Poison -22- by Melanie Brown

Poisoned Ivy League

By

Melanie Brown
Copyright © 2024

Part 22 - Final

“You let her leave the house like that?”

I had just climbed down out of the SUV. Mom was still seated and apparently waiting for a goodnight kiss. What is it with this guy? He criticized Mom about my curfew. This was a special occasion. I’m not even dating yet. And what’s it to him anyway?

And now he’s criticizing how I’m dressed. Again, what’s it to him? I normally wear jeans and tonight I thought I’d dress it up a bit. Can’t a middle-aged father of two wear a miniskirt if he wants to? Okay. I would have said ‘no’ a month ago. And now I’m suddenly a rebellious teen girl.

Mom sighed. “It’s just me. I’m doing what I can.”

“What is she? Twelve?” asked Luke.

Looking annoyed that she wasn’t getting her kiss, Mom said, “She’s almost fourteen.”

He looked surprised. “Really? I would have taken her for ten or eleven. Still. You don’t want her to get the idea that she can just walk over you.”

Raising my voice, I said, “You know I’m standing right here and can hear every word you’re saying, right?”

Mom turned around and said, “Be quiet, honey. The adults are talking.”

I laughed out loud when she said that, causing Mr. Perfect to glance at me. I folded my arms and said quietly, “I think I’ll go whip up some C4.” I wish I could, but I don’t have the recipe.  I tried looking up the ingredients once, which resulted in a visit from the ATF.

Mom shook her head. “Well, I’ll think about improving how I raise a daughter. It was just kind of sprung on me. But anyway, I had a great time.”

His worship said, “I did too, Sandra. I hope we can do something again soon.”

Mom smiled, “Oh, me too.” She leaned in and finally got her goodnight kiss. I had to smile thinking of Brian’s kiss. Why am I feeling all gooey inside about a boy’s kiss? Maybe because it was the most wonderful kiss in the history of kisses… and why am I not revolted about being kissed by a really cute boy?

As the legend in his own mind drove off, Mom turned to face me. “Well, thank you for embarrassing me.”

I narrowed my eyes at Mom. “Embarrassing you? Did you consider me? Do you really think the girl formally known as David would be interested in meeting the man my former wife is dating?”

Mom laughed. “Would you like for us to still be dating? Where are you taking me? I’ve heard Gildersleave’s is great.”

“That’s a little rich for me. Is that where you two kids went?”

Mom chuckled. “No. We went to Peaky’s.”

I nodded. “The home of casual dining. Still. You could have just let me stay at Stewie’s and come home with Corey.”

Mom sighed. “You know Corey’s curfew is different from yours.”

“Why? Because he’s a boy?”

“Yes,” said Mom looking annoyed. “We’ve been over this. You have to be extra careful with girls. I knew that even before Lucas brought it up. Did you know I was a teen girl at one  time?”

I laughed. “Back when dinosaurs ruled the earth?”

Mom shook her head. “You think you’re funny, don’t you? While you’re getting upset at my first date in fifteen years, how many boys did you meet tonight?”

I started counting on my fingers. “We’ve been married twenty years. Anyway, I met twelve boys tonight. Well, Eleven. Joey doesn’t count. He ran to throw up in the restroom when he tried to ask me out.”

Mom frowned at me. “See? Boys are just throwing themselves at you, and you’re upset about my one man?”

Pointing, I said, “You should be wearing a long black dress along with a black veil, gloves and hat, with sad organ music playing wherever you go for ten years!”

Mom laughed. “I don’t think so, bucko. My astrologer told me to start dating now before I get old. You know, if I play my cards right, Luke just could be your father.”

Shaking my head, I said, “Him saying ‘Diane. I am your father.’ doesn’t have the same ring to it. But all seriousness aside, I most certainly hope not.”

Mom smirked. “Give him time. You’ll love him as much as I do.”

I guffawed.

                    *

“You left early!” declared Karen over my phone.

I rolled over on my back while lying on my bed. Staring at the ceiling, I said, “Yeah. You can blame my Mom for that. She was in the neighborhood, so she thought she’d interrupt my life.”

“That was weird. Corey and I stayed two more hours. I’d forgotten I was supposed to call my dad to come get us.”

“I just went home and watched YouTube. I was supposed to have gone to bed, but I was still too excited.” I said, playing with my hair.

“You’ve got it bad for that Brian,” said Karen. I could see her grinning at me over the phone.

Twirling my hair, I said, “He’s cute.  And so nice. But he has a downside,”

“And what’s that?” asked Karen.

I rolled over onto my front. “My Mom’s dating his dad.”

“No friggin’ way!”

I nodded. “Yep! The universe is conspiring against me.”

Karen chuckled. “Hold on. It might work in your favor.”

“How so?”

Karen paused a moment. “Think about it. I’ll bet he’ll nag his dad to let him see you.”

I rolled back to my back. “I dunno. He’s a real hard ass.  Perfect match for my Mom.” What am I saying? I wasn’t a hard ass. Should I have been?

“Well, it’s almost three thirty,” noted Karen. “Time to hit the hay.”

“Yeah. See  ya.”

                    *

“Well, look what the cat drug in.”

I walked into the kitchen and blinked a few times. “Why did you let me sleep so late? I feel disgusted.” It was almost three in the afternoon. The whole day wasted.

