3. Chapter 3
The next morning, I wake up eagerly and climb out of my sleeping bag. I’m using a small air mattress for my makeshift bed until the moving truck holding the rest of our stuff arrives today.
Digging through my bags, I pick out my nicest, but also comfiest clothes since I know from experience that I’ll have to try everything on when we go shopping today. Once I’m dressed, I walk across the hall to the bathroom that, thankfully, is all mine unless we have guests. For the first time ever, we have more than one bathroom in our house. Which is good because Mom takes forever getting ready. Downstairs, there’s also a half-bath, which is another bonus.
After doing my business, I wash my hands, brush my teeth and hair before tying up my hair into a ponytail. As I’m getting ready, my mind wanders to last night after we got home from the barbeque.
My parents had sat down with me and πατ?ρα (dad) told me that things were going to change from here on out.
For the better.
No more was Mom going to control my meals for me. If she tries to do it again, I’m supposed to tell him and he’ll put an immediate stop to it. Mom looked like she wanted to spit nails at that, but I couldn’t care less. Her ‘nutritious’ torture was finally going to stop.
I know Mom has it in her head that she’s always supposed to look prim and proper and that she shouldn’t have an ounce of fat on her. Something I’m almost positive Grandmother drilled into her since she was a kid, since Grandmother’s the same way. But πατ?ρα (dad) said he wouldn’t tolerate her treating me the same way. He also apologized repeatedly for ignoring or brushing off what I had tried to tell him about the meals in the past before I eventually gave up. He was almost in tears for how sorry he was for not listening to me or to my concerns.
Today, though, he said I’ll be going shopping with γιαγι? (grandma) and that Mom would not be going. Wanting to spend some more time with my new friend, I had asked if Alli could come with us. After Dad talked with them, I couldn’t contain my shriek of happiness when he said that both Alli and her mom, Meghan, would be able to join us.
Πατ?ρα (Dad) also said that since his new job pays so well, that I won’t ever have to wear thrift-store clothes again unless I want to. So, this year, I’m getting all new clothes, shoes, and school supplies. To say that I was ecstatic would be an understatement. I’d never had anything new before, except for some of my books and maybe when I was a baby, but I’m not counting the last one. Once again, Mom had glared at him, but I didn’t care. I’d finally be able to get the types of clothes that I wanted instead of wearing whatever she picked out for me.
Giving myself one more look over in the mirror once I’m done, I bound down the hallway and stairs, excited for what today will bring. Halfway down the steps, I grin when I see πατ?ρα? (dad) in the kitchen and that he’s cooking breakfast. Glancing around, I don’t see Mom, so she’s probably still upstairs ‘primping’. I’m not sure what she all does, but it shouldn’t take that long to get ready. Sometimes she’s in the bathroom for an hour or more, which was extremely annoying when there was only one bathroom in the house.
“Morning, πατ?ρα? (dad).”
He turns slightly and smiles brightly, but I can see the tightness around his eyes and my good mood fades a bit. Were they fighting again after I went to bed last night?
“Good morning, κορ?τσι μου (my girl). Are you excited about today?”
I bounce on my toes in excitement and do a little twirl, my long hair fanning out around me. “Yes! I can’t wait to introduce γιαγι? (grandma) to one of my new best friends! Meghan’s also really cool and she made some really good homemade lemonade for us yesterday. I want to ask her how she made it so I can try and make it with γιαγι? (grandma).”
Last night, πατ?ρα had said that in addition to going with me today, γιαγι? (grandma) is also going to stay for supper tonight. After we’re done shopping, we’re going to go to the grocery store to get supplies for whatever we’re cooking tonight. When I talked to her on the phone last night and had asked what meal we were going to cook, the only thing she’d tell me that it was going to be a surprise. I’m hoping it’s a new recipe.
Πατ?ρα? turns off the stove and dishes out some eggs and bacon onto a plate for me with some toast he’s already made up. My mouth waters at being able to eat like this again, and I immediately dig in. He makes his own plate and sets the pan back down before pouring us both some orange juice.
“I’ve got the rest of the week off to settle into the house. Before we get everything put away in your room, I thought maybe we could go to the store tomorrow? Pick out some paint and maybe a few decorations? You can personalize it however you want. The guys even offered to help me paint it so we can get you settled in quicker.”
“Seriously?” I ask, not believing what he’s saying, and I’m sure my eyes are bugging out right about now.
I have never been able to decorate my own room before. Mom’s always done that. If I hang anything up that she doesn’t like, she’ll take it down as soon as she sees it before destroying it and throwing the ‘offensive’ item away, her words not mine. Then I’d get at least an hour-long lecture on needing to be a prim and proper lady even if my body doesn’t fit her image requirements.
The only things that she’s ‘allowed’ are if a relative gives me something that goes on the wall or a shelf. Well, as long as it’s in ‘good taste’. There have been a few things that I’ve hidden in the back of my closet, hoping for a time in which I’ll be able to put up whatever I want on my walls.
