I don't know why I wrote this, but I did. I own some things. I don't know or remember if certain people even had names, so I gave them names. I like Charlie and his face. Gonna stop writing now and I only own what I own.

I'm here because I love my children. I'm here because I love my children. She repeated this mantra inside her mind. Esme looked around the room. Mostly women aside from Charlie, who looked equally uncomfortable and out of place.

"Now, if there's no other order of business-"

"I do. I have one thing I'd like to bring up." A woman Esme vaguely recognized stood up with her hand raised. She was nervous. The woman at the podium nodded at her.

"I noticed that the school has no sexual education. I think that's a crime. I mean other schools have programs." Her voice lowered as she trailed off. Whatever confidence she had faded.

There was silence. The woman at the podium appeared to be offended.

"This is about high school, not a brothel." She half snorted, half snarled.

"Sexual Education is something that we shouldn't have to consider. It should be a class." Esme said. She really wished she hadn't said anything. She began to fidget.

"Oh? I'm surprised at you. I do hope that doesn't mean now we're going to have Planned Parenthood clinics all over town. Besides, we have Abstinence pamphlets." The Woman finished dismissively.

Now Esme was offended. She couldn't help but laugh from shock.

"Sure, that'll work if we lived in the 1640s and we still believed masturbating led to the Devil taking our souls."

That did not go well with the others. There were cries of shock, disgust and some scattered laughter covered with embarrassed coughs.

Should not have said that. Now I'm a freak. Hey, I'm immortal and feed off of blood, but oooh masturbating. That's the freaky stuff.

Esme rolled her eyes at herself. She really didn't want to be there.

"I had sex in high school." Charlie said. He lowered his head after he spoke, almost surprised as if he had spoken himself.

"Great, two supposed "leaders" of our community who clearly have no moral fiber."

"Hey! I married her! Then we divorced, but I wasn't sleeping with my entire class. Teenagers have sex. I have interrupted enough on that one damn hill to testify to that."

"My daughter," the woman who started this discussion said, " has a boyfriend. She's a bright girl, but I would feel better if she were taught . . this subject and was aware of facts and how to protect herself."

"I agree." Charlie pointed to her. Esme nodded.

"Yes. We've all been there, been teenagers and have dealt those awful confusing and frustrating emotions."

This is ridiculous.

"Fine. Next Wednesday we'll discuss this at length."

She left the podium and as she passed Esme and Charlie, she sent a particularly nasty icy glare.

"Well. I don't think we're going to be invited to sit with her at lunch." Esme cringed after she said that. Charlie looked over.

"Damn. I was going to bring my famous hoagies." He stood and gathered himself to leave.

"Eh, Not a fan of bread." She shrugged. She swung her purse over her shoulder.

The meeting is over, why am I still here?

Charlie turned his nose up at that.

"Don't tell me you're one of those anti gluten freaks. You should know things, you married a doctor."

She laughed a bit.

"No. I just never cared for bread. Even when I was still-I loved pasta." She trailed off. They were approached by the other woman. She held out her hand.

"I guess that could have been worse. I'm Lena. Angela's mom. I think our daughters are friends." Charlie nodded.

"Yeah. Bells talks about her sometimes."

"Can you believe that woman. Abstinence only? That didn't work for the Puritans." Lena shook her head.

"You read the Crucible too?"

"My first husband was very intense about sex and modesty, I thought he was from the 1640s." Esme was not sure why she felt comfortable enough disclosing this information, but it didn't feel wrong.

There was something that was missing. Everywhere she traveled, roamed, and had lived with her family, there was always something she had lacked. Connection. Friends.

"Do you two want to go out for a drink?"

Maybe this time it will be different.

They all met up at a local bar. Esme order a red wine and felt anxious, scared, happy and three kinds of cold pain. It was all so new and exciting. She was how old and this was the first time she may actually have friends.

I don't know them yet. Hold back. Maintain.