“Mom chuckled. “You were pretty well zonked. I thought I’d let you sleep. Want some leftover pizza? The boys ordered it for lunch.”

I looked around. “Where are the boys?”

Mom poured herself a cup of coffee. “Zach drove Corey over the Karen’s house, and then he said he was going to play a round of golf with his buddies.”

“Just us girls, huh?” It struck me that I was barefoot and in the kitchen. At least I wasn’t pregnant.

Mom nodded. “Yep.”

I stuck a couple of pizza slices into the microwave and started warming them up. “Can I ask you a question?”

Mom grinned and said, “You just did.”

I frowned at Mom. “You’re not allowed to make dad jokes.”

“Somebody has to,” she laughed.

I examined the piece of pizza I took out of the microwave. “But seriously. Why are you always on my case? Is it revenge for something?”

Mom pursed her lips and was silent for a long moment. Finally she pointed at the kitchen table. “Let’s sit over here.”

I grabbed a paper towel to set my pizza on and pulled out a chair. Mom did the same.

“Diane.  And yes, Diane. David no longer exists. Not even in spirit, really.” She clasped her fingers together and just stared at her hands for a moment.

“I’m sorry you feel like that. And I guess I have been…a bit rough? I’m pretty sure nothing can compare to waking up and finding your whole life has been torn to pieces and every piece thrown into a fire. You didn’t ask to be changed into a teen girl. I know that’s a challenge. But I had my own challenges to face.”

She  frowned, looking away for a moment. “You weren’t privy to everything the board demanded because you’re a child. There were behind-the-scenes meetings where the board outlined my obligations. Cromwell wasn’t kidding when he said this wasn’t their first rodeo. Their legal apparatus is huge. They have their fingers in a shit ton of pies. There was no way I could fight it.”

I took a bite of pizza. “Well, what did they say?”

Mom waved her hand dismissively. “Too much to go into. The main thing was that I had a choice. Take on a new daughter, or you disappear. He promised up and down you wouldn’t be killed, but I would never know what happened. Cromwell pressured me to seriously consider the second option.”

I laughed nervously. “Well, thank you for not taking that option.”

Mom looked inside her coffee mug and swished the contents. “Trust me. The team made a compelling argument. But since I loved you, I couldn’t just abandon you.”

I got up and gave Mom a hug. We both started tearing up. She said, “I didn’t want to lose you.”

As I pulled a soda from the fridge, Mom continued, “But taking on an instant thirteen-year-old daughter seemed an impossible task.”

Frowning again, she said, “You’re a babe in the woods. You didn’t grow up in the world as a girl. How do I balance protecting you and still let you have a normal teen’s life? You’d be overwhelmed with no defenses against boys or even other girls. I was so glad when you became friends with Karen. Maybe I was a little harsh at times, but I didn’t have time to grow up as a Mom to a daughter as well.”

I downed a slug from my soda. “I’m glad we’ve cleared the air. For the most part.”

Mom poured herself some more coffee. “I was just trying to protect you. Can you forgive me?”

I finished off my pizza. “Maybe. Can I date now?”

Mom grinned at me. “You like Luke’s son, don’t you?”

I stared at my soda can. “Maybe. But you know, I’m finding more and more boys…um… interesting. No matter how hard I try not to.”

Mom nodded. “Luke suggested maybe some supervised outings.”

I belched an un-ladylike laugh. “Oh, that’d be fun. Captain Lukey uses his Vulcan mind trick ‘Those aren’t the lips you want to kiss…’”

Mom laughed. “I think you meant the Jedi mind trick.”

I frowned. “Whatever.”

Mom took my hands in hers. “Look. He’s really a great guy. You’ll love him too after you get to know him.”

“If you say so, Mom. But can I start dating?”

Mom leaned back and said, “I was going to start letting you date when you start high school. Is that reasonable to you?”

I nodded. “I guess so. Can I start wearing make-up?”

Mom chuckled. “You? You want to wear make-up?”

I shook my head. “Not really. But I don’t want to be the only girl not doing it.”

Mom laughed. “Done. I’ll lift the ban now. But you have to go light.”

I finished off my soda. “I feel like I just lost my mind.”

Mom chuckled. “Let’s go get some ice cream and finally bury David.”

I grinned at Mom. “May he rest in peace.”

                    *

“Come on, Diane!” called out Mom from the picnic end of the swimming pool. “You have to  help!” It’s my birthday. I should be the one being served, not helping. Oh well. Mom’s trying to domesticate me.

Brian laughed and said, “Come on. Let’s eat.”

“I’ll be there in just a second.” I watched Brian run off towards my party. For my fourteenth birthday party… my second fourteenth birthday… I decided to have a swimming party. I stood there for a moment to reflect. How many fourteen-year-olds pause for reflection?

I’m wearing a bikini, for God’s sake. A bikini! Can you imagine?

I stared down at my future, watching Brian, who was back with his dad for the weekend. My future as a girl. A future of dating boys. A future of going to dances, parties and proms. A cheerleader future? Maybe? A future of guys giving me flowers. Of presenting me with a corsage for the big dance. A future of meeting the right man and a white wedding gown. And… and oh my God… having a baby? A future of wearing skirts, high heels and make-up at work.

A whole world of feminine possibilities. Do I want to be another chemical engineer? Actually, not really.

Right now, all I want is a kiss from Brian. I grinned. What more could I ask for?

End of Part 22