Small Problem -17- by Melanie Brown

Small Problem

Part 17

“Mom!”

“Yes, honey?”

“Mom. Come take a look at this.” I was in the hall bathroom across from my and Cathy’s rooms.

Mom stepped into the restroom. “What is it, honey?”

I stretched my panties out. “Take a look.”

“Oh my!” Mom said when she saw the splotches of blood on my panty liner. “You’re having your period!”

Cathy stuck her head out of her room. “Amanda’s doing what?”

I looked up as Cathy walked across the hall. I took a deep breath. “I’m having a period. Do you know what this means?”

Cathy laughed. “Yeah. It means you’re going to be as moody and bloated as the rest of us.”

“Cathy!” scolded Mom. “You need to be positive. This is a big moment in your sister’s life.  Honestly, I’m shocked it’s happening. Normally it happens when you’re eleven or twelve.”

I shrugged. “I seemed to have skipped that age. Damned nanites! Why did I do such a good job with them?”

Mom hugged me. “We need to celebrate. Today you are a woman.”

Grinning, I asked, “Do I get a bar mitzvah?”

Mom shook her head. “We’re not Jewish, honey. But we do need to mark the passing of this moment. I should probably make a gift box like I did for Cathy.” Mom stepped over to her bedroom.

Chuckling, Cathy said, “Let’s throw a party and invite all the cheerleaders!”

Horrified, I said, “Let’s not and say we did. Besides being embarrassing, they’ll all wonder why we didn’t do this two or three years ago.”

Mom re-entered the bathroom holding a softbound book. Mom looked through a few pages. “You and I are actually supposed to sit down and read this together, but you’re not a little girl. But I think it can still help you.” She handed me the book.

Aloud, I read, “My First Period.  Thanks, Mom.” I grinned as I looked at the cartoon illustrations.

Mom tapped the cover of the book. “I want that back, by the way.”

Cathy smirked, “Don’t get blood on it.”

I frowned at Cathy. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Cathy burst out laughing. “I just thought. Mom would be totally pissed if your first baby looked like Owen!”

I scowled at Cathy. “I’d be totally pissed if my first baby looked like Owen!”

Mom frowned deeply. “I’d be totally pissed if either of you got pregnant before graduation!”

*  *  *

“Okay, girls. I need you all to sit down for a minute before you leave for the day,” said Coach Renwick as we were all poised to get changed out of our workout clothes.

I have to say the second day of school went much better than the first. Which is to be expected, I guess. I was still pestered by boys, but not as much. And I didn’t get lost this time. One thing I don’t understand is that both Owen and Douger think they can win my attention. I’m fine with Chad. And to be totally honest, I question the need for a boy in my life right now anyway.

“Girls, pay attention!” Coach Renwick clapped her hands a couple of times to get our attention. We all sat on the gym floor in roughly a circle.

Marcia shouted, “We’re all here, coach!”

Coach Renwick inclined her head towards Marcia in acknowledgment.

“Girls, first, let me say today’s practice was great. I’m really proud of what we’re accomplishing here. Tomorrow is our first pep rally of the new football season.” She pointed in the general direction of the outside. “Just like the boys have been hitting their training hard to be the best team, we’ve been training hard to be the best squad. And you girls should be proud. I think we’ve got the best squad we’ve had in a while.” She went on to tell us what to expect at our pep rally and how we were expected to behave at the game.

Coach continued, “Remember. Uniforms all day tomorrow. And also remember red lipstick and red nails tomorrow. Okay, see you at nine in the field house tomorrow.”

Just before Cathy and I exited the gym, Coach pulled us aside. “Girls, I just wanted to express my appreciation for the leadership both of you have shown. Marcia graduates this year, so I’m looking for candidates for squad captain for next year.  Keep up the good work.”

“Yes, ma’am,” we both said at the same time.

As we made our way across campus to get picked up by Mom, Cathy suddenly laughed.

Amused by her laughing, I asked, “What’s so funny?”

She glanced down at me. Why is she taller than me? She said, “It’s nothing. A sudden thought just struck me as funny.” She saw my questioning look and continued, “Like I said, it’s nothing. I was just thinking of how your life is evolving. Or maybe devolving. You’ve gone from a mad scientist on the cusp of saving the world to cheerleader captain! It’s just crazy.”

I chuckled. “I’m not captain yet, and I think Coach must be off her meds, but I agree, my life has been a crazy rollercoaster lately.”

Cathy elbowed me in the ribs. “Besides, it’s me who should be captain!”

*  *  *

“Both of you in the kitchen, now!”

“What’s the deal, Mom?” I squealed. “Today is Cat’s turn in the barrel.”

“In the barrel?” asked Mom.

“It’s nothing. I just meant it’s Cat’s turn for kitchen duty.”

“I need both of you to help out in the kitchen tonight. Michael is coming over for dinner. And he’s bringing his son, Jason.”

I felt a bubble of anger. “Who? Are you serious?”

Mom frowned at me. “Of course I’m serious.”

I shook my head. “I… I just can’t believe you’re still seeing him!”

Mom’s eyes flashed. “Who I date is none of your concern, little girl. Did I fuss when you got a boyfriend? No. Like you, I’m moving on with my life.”

I was going to say something else, but I knew this was one war I couldn’t win.

“I also need both of you to change into a nice dress.”

Terrif.

Tying on an apron, Cathy asked, “What are we making?”

As Mom started a pan of water boiling, she said, “His favorite. Spaghetti and meat sauce.”

I was hoping for chicken fried steak.

*  *  *

“Can you get the door, Amanda?” shouted Mom from the kitchen.

