Chapter 5: …I’m 18! I don’t live in a convent!
I went into the kitchen to get some ice to minimize the swelling. I turned to look into the mirror and was shocked to see the imprint of my father’s hand across my cheek, The jaw was aching and I wanted to scream, but instead, slid onto a chair to gather my thoughts about going into work
Mom poured a cup of coffee. “Here, drink this…. it will get your blood moving.”
“My blood moving….I wish I could be moving. Mom, I can’t live like this. I’m 18! I don’t live in a convent, –although I feel like I do most of the time. Is it so hard to understand that I want to live my own life? None of my friends are so restricted! I am I am not even allowed to drive the car! I would love to get into the car and take a drive once in the while, but I can’t….I can’t do anything!” I heaved a deep sigh and went to get ready for work.
“I’ll talk to your dad when he cools down. Perhaps by the time Bob gets a leave, he will be more understanding of the situation. You know, I was just 18 when your dad dated me….he probably remembers his raging hormones.”
As sympathetic as she tried to portray herself, I was well aware that she could be almost as controlling and judgmental as my father.
I stood gazing out the window, watching my dad drive off to work. It was pouring rain — a northeaster at that. “There he goes off with the car…. guess I’ll have to walk to work in the rain and get soaked for sure. It’s like another slap on the face. I can’t believe all this has happened to me in less than fifteen minutes. You know, Mom, I have always had this ‘magic’ feeling about rain….it seems to be following me all through my life….there is no way of knowing if the raindrops are an omen of joy or sadness. Today, they definitely indicate sadness…. yes, tears of sadness….perhaps the angels are crying with me….Isn’t it bad enough that Bob left this morning? I didn’t need all this other stuff….” I sighed.
Mom was busy saying something about breakfast. I wondered if she was even listening to what I was saying. Couldn’t she give me a hug and say she felt sorry for me? Instead, she was concerned about breakfast
more tomorrow… what was Penny Parker doing with Bob’s car…
