><br/>“Six…in the morning….” He groaned and fell back into bed for a moment and wondered how long his mother had been awake. From the fresh scent of laundry in the dryer, the delicious aroma of breakfast, he knew it had be to for a while now. Always one to be up before the others, Raymond knew his mother liked to be super prepared. This meant, rising before the dawn and having everything ready for the day that was planned. In this case, it was in regards to getting him ready for his big day. The biggest day in his life that would likely be one of many to changes in his life to come.  All he had to do was survive her vigorous morning routine.<br/><br/>He could do that.<br/><br/>The hot water of his shower had just begun to relax the tension from his shoulders when without warning the curtain was thrown back and his mother’s overly chipper face greeted him. “Don’t forget to wash up really good….ca-“<br/><br/>“MOTHER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!”<br/><br/>“Oh hush,” she waved a dismissive hand at his obvious annoyance even as Raymond struggled to cover with the ridiculously small washcloth. “Not like I have not seen it before.”<br/><br/>“MOM! THAT WAS YEARS AGO! WE TALKED ABOUT THIS! DAD SAYS THAT YOU CAN’T KEEP DOING THIS KIND OF STUFF. PLEASE GET OUT!”<br/><br/>“WELL!” indignation in her voice as she turned in a huff. “I am just trying to make sure that my baby boy looks his best and is putting his best foot forward. Only to be treated like I am worthless! To think of all that I have done for him. All that I have sacrificed for him and he just tosses me aside.”<br/><br/>Even from the bathroom, Raymond could still hear his mother’s pity show and knew there was nothing he could do to stop it. This was how she was, or more how she had become the moment he expressed an interest in the world beyond their home. Truth be told, it was Raymond’s father who entered him into the show and who wanted this for him. If it were up to his mother, he would just live at home forever and that be the end of it. Thankfully, this had been the one time in his life that Raymond could remember his father being strong and firm about the whole thing.<br/><br/>Outside he waited with way too many bags, packed for him by his mother who basically insisted that he bring his entire room. Already, she had fixed his tie and messed with his hair four times. He did not even want to think about how much “dirt” she felt compelled to clean with a kerchief and some of her spit from his face. In fact, the woman was making another attempt for his face when the car finally arrived.<br/><br/>“Thank God!” Raymond exclaimed in a hushed whisper. Already, he broke away from the overly tight grip of his mother and practically ran for the car. A woman met his half way, the black of her shades hid her eyes, but there was an amused smile on her full lips as she opened the trunk for him.<br/><br/>“Mother, right?” she asked him and Ray could only nod. That only made her smile more, teeth perfectly white that stood out all the more against her mocha colored skin. The dreaded locks of chestnut brown were woven up into a bun that added to her height, but also humanized her in a way that the suit and shades did not. The backseat door was opened for him and Raymond was beyond grateful to disappear into the back. The cool leather greeted him, along with a physical barrier to his mother, whom he could almost feel running for the car. Why would she want to do such a thing? To try and talk him out of it? Make him stay with her?<br/><br/>“Drive…pl..ple…please.”<br/><br/>“You got it,” the amused woman pulled the car out and he could swear he heard his mother calling his name, but that was of no consequence to him. Ray was on his way to something else, something better…hopefully. Maybe. Ugh maybe he should have stayed? It was safe in the house. The place was calming and familiar and…<br/><br/>“HEY!” the word accompanied by a sharp whistle cut through his panicking and caused him to focus. “Calm down back there. Alright? I doubt it would be nice to just phase through the bottom of a moving vehicle. Right? Probably hurt. A lot. Right?” Confusion etched on his face, even as her shaded gaze sought his own in the rear view. “Deep breaths. No worries. You are going to be in for a world of fun and control like you never had before…” a pause and she smiled. “Freedom.”<br/><br/>Those words seemed to be what he needed and Raymond relaxed back into the seats and drifted off, which was odd given how much sleep he should have gotten the night before. In what felt like no time at all, “Ray? Raymond…”<br/><br/>“Huh? What…hmm?” groggily he asked while the sleep was rubbed from his eyes.<br/><br/>“We’re here. Don’t worry, you got this.” The woman said from the door which she had opened for him.<br/><br/>“Thank you,” he said with sincerity. “Really, I appreciate it.” He felt like hugging would have been too much so he kind of just stood there and rubbed the back of his head. “Umm..soo what can or should I call you?”<br/><br/>“Cosima,” she said simply and nodded to the trunk. “Get your bags and say hi to your fellow cast mates.”<br/><br/>“Cast…” Raymond glanced over and saw two others. One of which looked like he was in the process of an asthma attack or something. “OH! OK!” into greeting people mode, Raymond gathered the way too many bags and tried to get to the others without dropping anything and looking like a fool. Of course this failed and by the time he was with the others he had played parking lot soccer with more than a bag or two. “What’s up mah…peeps?” the slang felt dirty in his mouth. “My name is Raymond, but my friends call me Ray-Dog…or just Big Ray…cause I’m a baller…”<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Shoot me now.</span>