Poison -13- by Melanie Brown
Added 2024-07-27 19:54:43 +0000 UTCCopyright © 2024
Part 13
Gene grinned at me as he waited expectantly for my reply. From the moment I rang the doorbell, I was worried that he’d take the opportunity to ask me out on a date. If I’d been a girl all my life, I might have been excited that he asked. Right now, not so much.
I looked down at my feet and felt my cheeks redden. I looked back up at him and said, “Thanks for the invitation but two things. I’m very flattered you asked me. But I’ll be honest. I don’t think I’m ready to date boys. And then there’s my Mom. She’s not allowing me to date right now.” Everything I said was true.
Looking crestfallen, Gene said, “It’s just to a movie. It’s not like a big ‘date’ date. You know? Surely your mother couldn’t object to that?”
I giggled slightly. “You don’t know my mom! When she puts her foot down, it usually stays down.”
“Is it something about me?” Gene asked pathetically.
“Oh no, no! It’s not about you,” I said sincerely. He really is very cute, and he’s been nothing but nice to me.
He just nodded with a look of disappointment on his face.
“I’ll ask her if I can go out when I get home. No promises.” I said. Not that I dislike Gene, but I hope Mom keeps her foot down.
*
“How was dinner?” asked Mom as I climbed into the passenger seat of our Journey. I was tempted to declare ‘shotgun!’ for the hell of it, but I didn’t. “You were there longer than I was expecting. Did you have a good time?”
I nodded. “Dinner was great. The Millers were very nice to me.” I just stared at my hands.
Mom looked over at me. “Are you okay? There’s something you’re not telling me.”
I sighed. “Gene asked me out on a date.”
Looking out the windshield, Mom said, “I see. And what did you say?”
“The truth,” I said honestly. “I told him I didn’t think I was ready to date boys and that you’re not allowing me to date anyway.”
“How did he respond?”
I chuckled. “He wants me to try to wear down your resolve.”
Mom grinned at me. “Like that will happen.”
Shaking my head, I said, “Man, this girl shit is hard.”
“Diane!”
I frowned at Mom. “Cut me some slack, Sandra! I’ve only been a girl for a couple of weeks. There seems to be a lot of extra rules for girls. You haven’t told Corey he can’t date yet. And the boys! Sheesh, Sandy,” I shook my head. “I don’t know how you managed to put up with it. Boys stare at me everywhere I go. A boy just asked me out, and he won’t be the last. I like him and I don’t understand why. Gene actually kissed me the other day, and I didn’t hate it.”
Mom looked surprised. “You didn’t tell me he’d kissed you.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t think I had to. I wanted to pretend it didn’t happen.”
Mom looked at me sideways. “You said you liked it?”
I nodded. “I did. Does that make me bad?”
Mom smiled at me. “No. It makes you human.”
*
“You’re a girl, right?”
“Allegedly.” I put my Kindle down for a moment and looked sideways at Corey. “Why?” I was hoping to get in some reading before bedtime arrived.
Corey came all the way into my room and sat on my bed. “I wanted to see what you thought of something.”
I shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve been a girl long enough to offer any advice, but sure. I’ll have a go.”
Corey hesitated a moment and then said, “You know Karen Ousterhout, right? She hangs around a lot with the Rock.”
“I didn’t know that was her last name. Kind of a mouthful, ain’t it? But yes, I know her. We’re not buds or anything.”
“Do you know anything about her? Does she have a boyfriend? Does she like movies?”
I grinned at my brother. “Sounds like somebody has a crush.”
Corey knitted his brow. “Knock it off. I just wanted to know some things so I won’t sound like an idiot.” I wanted to tell him too late, but I held my tongue.
“Honestly, Corey. I really don’t know her that well. I thought she was dating that Johnny guy.” I shrugged.
“I don’t think so,” said Corey. “That’s why I was asking if you knew anything.”
“I’ll pump her for information on Monday. And I won’t mention your name, okay?” I smiled at Corey.
“Thanks, Diane.” With a grin, he slid off my bed.
I watched him as he left my room. That was an odd little interlude.