This all came out last night during our very long talk and to say πατ?ρα was furious was an understatement. He had no idea that Mom had been doing all of this behind his back.
Πατ?ρα? chuckles, bringing me out of my thoughts, and I notice his smile widening. “Seriously. I know how much you hated all those white walls growing up—I wasn’t fond of them either, but you know how Greek families are about wanting one color for the walls. I also hate that you were forced to have decorations you didn’t want,” he says, scowling before he shakes his head and continues. “We’ll get your room all set up, so it’s a sanctuary for you and so that you’re ready for when school starts. I don’t want you getting behind on your homework just because you can’t find something you need for an assignment. You know how seriously I take your schoolwork.”
Hopping down off the stool, I run around the counter and hug his waist tight, burying my face into his side. Well, as much as I can without ruining my glasses. “Thank you, πατ?ρα? ,” I whisper.
He sets his fork down, grabs me under my arms and hoists me up, holding me tight. I wrap my arms around his neck and try my hardest not to cry. His large hand rubs up and down my back.
Heels click on the hardwood stairs, but I don’t make any move to let him go. Mom sighs heavily, and I can’t help but tense up. I can practically feel my body folding in on myself as I prepare for what I’m almost positive is going to be an uncomfortable conversation. I don’t know if πατ?ρα? can feel the change in me, but if he notices, he doesn’t say anything.
“Mary, you’re too big to be held like that. Get down and act your age,” she says harshly, and then she sucks in a sharp breath. “What are you doing giving her carbs and fatty bacon? It was bad enough that she had all that red meat and those dinner rolls last night. At least she ate her vegetables, but they were covered with oil, so it probably negated all the positives.”
Πατ?ρα (Dads) arms tighten around me and I worry about what’s going to happen next. I’ve witnessed many of their fights over the years, and I’ve often wondered if they’ll get a divorce. When I was over at Alli’s house, I pretended not to hear them, but I heard everything they said when they were unloading the car. If they do get a divorce, I know Mom will fight tooth and nail to keep me, even though she can’t stand the sight of me, just so she wouldn’t have to pay πατ?ρα? a nickel. How do I know? I overheard her telling Grandmother those exact words. Confused as to what she had meant, I’d talked to γιαγι? about it. While I could tell she didn’t want to talk about it, she did explain what a divorce meant and what Mom had meant. Hearing γιαγι? explain everything had made my heart break even more.
On top of that, ever since πατ?ρα got his new job which led to our move, their fights have been getting worse and worse. When they were looking for a new house, they argued constantly on which one to get. Before bed one night, I overheard πατ?ρα say that he was putting his foot down and told Mom that we were going to be getting this house and not whatever house she had wanted. That we didn’t need anything that big because it was just the three of us. I never saw what house my mom had wanted, but if I were to guess based off comments she’d been making, it sounded a lot like my grandparents’ house, which is what πατ?ρα had called a mini-mansion one time after visiting them.
That’s another thing I’ve overheard her talking about on the phone with Grandmother. Well, two things—the house and the fighting, which eventually led to talks about divorce. They think they were being so secretive, only talking about those topics when πατ?ρα wasn’t home, but they didn’t pay any attention to me.
Like usual.
I heard everything they talked about since Mom never fully closed their bedroom door and always had the calls on speakerphone. Even if I was in my room with the door shut, I could hear everything they said since the walls were super thin in our last apartment.
Πατ?ρα (Dads) chest vibrates as he growls in frustration, which brings me out of my thoughts.
“Eileen, enough. We’ve had this discussion and you are no longer allowed to starve our daughter like you have been. Also, you will no longer decide every little aspect of her life. I can’t believe you’ve been so controlling and manipulative to your own daughter. That ends now. If it doesn’t, you won’t like the consequences.”
Mom huffs, looking down at her perfectly manicured fingernails. “If you’re going to eat that trash, then do it quickly. I’m taking you shopping since your father thinks you need different stuff, even though it’s a waste of money.”
“Eileen,” πατ?ρα? hisses, but Mom just rolls her eyes at him and waves him off.
I can feel anger radiating off him and I squeeze my arms tighter around him, hoping to comfort him some like he comforted me. Pulling back, I frown up at her, relieved when πατ?ρα? makes no move to lower me to the ground. I need his support right now and I think he knows that.
“I’m not going with you, I’m going shopping with γιαγι? (grandma), Alli, and Meghan today. If you were there, you would just try and force me into the clothes you want to see me in. I want shorts, leggings, jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, tennis shoes, and flip-flops. I don’t care about fancy, frilly and tacky things, dresses, or those kitten-like heels you try to force me into. That’s not me.”
Mom’s scowl deepens, but πατ?ρα? hugs me tight and kisses my cheek. I turn, looking at him and he reaches up, lightly grasping my chin.
