It's My Life Read Online Free
Author: Melody Carlson
never finishes.
“She can take my cell phone,” offers my dad, taking control of the decision. “She's got her own car, and if for some reason something doesn't seem right, I'm sure she'll just phone us, climb in her car, and come straight home. Right, Catie?”
“Of course,” I assure them. “It's not like I'm stupid or looking for trouble. And just for the record, I'm not the least bit worried. Besides, you've met Andrea's mom. Does she seem the sort of woman who would send her daughter and friend off into some bad situation?”
“I guess not.” My mom seems slightly more at ease now. “It's just that we love you, sweetie.” Then we all hug, and it's settled. Cool, I get to go!
But what bugs me is that we had to go through such turmoil just to get here. I don't see why they can't just trust my judgment about these things. I mean, some kids my age are already living out on their own. And I've beenbeing all responsible and working and everything. So why are they so paranoid all the time? Good grief, this is my life! I sure don't want to mess it up. Don't they realize that?
Okay, no more time for ranting. Right now I need to pack. We're leaving right after I finish work tomorrow, and the forecast is for hot, hot, hot. Ahh, to take a dip in a cool, mountain lake. Look out, fun times ahead!!!
THREE
Sunday, July 22 (not what I expected)
Man, am I glad to be home. Not that I didn't have fun. Well, mostly, anyway. But Andrea's dad isn't the most mature adult I've ever met. And his girlfriend is a real piece of work too. In a way they both remind me of a couple of high school kids who haven't grown up yet. Maybe they never will. I felt pretty bad for Andrea a couple times. But I assured her I didn't hold her responsible for their behavior.
Just the same we stuck it out. I know I probably should've come home sooner. But I honestly didn't feel like I was in any real danger. And I just couldn't bear to hear my parents say “I told you so,” which I know they'd think even if they didn't say the actual words. Someday I'll tell them they were partially right. Just not yet.
Well, Andrea's dad, or Bobby, as he insisted I call him, has a pretty nice place at the lake, even if it was a total mess. And Jeanie (his girlfriend who looks just like a middle–aged cocktail waitress, which she is by the way) doesn't lift a finger to help out. So to start with, Andrea and I spent our first evening there cleaning house anddoing laundry so we could have clean sheets, then we made a run to the nearby camp store where I paid $76.83 for two small bags of groceries!!! Then we proceeded to cook dinner for everyone. All the while, Bobby and Jeanie were just hanging around like a couple of overgrown kids, and never once offered to help. Too weird.
I thought maybe things would change by the next day. I mean, which ones were supposed to be the guests here? But nothing changed. Andrea and I fixed breakfast and cleaned up again. Then Andrea talked Bobby into dragging us around the lake in the ski boat, but by noon he'd consumed so much beer that we decided we'd be safer to get him and the boat to dockside. Then we took out the canoe by ourselves (which was really pretty fun). But when we returned by midafternoon, Jeanie's younger sister and her boyfriend had just shown up. But did they offer to help or bring any food or anything? (Yeah, sure, you bet.) Nope, they were just a couple of freeloaders. Well, Andrea and I were getting kind of ticked by then. So we got ourselves all cleaned up, then sneaked out the back door, got in my car, and drove to the nearby town for pizza.
Now that was fun! A couple of local boys began flirting with us, and at first we tried to ignore them, but then, being all inspired by our maturity, we decided we'd use this opportunity to tell them about Jesus (thinking that would either send the guys packing or perhaps do the Kingdom some good!). And can you believe it? They listened–eagerly. We told them all about
“She can take my cell phone,” offers my dad, taking control of the decision. “She's got her own car, and if for some reason something doesn't seem right, I'm sure she'll just phone us, climb in her car, and come straight home. Right, Catie?”
“Of course,” I assure them. “It's not like I'm stupid or looking for trouble. And just for the record, I'm not the least bit worried. Besides, you've met Andrea's mom. Does she seem the sort of woman who would send her daughter and friend off into some bad situation?”
“I guess not.” My mom seems slightly more at ease now. “It's just that we love you, sweetie.” Then we all hug, and it's settled. Cool, I get to go!
But what bugs me is that we had to go through such turmoil just to get here. I don't see why they can't just trust my judgment about these things. I mean, some kids my age are already living out on their own. And I've beenbeing all responsible and working and everything. So why are they so paranoid all the time? Good grief, this is my life! I sure don't want to mess it up. Don't they realize that?
Okay, no more time for ranting. Right now I need to pack. We're leaving right after I finish work tomorrow, and the forecast is for hot, hot, hot. Ahh, to take a dip in a cool, mountain lake. Look out, fun times ahead!!!
THREE
Sunday, July 22 (not what I expected)
Man, am I glad to be home. Not that I didn't have fun. Well, mostly, anyway. But Andrea's dad isn't the most mature adult I've ever met. And his girlfriend is a real piece of work too. In a way they both remind me of a couple of high school kids who haven't grown up yet. Maybe they never will. I felt pretty bad for Andrea a couple times. But I assured her I didn't hold her responsible for their behavior.
Just the same we stuck it out. I know I probably should've come home sooner. But I honestly didn't feel like I was in any real danger. And I just couldn't bear to hear my parents say “I told you so,” which I know they'd think even if they didn't say the actual words. Someday I'll tell them they were partially right. Just not yet.
Well, Andrea's dad, or Bobby, as he insisted I call him, has a pretty nice place at the lake, even if it was a total mess. And Jeanie (his girlfriend who looks just like a middle–aged cocktail waitress, which she is by the way) doesn't lift a finger to help out. So to start with, Andrea and I spent our first evening there cleaning house anddoing laundry so we could have clean sheets, then we made a run to the nearby camp store where I paid $76.83 for two small bags of groceries!!! Then we proceeded to cook dinner for everyone. All the while, Bobby and Jeanie were just hanging around like a couple of overgrown kids, and never once offered to help. Too weird.
I thought maybe things would change by the next day. I mean, which ones were supposed to be the guests here? But nothing changed. Andrea and I fixed breakfast and cleaned up again. Then Andrea talked Bobby into dragging us around the lake in the ski boat, but by noon he'd consumed so much beer that we decided we'd be safer to get him and the boat to dockside. Then we took out the canoe by ourselves (which was really pretty fun). But when we returned by midafternoon, Jeanie's younger sister and her boyfriend had just shown up. But did they offer to help or bring any food or anything? (Yeah, sure, you bet.) Nope, they were just a couple of freeloaders. Well, Andrea and I were getting kind of ticked by then. So we got ourselves all cleaned up, then sneaked out the back door, got in my car, and drove to the nearby town for pizza.
Now that was fun! A couple of local boys began flirting with us, and at first we tried to ignore them, but then, being all inspired by our maturity, we decided we'd use this opportunity to tell them about Jesus (thinking that would either send the guys packing or perhaps do the Kingdom some good!). And can you believe it? They listened–eagerly. We told them all about
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