Uncomplicated 4.1: The other side of crazy

Wren

      "Hey." I told Darin I'd meet him here. We're friends.

      "Mom is driving me insane."

      "What did she do this time?" A week ago, I went home with him on the bus. His mom is a bit of a nutjob.

     "She said she wants to curl my hair for graduation!"

     I start giggling. Then I laugh harder.

     "Thanks," he says sarcastically. I keep laughing. He'd told me earlier that he thinks that his mom never really got over the fact that he was a boy. She'd wanted a girl.

     "I can't help it!"

     He folds his arms and watches me, looking more upset by the second.

     I hug him. "No hard feelings, Darin. You were right. Your mom is crazy."

     He stiffens. "Wren, don't do that."

     "What are you talking about?"

     "I like that Michale doesn't have a problem with us being friends. So don't go and hug me."

     I take a surprised step backwards. It never even occurred to me that Michale would have a problem with me being friends with Darin. Darin is my friend. "What would me giving you a simple, friendly hug have to do with anything?"

     "Nothing. Not really. But I don't want anything to get misinterpreted. He is crazy about you, and I don't want to end up on the wrong side of crazy."

      I scowl. "He's fine."

      "Sure he is." He doesn't look convinced of his own words. "I'd just like to keep it that way."

      I change the topic back to his mom. We stand and discuss various options as to how to get her to stop treating him like she wished he was a girl.

       "I'm going to give myself a buzz cut."

       "Then you'll look like you've joined the military." I turn to him to see him shrug.

       "Maybe I will."

       My mouth drops. "No way! You told me you'd enter the movie biz with me! I need your script skills."

       He laughs quietly. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

       We stand up, saying we'll see each other at graduation.

     My birthday rolls around, and we just have a small party. I don't want anything huge.

     I wish for my life to have a happily ever after. 

      Oh no! No no no no no! I look like Darin's mom!

     Much, much better makeover. Cake is served!

       "So, still planning on being a big movie director?" Edward asks me. I don't call him Dad. He's always been Edward; that's how I've always known him.

       "Of course!" I take a bite as Edward sits down. "And I found the neatest house." Mom and Edward said they would buy me a house, which is awesome!

       "Where?" Aunt Bonnie asks as she walks over.

      I tell her, telling Mom too.

      Aunt Bonnie perks up like a cheerleader. "The house I'm buying is right next door! This is swell!"

      Mom gives Aunt Bonnie a look that I don't understand. Kind of annoyed.

      Aunt Bonnie looks at me. "Not that I'll be in your hair or anything, but that means you can come by and visit me any time you want!"

      Edward has his say. "She can come visit us any time she wants too."

      I turn to look at my step-dad. I've often felt that he's always wished he could be my dad. I don't remember my dad. I've seen pictures. I look nothing like him. But I will say that I might resemble Uncle Wilson, but really, I'm almost a carbon copy of Mom.

     "Anyway," I continue, "I really want this house. It's only 38k, and it comes furnished."

     "It's a great house," Aunt Bonnie adds.

     "And Michale likes it too." I like that he likes it.

     "So where's he going to live?"

     "Well, I figure we could share the master bedroom."

       Edward coughs. His cake tried to go down the wrong way.

       Mom looks at her plate. "That's not a good idea."

       "Oh, baloney, Mom. We're going to get married. Calm down before you start assuming the wrong thing."

       Edward can finally talk. "Has he asked you?"

       I turn my head. "Not yet. But he will."
       Mom continues, "And when you're married, then you live together."
       "Don't be such a square."
       Edward puts his fork down, and his voice grows stern. "It's not being 'square'! It's being mature and sensible."
       I stand up and throw my fork down on my plate. As I storm away to the water, I call out over my shoulder, "Just because you two fuddy-duddies waited, that doesn't mean I have to. Breaking news story: I'm an adult!"

     Aunt Bonnie later made me apologize, and Mom told me she disagreed with my decision but that she understood that I'm an adult. She told me I could always go back to them at a moment's notice. Then, we hugged.
      I'm ready to start my life.

     Tonight, it's just me. I'm calling Michale in the morning.