She straightened herself up, shoulders back,

"She's seventeen. Yesterday, I kissed her knee because she fell from her tricycle. Now, she's seventeen, has a boyfriend and all I can think of, is please God, use condoms."

Charlie played with his beer.. Lena looked at her cocktail morosely

"I remember I used to have to hold the bike, even after I took the extra wheels off, because Bells was terrified. The look on her face when she realized she was doing everything on her own. She was so proud and happy." He laughed as he trailed off.

"Oh. Angie, when she was learning to ride a bike, she would lean to the left too much. She broke her arm once. I hated myself so much. I wanted to dismantle the damn thing. But, sure enough, the next day, she got on it and her father was out there with her. She's a determined girl who knows what she wants."

"Trees."

"Trees." Charlie repeated. His curiosity piqued.

"Trees are good." Lena supplied awkwardly.

"No. That's what. Edward is very into himself. He would spend time alone and inside. I wanted him to go out in the sun, if you will. So, I taught him the art of tree climbing. You may laugh, but it is an art! He still keeps to himself, but he's happier and he doesn't spend all day in his room now."

"When was it that we lost ourselves and become only mirrors?" Lena twirled the straw in her drink.

"I love dancing. My husband and I would go to Portland and dance at this one-hell, dive. I love my daughter, but I miss being a wife, being Lena.. I miss. I miss, this." She motioned around her.

"I don't remember the last date night." Esme frowned. She drank her wine and forced herself to believe it was another red substance.

"I haven't dated." Charlie added sadly.

"Billy hasn't been hooking you up? I think you need a new wing-man." Esme tsk'd playfully.

"Maybe."

"I hear the head of the PTO is marvelous and has a strong moral fiber." Lena tried to sound serious.

"Sounds perfect. I'll get my Bible and we can burn some witches."

"Now, now, my dear Sheriff, burning witches is something that is traditionally done on the third date." Esme wagged her finger and mockingly glared.

"That's probably why they never stay." He sighed heavily.

"Chin up, buttercup. We'll find you someone. You now have two fabulous advisers."

Esme heart leapt up after she heard Lena say those words. Well, figuratively anyway.

Esme wasn't sure when of the time when she had finally stumbled in through the front door, but she did not care. She now had two friends. This morning, she had none and now, as the moon hung over head, she had two.

She fumbled a bit with her shoes and the door.

Shoes.

She started laughing.

She kicked off one.

"Shoooooes."

"What time is this?" A very angry voice growled. Lights suddenly turned on.

Rosie was not happy. Her arms were crossed like the angry parent who stayed up all night while their ungrateful teenager was running wild around town.

"I know you." Esme found that hilarious and nearly lost her balance.

"What's the joke?"

"I like wine. Wine is good." She continued to walk awkwardly, one shoe off and the other still on.

"You didn't answer my question." Rosie followed her.

"I must ask you to adopt a less marital tone of voice."

Esme began the ascent on the stairs to her room.

"Victoria is killing stupid humans and you were gone all day. No one knew where you were. When was the last time you fed? No wonder you can't stand up."

"I don't have to answer or justify myself to you."

"Fine, then I'll go fuck off too, because apparently that's OK now!"

"Hey, here's a novel idea, why don't you two take your issues outside, so those of us who care about studying for their damn-

"Emmet, shut up."

"Eddie, go stalk your girlfriend. Adults are talking."

"Everyone shut up!" Esme rubbed her temples. I love my children. I love them. I love them.

" Rose, we'll talk later."

"Oh, will you be around?"

"I usually am."

"Like today?"

She pushed passed Esme. Thank the powers that be for reinforced doors. Whatever good vibes the wine and her experiences that night had given her had faded. Not faded. Her system was flushed clean.

Esme looked down at her ridiculous feet and slipped off the other shoe. She threw down her purse, sat on the steps, bite her hand and cried.

Esme loved her children, but that didn't stop her from feeling empty inside.