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Unexplanations

When I saw Joy, I told her about my God experience.
She was looking at me with her usual intense look, but then her face changed, and she smiled this big smile.

I asked
her
for a change, “So what do
you
think about
that
?”

“Stacy, I think that in this world, there are so many mysteries. There’s so much more than we can ever hope to understand.”

Well, that cleared things right up.

“Just take it for what it is. Don’t analyze it. We don’t have to analyze everything, you know.”

That was funny, coming from someone who analyzes everything. But I tried to follow Joy’s advice and just go with it, keep the peaceful feeling with me for a while.

Whoever thought I’d find peace through Summer? All I can say is: wow.

The Thing About Summer

Summer and I have been spending a lot of time together.
She’s not in social butterfly mode anymore since she’s waiting for her true love to get a weekend pass home. The idea of hanging out at high school parties for Summer is like—well, going back to middle school. She’s so
over
all that. So I spend the night at her house or she spends the night at mine (but not as often or else Mom has to drive her home early in time for Mass).

When I told Joy about our renewed friendship and how we’re kind of back to being best friends again, she questioned me. (The choices thing again.)

“Stacy, do you really think that’s a good idea? You could be setting yourself up for disappointment. Is that something you want?”

Sometimes it’s really hard for me not to say something like, “Duh, Joy! How dumb do you think I am?” But I don’t. I guess that shows maturity on my part.

“It’s different now, Joy. I’m not worried.”

She kept looking at me with her intense, hawk eyes, not saying a word.

“No, really. I’m different. I’m not going to let Summer get to me anymore.” And I’m not. I see Summer for who she is, maybe more so than anyone else in the world. And I’m not the same person I was a few months ago. Summer can’t hurt me anymore.
This
I know. “She’s already disappointed me. I know she can do it again. It’s okay.”

Joy nodded. “All right. Just as long as you stay away from the Anthonys of the world. And watch the Summers.”

“Watch the Summers, stay away from the Anthonys. Got it.”

Joy seemed happy.

So I have a kinda-sorta best friend, Summer. For now.

David Copperfield

In English class, Mr. Selden assigned our quarterly book report.

“I want fifteen hundred words, no padding, due before we leave on spring break. Don’t disappoint me, people. This is worth a third of your grade.”

Where have I heard
that
before? Chad gave a loud groan over the fifteen hundred words, and I was about to offer to help
him
this time, then I remembered horrible Vanessa and decided to keep my mouth shut. I looked over the books on the list and decided on
David Copperfield
since I’d already read it over the summer and didn’t feel like actually putting real work into anything. Fifteen hundred words. Piece of cake.

I heard Daria give a big sigh and turned to look at her. She was looking a little over-the-top depressed for some reason.

Hey, that’s supposed to be
my
thing. I’m the depressed one.

“So what book are you doing your report on, Daria?”

She looked up, confused. “What? What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you hear Mr. Selden? He wants a fifteen-hundred-word book report from one of the books on the list. Due before spring break.” She remained confused. “Are you okay?”

Daria was completely wrecked, messy hair and everything.

“I saw Coach Rob’s fiancée yesterday after school. He kissed her. I think their wedding’s still on.”

Well, duh! Of course it is. What in the world is wrong with her?

“Um, Daria, you know, even if Coach Rob wasn’t engaged, it’s not like you two could date or anything. I mean, it’s against the law, for one thing. He’d be fired
and
arrested. It’d be all over the news. I don’t think he’d ever actually go out with one of his students, you know?”

“Teachers and students date all the time, Stacy.”

Well, maybe in Bizarro Universe, not the one
we
happen to live in though.

“I mean, I’ll be eighteen in a few years. He could wait for me.”

“Daria, forget about him, okay? He’s not ‘The One.’ Isn’t there anyone around here you’re interested in?”

“Stacy, you don’t understand, so don’t bother. I’m in love. I’ll always be in love with him.”

Poor Daria. Poor Coach Rob. I thought for a second about giving her Joy’s card since she was a perfect candidate for therapy if there ever was one. But not today, not in the mood she was in. Maybe some other time.

