I’m being driven to my dad's house for the summer; now that I'm going to be 16 the judge has stated that I must have equal time with both my parents. My parents, yes, are divorced. The heartbreak and cruelty of life, sometimes. It had occurred when I was about seven...the screaming and yelling was just too much; I couldn't take it anymore, and apparently, neither could my Mom. Finally, I found myself living with one parent. Not two. However, my Mom is remarried to a swell guy named Tom. I don't mind him much but sometimes I question why Mom and him married. He's always traveling and will bring my Mom and me some souvenir like a bobble-head or an odd poster of a dumb band. I'm not quite sure how Mom met him or started dating him for that matter. All I can say is that my Dad was the best- He spent time with me and played catch and ran around doing all sorts of things, but ever since the...that time, he has just changed. I guess it may have something to do with the fact that My Mom lives in New York City and my Dad lives on a small lot in Roleen, Montana. My Mom says that the country air has messed with his thinking. Still, I'm not quite sure what the air is doing, and no matter what I say, I'm still going to find out.
“Mom, Why?! That's all I'm asking why!”
“Why what sweet heart...Your dad?”
“Yeah... I'm 15! I can fend for myself while you and Tom travel. I can just stay at home and hang out with Katie and her boyfriend. Maybe Auntie would let me stay with her, I don't want to go!”
“Ellie, you know how much I don't approve of Katie and what's-his-name. This might give you the opportunity to make new friends... and no you need to spend time with your Dad, we have no choice. Besides you haven't really seen him since the divorce."
“Great, just great...I have to spend my summer away from my friends and now with my Dad and probably all his weird friends...just my luck.”
“And don't forget, just try and be helpful. You know that he has been lonely, but still, try to understand. All he has is himself, and I'm sure that you'll find new friends...and you never know, you may want to enroll at the school there in the fall.”
“What are you saying?! Do you want to get rid of me?”
“No, dear, that is not what I'm sayin—“
“I don't want to go!”
We didn't speak another word to each other for the rest of the ride. This just can’t be happening; it’s like my whole world as I know it is flipping upside-down. Maybe I’m just over thinking things- no, I can’t be. Here My Dad lives in a creepy, unknown place, my Mom is leaving me here and going off with her overdramatized husband, and now I'm here alone with nothing! What a life!
***
We pulled into the driveway of my Dad's house. When I was about seven or eight years old I had come to visit my dad for a few weeks, except I don’t really remember much about the house or the town for that matter. I didn’t really care; I must have not liked it, because I didn’t stay there and I don’t like it now. It was a run-down house, that wasn't very big. It had a dirty exterior, and all the windows were dirty. I guess he has been working so much that the house was an after-thought. The porch had slightly wrapped around the house and there was a place in the house that my Dad called, "The Tower." It was nothing special, it was just how the house looked; it was built in such a way that the door appeared to be the entrance of a tower and above it was my bedroom. It was old and neglected, that was certain. Not a ton of grass, no garden, the paint was peeling and it had cracked cement driveway. He also had an old maroon pickup there that looked just as nice as the house. My Mom's face looked in disgust. This was a lot different from her modern condo back home.
'Hey! How's my baby girl?' My Dad said. Obviously, that's how every, almost 16 year-old girl wants to be treated.
'Hello Dad..." I didn't have much to say. I was still sulking about my "life's ending" here in Montana.
'Why the sad face? Here, I'll take those bags and you go on and say bye to you Ma. Hello there Darleen.'
Of course, my Mom didn't say anything; she didn't even get out of the car...She simply rolled down her window and waved. Just to see them react together just is so saddening. Anyway, I walked over, and started to tear-up. I begged my Mom to take me home, but she kissed me on the forehead and then said, 'you'll be fine, remember what I said though...I love you.'
She pulled out and I just looked away and was so sad in knowing that my life was changing and I didn't like it at all. It was getting close to 5p.m. and I was getting lonely already.
Your Friend,
Josh
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