*
I stepped out of the restroom and saw Zach arguing with a girl. I think her name was Susan and that Zach had gone out with her a few times. Zach looked frustrated, and Susan looked upset. It was Sunday afternoon and Mom had made Zach come with me to the movies as she didn’t want me going by myself.
As I approached, Susan stiffened as she glared at me.
Appearing exasperated, Zach said, “Diane, please tell her you’re my sister.”
I pointed at Zach. “I’m his sister.”
Scowling, Susan said, “Horseshit. I’ve known you since first grade, and now you suddenly have a sister?” She made air quotes when she said “sister.” If you don’t want to go out anymore, just say so. Have fun with the new girl.” She started to turn away.
“Hey, wait, Susan, right?”
She turned to face me and folded her arms and said dourly. “Yeah. What of it?”
I said, “Give me a minute to explain. Zach is my half-brother. Our dad had me with a previous marriage. And then Dad recently died.” I hate how easy it is to lie.
Susan looked sheepish. “Yeah. I heard about that. I’m sorry.”
I grinned. “Zach is here with me because Mom told him to. This isn’t a date.”
Susan asked, “What movie are you guys seeing?”
Zach sighed. He said, “That Nathan Adams movie The Unwilling Princess.
Susan grinned. “I’d love to see that movie!”
Zach sighed again. “Would you like to come with us?”
Looking coy, Susan said, “Is it okay with your sister?”
I grinned. “Fine with me.”
Zach said, “Let’s get you a ticket.”
Zach sat between me and Susan. To be honest, I don’t think Susan saw much of the movie.
End of Part 13
Comments
I agree with this a lot. Sandra is just pushing too hard, whether its a demand from the college on the hush hush, she is too damn straight, was cheating, wants a new man in her life, etc... All of that is immaterial. Diane is not even allowed to swear or have any kind of outburst and she needs an emotional release of some sort. If that happened to my hypothetical husband I would let them swear all they need to at home, just not in front of the boys. Id also let her know it is ok to cry and mourn herself because of this situation. All my feelings in this is for Diane and the hell she is going through with no support at all from family or professionals.
SingularCurve
2024-07-28 09:25:01 +0000 UTCshes going to help corey and bailed zach out , they boys attitudes may change because of it .if corey gets that date then there is no reason not to allow diane to also. maybe only allow it as a double date
lisa charlenne
2024-07-28 02:52:11 +0000 UTCThe relationship between Diane and Sandra still bothers me. Yes, Diane is no longer the man Sandra married - not physically anyway. But the man she married is still inside of that teenage girl, and he didn’t ask for any of this to happen. Sandra really does need to cut him some slack. Yes, she lost her husband - but her husband is having to deal with everyone thinking he is dead, being turned into a teenage girl, dealing with his children blaming him for their losing their father, having to live as a teenage girl with school, clothes, boys, hormones - all of that, and the woman he loves is still right there in front of him, treating him like a child she doesn’t want to have around. Hell, she even threatened to have him taken away. Yes, she has lost a lot - but so has he. You would think that she would act a whole lot nicer to him. Either she is blaming him for every thing that has happened, or she simply wants him out of the way. Based on a few things she has said, the fact that she made her husband take both sons with him on the trip to the college (wanting time to herself, or time with someone else?), the threats to get rid of Diane, and how she is pushing Diane into feminism, it appears she is looking to clear the decks for someone else in her life. Even her comment about Diane liking being kissed by a boy making her human sounds suspicious - like she can relate to it due to something she has done in her marriage. I can relate to Diane’s position somewhat. When I transitioned my wife kept telling me she was worried that I would find someone else; everyone she knew kept telling her I would end up with some man and was probably cheating on her. I finally got her to understand that if anyone should be worried, that it was me. You see, I was no longer the man she fell in love with - but the woman that I have always loved, and still loved, was right in front of me. Which one of us was more likely to find someone else? Which one of us should be more worried? Inside, I was still the same person who pledged my life to her - but she didn’t see that. Sandra is pushing Diane into femininity hard core. She also seems to be pushing Diane into a relationship with Gene. Yes, she gave her the “no date” rule - but we’ll see how long that lasts. Compensating for something in her own life maybe?
Dallas Eden
2024-07-28 02:27:22 +0000 UTC
