Flowing Tears part 1

Chapter 1

When bad things happen, like death, or sometimes just a spitting insult, people react in different ways. My mom locks herself in her bedroom and reads the bible. My dad goes outside, and sits on the patio while taking deep breaths. My grandmother becomes very motherly, and is constantly worrying about the welfare of other people. Me? I cry.

      When my parents told me they were getting divorced, that's exactly what I did. I ran to my room, my knees shaking. I slammed the door shut. "Jen!" my mom cried helplessly, only to here the click of the lock on my door. "Everything will be fine!! We'll get through it! We still love you! You know that! Right? This isn't because of you. You did nothing to deserve this, but your dad and I just, well, don't have feelings for each other anymore."

      She didn't understand. I didn't want to be one of the kids who didn't have a real house to call home. I didn't want to have two of everything. I'd rather have them fight and yell than file for a divorce. I mean, their fights weren't getting physical or anything; how bad could they be?

     I used to be popular, and I even sometimes looked down on the kids whose parents were divorced. What would happen to me now?

     I had all these questions and there were no answers. I would have to live through it. This was my life now. I'd have to accept it. With that in my mind, I unlocked my door, and walked coolly out of my room. My mom was huddled in the corner. I ran over to her and hugged her. We cried together. We poured our hearts out together. I knew my mom still loved me. I knew my dad still loved me. I knew I still had to deal with the rest of my life... And that was not going to be easy.

Chapter 2

Now, six months later the ink on my parent’s divorce papers is barely dry. And I'm standing at my dad's wedding.

            Within a month of divorcing my mother, my dad decided he couldn't live without a woman in the house. So he went to one of those online dating things. And he met someone. Someone he liked. Someone he really liked. At first it was just emails. Emails and texts. Then, they met at a little cafe. Now, they're getting married. I've met this woman 3 times. 3! And she's supposed to be my new step-mother? I don't think so. I refuse to like her. Ms. Kate-Trying-To-Ruin-My-Life is not going to succeed. I assure you. She will not succeed.

       That's not even the worst part.  I have to move! I have to move 500 miles away from my friends, family and home! My parents say it'll be good for me to travel some more. Get some fresh air. In Kansas! My new step-mother Kate lives in Kansas with her son, Justin. Kansas! I mean, they live in a farm in Kansas. That is so out of the question. My parents divorcing and ruining my life is one thing, but making me move to a farm in the middle of nowhere is out of the question. Absolutely, out of the question.

So, here I stand at my dad's wedding as a brides mate in the ugliest dress of my life. It's maroon with full length sleeves!! Kate's wedding dress is maroon too! I can't believe it. This woman has the worst sense of style. Who would want to wear maroon on their wedding day?

      "Will you, Kate Diane Ryan, love William Jay Lorene in sickness and health? Through poverty and riches?..."

        The ceremony's started, and I think I'm about to die in this itchy dress. In twelve hours I'll be on a flight back to good old Wisconsin while Kate and my dad go on their honeymoon to Jamaica. Maybe I can convince my mom to let me stay in Wisconsin for good.

       Now, some people might think, Wisconsin? How is Kansas worse than Wisconsin? But trust me, it's worse. In Wisconsin you have paved roads and where I live, no farms. I live in the suburbs of Milwaukee. Here you have a mall, a bowling alley, a club, all the necessities.

        "Will you, William Jay Lorene, love Kate Diane Ryan in sickness and health? Through poverty and riches?... "

     I try connecting with my dad through mental telepathy that he’s making the worse decision of his life, but he’s still smiling at Kate. Looks like he didn't receive it.