“Then that’s what you’re going to get, κορ?τσι μου (my girl). Γιαγι? (Grandma) has instructions on what is needed and I’ve sent her a copy of your school supply list. Now, it’s your decision whether your mom goes with you or not. There’s going to be no judgement from either of us on that,” he pauses and levels Mom with a hard look. Once again, her lips press into a thin line, her eyes blazing as she glares daggers at him.
Πατ?ρα? (Dad) turns back to me. “ Kορ?τσι μου (My girl), what do you want?”
Swallowing hard, my words are barely a whisper as I once again try not to cry. “I don’t want her there. She’ll just ruin it and make everything about her like she always does. She’ll say mean things about me when I don’t fit into the clothes she picks out. I want to have fun with my new best friend and if Mom’s there, then it won’t be fun.”
Πατ?ρα? (Dad) nods. “Then she won’t be there. Besides, I could use the help here. Not to mention, it seems like I need to have another talk with your mother.”
He’s about to say more when the doorbell rings.
Turning, I see Alli peeking through the windows that are on either side of the door. I squirm in πατ?ρα (dads) arms. He lets me down and I run to the door.
“Alli!” I cry out as she shouts my name back and we immediately hug each other.
“I hope we’re not too early?” Meghan asks as she walks in, smiling at us.
“I just have to finish eating my breakfast and then when γιαγι? , which means ‘grandma’, gets here, we’ll be ready to go!”
Last night, I’d told Alli, Luke, and Brady about πατ?ρα (dads) side of the family at the barbeque and they were really interested in my big Greek family. They even asked me to teach them some Greek words.
“ Γιαγι? , grandma. Γιαγι? , grandma,” Alli repeats quietly and slowly. I smile, nodding when she pronounces it correctly.
Bounding back to the kitchen, I climb back up on my stool, ignoring Mom’s sputtering as her and πατ?ρα talk quietly, and continue eating my food. Alli follows me and sits next to me, telling me about the shops that her mom usually takes her to. I’m so excited to get new clothes that I’m practically vibrating in my seat.
A few minutes later, I’m done and as I put my dishes in the sink, the doorbell rings again.
“ Μαμ? (Mom),” πατ?ρα (dads) voice echoes happily through the empty living room.
Seconds later, I can hear them having a short conversation in Greek, but I tune it out for right now. With an excited squeal, I snag Alli’s hand and rush to meet γιαγι? , hugging her when she opens her arms for me.
“ Λουλο?δι μου (My flower), it’s so good to see you. And who is this?” γιαγι? asks as I pull back.
“This is Allison, but you can call her Alli. She’s one of my new best friends! She lives across the street from us. Later, I’ll see if I can introduce you to Luke and Brady. They’re cousins. Luke lives next door to us and Brady lives next door to Alli. Their parents are all friends too, and I got to meet them last night when they invited us over for a barbeque. Oh, and guess what? We’re all going to be in the same class this year!”
Γιαγι?? (Grandmas) eyes soften as she smiles at me and then she beams up at πατ?ρα? . “I’m happy you’ve already found friends,” she says as she looks down at me and hugs me tightly again.
Then I notice her stiffen slightly, and I know she must have spotted Mom. They’ve never gotten along after my parents got married, but then again, that isn’t much of a surprise. From what I’ve heard, Mom had fooled them all into believing she was someone she wasn’t. After the wedding, Mom slowly revealed her true colors to everyone but πατ?ρα from what I’ve been told. From experiencing my own issues with Mom, I’m pretty sure they’re right. However, I think πατ?ρα? finally realizes what type of person she really is.
“Eileen,” γιαγι? says politely but coldly. Though, her voice sounds colder than it usually is toward Mom. Did πατ?ρα? talk to γιαγι? about what Mom has been doing? About their fights lately?
“Maria.”
Γιαγι? looks down at me and smiles. “ Λουλο?δι μου (My flower), are you ready to go?”
“Yes! I can’t wait,” I reply, bouncing on my toes.
Laughing, she looks up at πατ?ρα? and they have another quick conversation in Greek, but I pay them no mind. However, I do notice πατ?ρα giving γιαγι? what looks to be his credit card. Alli hugs me and with her excited chatter, I’m able to block out Mom and focus on just being happy for once.
“Okay, let’s go dears,” γιαγι? calls out. Alli and I run outside and into Meghan’s SUV. When we talked last night to her, Meghan offered to drive since she knows some good stores to go to. With Alli being a similar size as me, though a bit smaller, she knew where to go to get clothes that would fit my body.
After buckling in, I glance back at my house and my smile fades when I see my parents yelling at each other through the living room window. I don’t know how everything’s going to go now that ‘the wool is no longer pulled over his eyes’ as πατ?ρα said last night. I just hope that whatever they decide, I want πατ?ρα and me to be happy. That and I pray that Mom doesn’t get custody of me. Not that long ago, I’d given up on any true mother/daughter relationship with her. All of her harsh words and actions toward me have made it so that I no longer feel anything but anger and hate toward her.
“ Λουλο?δι μου (My flower), it will all be okay. You’ll see,” γιαγι? tells me and I give her a small smile in return, hoping she’s right.