Beach Party

For an hour after I got to work, I sorted plastic bottles
and cans and paper products into separate bags since Sylvia gave me the unchallenging task of sorting the recyclables before I tackled the more challenging task of alphabetizing her file cabinet. It could have been worse, though. I could have been doing Roman’s job of cleaning the toilet. Luckily, Sylvia
likes
me.

Sylvia and Julio—Roman’s dad—are taking a little anniversary trip to Hawaii, so naturally we decided to throw them a send-off, Hawaiian-themed luau party so Sylvia could break out her purple muumuu and rock out to Don Ho and whatever other Hawaiian music Roman was able to download.

After finishing our boring, work-related tasks, we got down to business.

Becca helped us hang some beach towels on the walls. Plastic leis were everywhere because we bought a bag of one hundred for ten dollars at the party store.

I wore a grass skirt and coconuts (over my clothes). Roman found a black Hawaiian shirt somewhere. (It had little skulls all over it, but it was definitely Hawaiian). Becca wore a black sarong, and Sylvia wore her purple muumuu with the oversized hibiscus flowers.

Because it was a luau, we, of course, ate empanadas, taquitos, and poi. (It’s normal.)

About fifty people squeezed into the office. (Because Roman only invited the immediate family.)

Sylvia danced to Elvis Presley—she moves very well for a large-sized woman—and Julio watched her as if she were the most beautiful woman on earth. Twenty years together, and they’re still like a couple of kids.

It was much more fun than I thought it would be.

Happy Couples
Raining Down
From The Sky

Mom’s been humming around the house—huggy, happy.
Probably because she’s dating. I repeat: my mother is dating a man, Alex, substitute teacher at her school. They’ve been out a few times now. So the really important thing to note about this situation is:
my mom is dating
.

It’s been two and a half years since she’s been all on her own, alone, dealing with all of our troubles and woe. Alex is okay. I don’t mind him
too
too much. I mean, he’s balding and tells me lame jokes, trying to be cool, I guess. But just seeing Mom looking forward to going out and putting on a dress and heels and jewelry is worth all of the awkwardness.

It seems like everyone’s pairing up these days; everyone’s looking for their match. It must be because spring is just around the corner; there’s something in the air. Something like hope. Or desperation. Or loneliness. But what do I know?

Summer’s mom Evelyn, seems to have found her soulmate, Gary. He owns a restaurant and bar, and she met him on one of her dates (with another guy). Gary spent a lot of time checking on her drinks and asking if her meal was okay and if she wanted dessert. Pretty soon the guy she was with felt like he was crowding in on
their
date. Anyway, she and Gary are in love. Fourth time’s the charm, I guess.

Now when I spend the night at Summer’s house, for the first time since the seventh grade, when she asks, “So, Stacy, is your mom dating anybody?” I can say, “Yes. Why, yes, she is.” And this makes Evelyn happy, because she thinks everybody in the world should have somebody. Everybody should be paired up, even dogs and cats and penguins and panda bears. And I think she’s right about that. But when Evelyn asked me if I was dating anyone, it hurt just a little.

“Stacy, aren’t you seeing anybody? You’re such a pretty girl.” Summer shot her this look like, “Shut
up
, Mom.”

“No, Evelyn. There’s no one I’m interested in right now.”

“Well, there will be. Don’t worry.”

Who says I’m worrying? But that’s okay.

A few minutes later, when we were hanging out in her bedroom, Summer asked, “Stacy, isn’t there anybody you’re interested in?”

I rolled my eyes. “Not you too.”

“You know, when Bradley gets a weekend pass, I’ll see if he can introduce you to one of his friends, ’kay?”

Oh, not on your life, Summer. I can just picture us on a double date, Summer and Bradley, and me with some twenty year old with a flat top or, even worse, shaved head.

“You know, Summer, I’m not even looking at guys right now. I just don’t see them. Don’t worry about me though. I’ll be fine.”

“Well, if you change your mind, let me know.”

Summer might be ready for her very own Marine, but I know I’m not, being fifteen. And the truth is, I haven’t been looking at the guys at my school, I really haven’t. I know it’ll happen for me some day, just not now. It’s hard once you’ve lost someone—it’s hard to just pick up and move on to the next.