before meeting my eyes with a stubborn calm. “But it seems you can think of nothing else.”
“Whatever,” I turned and looked away.
It’s not like I believed her and she knew it. As long as we were clear. It bothered me that she wanted to put a damper on my happiness. I had no patience for her games at the moment. I’d gone the entire day anticipating the buzz I’d get when I saw Reece in the evening, and she was ruining it.
I glanced at the clock to be sure it hadn’t stopped. It felt like some sort of inhumane torture being without him. This trivial action did not go by unnoticed by my father.
“Spending every waking moment of the summer with this boy could prove detrimental to you,” my father chimed in.
“Detrimental?”
I felt a surge of anger pump through my veins. I didn’t need a mirror to know my face was red with color and hot. Even the tops of my ears were hot. I felt like an alien ship had sucked me out of my kitchen and dropped me into a parallel universe of contradiction and hostility.
“I have no intention of spending every waking moment with Reece.” As much as I’d like to. “And I really don’t see how after one date you could be convinced he’s a bad influence.”
They exchanged a wary look.
“It‘s not that we don’t like him.” Mom went on to explain in a softer tone. “He really does seem like a respectful boy. It’s just the proximity. We don’t think it’s healthy for the two of you to spend a lot of unsupervised time together.”
“Are you kidding?” What happened to my parents? Had they simultaneously lost their minds? Were they so promiscuous as teenagers they feared I would lose all sense to raging hormones?
“It’s not that we don’t trust you,” my father picked up where Mom left off. “It’s just sometimes things happen and, with him being only two doors away, and no parental supervision on either side for most of the day,” he cleared his throat.
I didn’t want this conversation to go any further. The battle had been lost. I didn’t have a choice in the matter. Not really. While not in the driver’s seat exactly, I felt if I agreed I still held some bargaining power. I had to at least try.
“I’ll go to the library tomorrow.” I rushed the words out of my mouth hoping to stop my father from getting any further in his explanation. “I’ll be happy to volunteer,” I smiled as sweetly as I could, “if you agree to lay off Reece. Make an attempt to get to know him before you declare him public enemy number one. Agreed?”
Again they exchanged a look. “Agreed,” my mother said.
“Good because he’s coming over after dinner.” Neither looked happy about that. “Before you have a cow, you should know Mike and Grace are coming too.”
“Mike?” My mother asked surprised. “I thought you didn’t like him?”
“I don’t. But he and Reece are friends. And he and Grace are together.”
“Oh,” my father said with sudden clarity.
I could read his train of thought. He assumed my interest in Reece had something to do with Grace and Mike. And when one waned so would the other. I watched him get up from the table with a smile and clear off the dishes. Suddenly he had a bounce in his step and he began to hum softly. I didn’t say a word. I didn’t want to burst his bubble.
* * *
Grace arrived first. She helped me set up out at the pool. We brought a tray of snacks and drinks, a deck of cards and a few board games. Imagine my horror to find Mom and Dad lounging by the pool.
“What are you doing?” I asked mortified.
“Getting some fresh air,” Dad answered. “Don’t mind us.”
“You’re not staying!”
Mom smiled. “We just want to say hello to your friends. That’s not a problem is it? Pretend we’re not here.”
“Pretend . . .? Are you serious?”
“I don’t see the big deal,” my father answered. “You said
“Whatever,” I turned and looked away.
It’s not like I believed her and she knew it. As long as we were clear. It bothered me that she wanted to put a damper on my happiness. I had no patience for her games at the moment. I’d gone the entire day anticipating the buzz I’d get when I saw Reece in the evening, and she was ruining it.
I glanced at the clock to be sure it hadn’t stopped. It felt like some sort of inhumane torture being without him. This trivial action did not go by unnoticed by my father.
“Spending every waking moment of the summer with this boy could prove detrimental to you,” my father chimed in.
“Detrimental?”
I felt a surge of anger pump through my veins. I didn’t need a mirror to know my face was red with color and hot. Even the tops of my ears were hot. I felt like an alien ship had sucked me out of my kitchen and dropped me into a parallel universe of contradiction and hostility.
“I have no intention of spending every waking moment with Reece.” As much as I’d like to. “And I really don’t see how after one date you could be convinced he’s a bad influence.”
They exchanged a wary look.
“It‘s not that we don’t like him.” Mom went on to explain in a softer tone. “He really does seem like a respectful boy. It’s just the proximity. We don’t think it’s healthy for the two of you to spend a lot of unsupervised time together.”
“Are you kidding?” What happened to my parents? Had they simultaneously lost their minds? Were they so promiscuous as teenagers they feared I would lose all sense to raging hormones?
“It’s not that we don’t trust you,” my father picked up where Mom left off. “It’s just sometimes things happen and, with him being only two doors away, and no parental supervision on either side for most of the day,” he cleared his throat.
I didn’t want this conversation to go any further. The battle had been lost. I didn’t have a choice in the matter. Not really. While not in the driver’s seat exactly, I felt if I agreed I still held some bargaining power. I had to at least try.
“I’ll go to the library tomorrow.” I rushed the words out of my mouth hoping to stop my father from getting any further in his explanation. “I’ll be happy to volunteer,” I smiled as sweetly as I could, “if you agree to lay off Reece. Make an attempt to get to know him before you declare him public enemy number one. Agreed?”
Again they exchanged a look. “Agreed,” my mother said.
“Good because he’s coming over after dinner.” Neither looked happy about that. “Before you have a cow, you should know Mike and Grace are coming too.”
“Mike?” My mother asked surprised. “I thought you didn’t like him?”
“I don’t. But he and Reece are friends. And he and Grace are together.”
“Oh,” my father said with sudden clarity.
I could read his train of thought. He assumed my interest in Reece had something to do with Grace and Mike. And when one waned so would the other. I watched him get up from the table with a smile and clear off the dishes. Suddenly he had a bounce in his step and he began to hum softly. I didn’t say a word. I didn’t want to burst his bubble.
* * *
Grace arrived first. She helped me set up out at the pool. We brought a tray of snacks and drinks, a deck of cards and a few board games. Imagine my horror to find Mom and Dad lounging by the pool.
“What are you doing?” I asked mortified.
“Getting some fresh air,” Dad answered. “Don’t mind us.”
“You’re not staying!”
Mom smiled. “We just want to say hello to your friends. That’s not a problem is it? Pretend we’re not here.”
“Pretend . . .? Are you serious?”
“I don’t see the big deal,” my father answered. “You said
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