Upside Down by Liz Gavin

wear.
    “And what conclusions did you draw?”
    “Over time , I came to realize you and mom lived in a world of your own. Nothing else mattered. No one else mattered. There was only the two of you. It has always been this way. It took me a long time but when I finally understood that, I gave up giving a damn. It was a good thing, though, because I also stopped hurting.”
    I t urned to my mother to continue.
    “ Now, thanks to you, mom, I’ve been reminded of how selfish both of you are. Don’t you think it’s funny I came all the way up here because you found time to call me because you needed me to help you? Don’t you see a pattern here? I do. And I don’t want to be a part of it anymore.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean I’m through with both of you. I’ve had enough. I can’t stay here another second. I’ll go back home.”
    I stormed out of the library, slammed the door shut and flew down the stairs but nobody ran after me. Not that I expected them to try to stop me. But, the fact they didn’t do it hurt me further still. Bob heard the commotion and caught up with me in the hall.
    “I had the feeling you wouldn’t stay. I didn’t ask Peter to get your bags up. They’re in the car.”
    “Thanks. You know me well.”
    “Yes, I do and as an old friend I’ll say something you may not want to hear. You may not like to hear it, either. Then again, that’s what friends are for, right?”
    I nodded. He held both my hands and spoke. Patience and love radiated from each word.
    “Freckles, you shouldn’t judge anyone in haste or with a heavy heart. When we are angry or sad, we don’t think before acting and that usually ends up in disaster. You are both. And you are hurt.”
    “Damn right I am! But don’t say I’ve judge d them in haste, here. I’ve had many years of heartache and disappointments before realizing who those people upstairs really are. You know that! You saw what they did to me! This time they went too far and I’m through with them!”
    “I know what I saw. I saw you suffer as a kid for things you were too young to understand.”
    “Oh, no! Not you, too, Bob. Don’t give me this crap about me being too young back then. They didn’t come home until I was eighteen years old! I wasn’t a child anymore. What kind of moron did they think I was? What explanation could they possibly give me for being MIA for ten years? And why are you defending them, anyway?”
    “I’m just saying, little one. I saw many things during those years. Some of them might have shed a different light on the situation,” I opened my mouth to ask why he never told me anything but he did know me too well. He raised his hand for me to stop and continued. “But it was not my place to say anything. It’s still not my place, freckles. I’m sorry.”
    “What are you trying to say, Bob? What am I missing here?”
    “I shouldn’t meddle. And I won’t. That’s the number one rule for any decent butler,” he smiled to lighten up the mood. “I love you but there are things only a parent can tell their children. I’m so sorry.”
    “Gosh, Bob. You’re not helping me at all. Now, I’m angry and confused. What the hell?”
    “I couldn’t let you get behind the wheel of th at murderous machine in the state you were in when you ran down the stairs. You were seething,” he winked. “Now, confusion will get you to drive slower.”
    “Oh, you , conniving old dear you!” I kissed him on both cheeks and hugged Bob for as long as I could without embarrassing him. “You know I can’t get mad at you. You gave me something to think about but that doesn’t mean I’ll let them off the hook any time soon. I still don’t understand them.”
    “Don’t worry. They’ll talk to you when they ’re ready. In the meantime, try to be more patient and cut them some slack. Now, drive safely.”
    “I will.”
    “Yeah, right!”
    In the rearview mirror, I saw Bob shak ing his head in resignation as I roared the