Eiyuu Kishi Den

On the way down we stopped at a town called "Corning" that boasted to be the country's olive growing capital. There was even a store devoted entirely to olives. It was called , "The Olive Pit." Mom was like, "Oh, honey, look! Let's stop for a bit. That should be fun." "Ok, mom. Whatever. Sure." We went inside. "Honey, look at all of this. Would you like anything? You still like olives, don't you?" "Yeah, I suppose.""I remember when you used to play with them on your fingers whenever we had them on the table. Like that one Thanksgiving..." Nothing is more painful than when your parents... I mean parent, can't get who you were out of her head despite who you currently are. "...Oh, and do you remember that one time when you started to make little voices and put on a show? That was so cute. You had olives on all of your fingers and they each had a different voice...""Mom, please. I was, what, seven?"

Pause. Awkward silence. "Um, Mom, I guess the lemon zest olives might be good." Awkward silence. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom, k'? I'll... I'll meet you out front?" I washed my face and stared at myself in the mirror. I hate this, I hate this, I hate this. I don't wanna be here. I don't want to be in California. Water dripped down my chin. I pressed my palms into my eyes until I saw stars. I hate this. I don't want to be here.



Later..

Car. Trapped. I don't know which is worse, talking or silence. We've been driving down in Mom's Explorer. The movers are supposed to meet us at our new house. I've decided talking is worse. Mom's started again. "Honey, I still don't know why you don't want to go to the school I'm teaching at. It's one of the best schools in the state... the country even. You'd be able to go for free since I'm faculty if it's the cost that's intimidating you..." "Mom, I just don't want to go to a private school!" Silence again. But the bad kind. I didn't mean to snap at her. It's bad enough that we won't be there in time for me to start on the first day. I'm missing my first day of friggin' HIGH SCHOOL! And she wonder's why I'm being so moody. Maybe I'll just run away and be a hermit or something. Oregon has real forests. California sucks. They have the Redwoods and that's about it and those are too infected with tourist idiots.

Later...

We're almost there. I guess we just passed the bay area. It's late and we're both tired. We're talking again. A little. I think this will just be chalked up to "tired from the trip" and forgotten tomorrow morning. Good. The movers are supposed to be there tomorrow morning and Mom will deal with them. We've got our sleeping bags and will just crash on the floor or whatever.



Later...

We got to our house a couple hours ago and threw our stuff from the car inside. I staked out my room and we more or less haven't seen each other since then. She's running throughout the whole place going like "Oh, I hope this or that will fit" and "Oh, my tiles will be perfect in this room" and blahblahblah. I'm in my room. MY ROOM. Finally I get to be alone. I have my sleeping bag rolled out on the floor and my duffel and alarm clock next to me. Mom was going to drive me to school tomorrow morning but I told her no. I know where the bus stop is. I can't ride my bike since that's with the movers and won't be here until after 9am. She wouldn't want me to ride anyways even though we're only a few miles from the school. I guess that's a good idea, at least until I learn the area a bit. Whatever. I'm too tired to be upset. Good night.