Chapter 12 May 25, 2008

Dear Jonathan,

My mother has been acting weird recently, she’s been paying a lot of attention to us, and by us, I mean Melissie and me. Not her boy toy of the month, not her oh so important friends, but us. The other day, she dragged me into her room and she said she bought a new outfit for me, when I changed into it, I could tell it was incredibly pricy.

The shirt and skirt were so soft, I was about to ask her where the money came from, but she shushed me and said it was unimportant.

She then dragged me over to the mirror saying it was time I got a makeover to get any boys. I was about to protest but I held it in. When was the last time me and Mom had ever done some girly thing like this?

She gave me a one over and then proceeded to cut my hair. If it were any other Mom, I would’ve protested, but this was my Mom. The one thing she knew how to do was to make herself and anyone look better than they currently did. She told me to close my eyes and promise not to open them until she said so and I couldn’t help but feel giddy. Just a little.

When I opened my eyes, I had gotten a shorter haircut, and Mom had applied a little bit of make- up and I looked different. I couldn’t believe it was me staring back at me in the mirror. You know me, I’ve never changed my hairstyle or my choice of clothing since forever. I’m pretty sure even you would be surprised to see me Jon, maybe you won’t even recognize me. But just in case of that, I’ll enclose a picture of my makeover. (Hopefully you’ll like it.)

Mom straightened out my skirt and then looked at me again and said, “Why in hell didn’t I do this sooner?” and that was as good as a compliment coming from her.

Of course, my first reaction was “Is the skirt a bit too short?” I turned around and my Mom just gave me a deadpanned stare. I guess it wasn’t (well compared to some of the stuff she’s worn…) but I wasn’t going to destroy this moment so I just looked back in the mirror and marveled at my new outfit.

Melissie came home shortly after and noticed my makeover. Oh yes, I haven’t told you about Melissie have I? She’s changed over the few weeks. Mom caught her and this other girl skipping class and hanging out at the arcade. What embarrasses me the most is the fact that Devonny was shopping at the time as well and had caught Melissie skipping, and Mom’s uh.. lack of scolding.

When mom asked her what she was doing skipping school, Melissie responded with “School’s boring so I left. That’s all.”

Apparently she was skipping with this Brittany Parker girl. She seemed respectable enough, but I guess looks are deceiving.

Needless to say, Mom ushered them back to school and told them if they did this again, she’d tell the teacher to keep an eye on them. Getting let off easy much? Definately.

When she gets home, all she does is play with her dollhouse instead of doing homework. I tried talking to her, but she shuts down and either walks away or just stands there, listening to what I say but everything’s going in one ear and out the other.

But that day when I got a makeover was when Melissie really changed. When she came in she looked at me and merely said, “So you got a makeover huh sis.” set down her homework, and went into Mom’s room. I guess she went into Mom’s room to see if Mom bought her any new clothes and Mom had. I couldn’t find it in me to get angry at her for being irresponsible for using so much money after she gave me a makeover, so I settled for watching television.

I could hear my sister rustling through Mom’s dresser and when she came out, she headed straight for the mirror and started to do her own hair. I was almost concerned that she might mess her own hair up, but I guess mom’s talent for make-overs was genetic because Melissie got rid of her crown, straightened her hair and put it up in a part-ponytail.

I grabbed myself something to drink from the fridge and noticed Melissie with some of Mom’s mascara and blush. I didn’t say anything as she applied it and tossed it back into Mom’s room.

She immediately went to Mom and asked if she looked pretty. Mom was on the phone at the time and had merely waved off Melissie and I saw the dark look in Melissie’s eyes as she seemed to look frustrated with herself. After the phone call, Mom had went into her room and started prepping herself for “a night on the town.”

As Mom opened the door I could hear a yelp of surprise and a hushed whisper. I turned my head towards the door. When people left the house, they don’t usually start talking to themselves all of a sudden, so it must’ve been an unexpected visitor. I craned my neck but I couldn’t see who it was since Mom was blocking the door. Mom then vanished with the mysterious stranger and Melissie came to sit beside me. Mom has been vanishing outside and coming back after an hour or so more frequently these days. I don’t know why she doesn’t bring Mr. Mysterious into the house. It’s not as if the house is uglier than on the outside.

Anyways, I complimented her on her own little makeover and when I told her it looked nice, she shot me the nastiest look she could muster and left.

“You must be stupid if you can’t see what’s going on.”  she said afterwards as she got off the couch and stalked off to our room. Can you believe it? A girl of her age having this much of an attitude already? I hate to see it when she grows into a teenager.

Although I do believe she has a bit of an inferiority complex that she might’ve carried over from her toddler years. Remember when Mom had no reaction to Melissie learning how to walk, talk and getting potty trained? I think she now wants to prove to Mom she is something. One thing’s for certain, she’s a genius. She’s at the top of her class and she never does her homework! Wish I had that talent, it would’ve let me spend more time with you back then.

Love, Christine