“Sure, Mom!” I called back. I was pretty sure it was our dinner guests. I took a deep breath before opening the door for that Michael dude. I think it’s normal to dislike the man who is now dating the woman you used to be married to. But especially so with this clown, since he wanted Mom to put me in juvenile detention for a few weeks for the silly reason of me getting arrested.

Forcing a smile, I opened the door and pleasantly said, “Hello, Mr. Carlton. Please come in.” He was dressed in a button shirt and sports jacket, as was his son. His son was cute and at least a head taller than me. I could get lost in his deep brown eyes.

From the kitchen, Mom shouted, “Welcome, Michael! Dinner is almost ready. Make yourself at home.”

Mr. Carlton grinned at me. “Hey, sport. Staying out of trouble?”

I grinned back. “What’s the fun in that?”

Mr. Carlton turned to his son and said, “Jason, meet Amanda.” He then pointed at Cathy hurrying across the room. “And that’s Cathy, Amanda’s older sister.”

Jason grinned dopily, staring at me. “Pleased to meet you both.” Pointing at Cathy, Jason said, “Older? Aren’t you two twins?”

Cathy laughed. She was clearly trying to muscle in on Jason. “She’s not even a real sister. We’re cousins, and Mom adopted her”

From the kitchen, Mom said, “Cat, be nice.” Mom stepped out of the kitchen. “Michael, if you’d like to sit at the head of the table. With Jason next to you. And girls, help bring the food out.”

As I set the platter of spaghetti down in from of Mr. Carlton (it seemed presumptuous for a fourteen-year-old to call him Michael), Jason said, “Please. Sit next to me.” Cathy was in the process of setting down a dish of garlic Texas toast, and if looks could kill, I’d be a greasy spot on the floor. What’s up with her?

Mr. Carlton laughed heartily. “That fits since you’ve both been to county jail! Different counties, but still…” Jason looked horribly embarrassed. His dad had embarrassed me as well. What a douche.

I smoothed my dress under me as I sat. I grinned at Jason and said, “Cool. Maybe after dinner, we can go get tattoos?” Mr. Carlton frowned at me, but Jason chuckled.

After putting meat sauce all over the spaghetti, Mom scowled at me. “Nobody’s getting tattoos.” She took a seat next to Mr. Carlton. Cathy took a seat next to Mom and fumed at me.

The plates got passed around, and everyone managed to load up their own plates. Spaghetti is spaghetti, but Mom made a killer meat sauce. She made Cat and I watch her make it so we could do it next time. Mom is insisting I get domesticated.

Not willing to let sleeping dogs lie, with a mouthful of Texas toast, I turned to Mr. Carlton and said, “Speaking of jail, Mr. Carlton, I have to say I really liked the car you took me home in. Can I ask what you do for a living?”

Mom frowned at me. “Amanda!”

Mr. Carlton wiped his mouth with his napkin and grinned. “It’s quite all right. It’s an honest question.  I’m a software engineer at the same company your mother works at.”

Taken aback, I said as I shook my head, “I wouldn’t think a mere programmer would command a higher salary than a biochemical engineer.”

Mr. Carlton chuckled. “I’m not just a mere programmer, Amanda. I’m responsible for all in-house development at the corporation. And who do you know who’s a bio-whatever?”

Cathy looked at me and said, “That’s what Dad was. He created an army of nanites that he stupidly let them turn on him and they ate him.”

Looking appropriately horrified, Mr. Carlton said, “That’s horrible. I didn’t know. I’m sorry to hear that.”

I chuckled at Cathy. “I like that story better than being assassinated by an international cabal of surgeons.”

Mom scowled at both of us. “Will you two stop? I told you, Michael, my husband died in a freak industrial accident. Thanks for bringing the mood down.”

Pointing, I said, “Hey, that was Cathy! I just said I liked his car!”

Mom started to say something, but Mr. Carlton waved her off. “It’s all good, Charlotte. I like my car too. And teens are always trying to see how far they can go. Jason was the same way, but he’s settled down a lot now that he’s in college. He’s on his college golf team.”

Mom said, “Well, congratulations, Jason.”

Cathy swallowed the wad of spaghetti she had in her mouth. “That’s cool, Jason. What’s your major?”

I stood up and started picking up dirty dishes. Jason said, “Computer Science.”

I grinned at Jason. “Like father, like son? Are you done with that plate?”

Mom stood up. “Michael, would you like to adjourn to the living room? The girls will take care of the dishes.”

Cathy started to pick up several dishes. Jason said, “Here. Let me get those for you. They look heavy.”

Cathy waved her hand. “Oh, you can just leave those for Amanda.. But please tell me about college.  Sounds fascinating.” She handed me several dishes and turned to sit with Jason. What’s the deal? Why is she flirting with Jason?

I filled up a couple of Tupperware boxes with spaghetti and sauce to send home with Mr. Carlton. I stared at Cathy for a minute. I called out, “Cat! Come here a minute.”

I heard Cathy tell Jason, “Hold on a second. My baby sister needs something.”

Cathy entered the kitchen with her hands on her hips. “What?”

Frowning at her, I said, “You’re supposed to be helping. And why are you flirting with Jason? He’s in college.”

Cathy rolled her eyes. “I thought you had it. I bet you’d date a college guy if you could.”

I shook my head. “Actually, I wouldn’t. And what about Jonathan? Don’t  you think he might mind?”

Shrugging, she said, “Oh. I forgot to tell you. I dumped him. He was on a date with that Claire whats-her-name.”

My eyes widened. “Holy crap, Cat! That was sudden.”

Shrugging again, she said, “Time for a change anyway.”

Before I could say anything, Cathy grabbed the two Tupperware boxes of left-overs and ran out of the kitchen. She set the boxes down in front of Jason.

“Here are some left-overs I thought you might want” she chirped, smiling broadly at Jason. That little rat.

End if Part 17 Small Problem.