Two Against Two.
Chapter 6
The Argument
Date: May 29, 1983-11:00 P.M. EST.
Interstate 65 on the outskirts of Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Christine's PoV:)
I close my eyes, feeling tired, since I've been up for eleven hours straight, and it will be four more hours, before I reach Chicago, as the van gets back rolling on the final leg of this three-leg return trip to Chicago.
We just loaded up on enough food and gas for the return trip home. My twin cousin, Tia McCallister, has her head on my shoulder, asleep, while my good friend, Sarah, drives the van back to Chicago. All three of us had a great time at the Dire Straits concert in Muncie.
My thoughts, as I lie my head back into the seat, eyes drooping, turn to dealing with my parents, once I return home, since by now they know I'm gone, because I snuck away and went to the concert, without their knowledge. I hate my parents, to be honest to myself, ever since the day they forced me to move away from Indianapolis.
I hate them even more, since today, when I discovered Tia and her family have been living in Chicago over a year, and my parents decided to not tell me that my sister-like cousin has been living in the same town.
Tia was the one that invited Sarah and I to the concert in Muncie, and I decided to take her up on her offer, since I believe my parents are trying to keep Tia and I separated.
I also resent the fact that my Mom had so many kids close together, starting when I was around seven years old, and not close together when I was little.
Starting with Buzz, who is eight and a sports fan; a bully to his younger siblings, an annoying pest that follows me around everywhere, and a snitch when it comes to me, because he knows he can't bully me, since I'm bigger than him.
He's also clever, because he snitches on me to cover up his own nasty misdeeds, and to exploit the knowledge that my parents don't trust me. I also resent the fact he stole the special bond that I had with my father.
Then, there is Jeff, who is seven. He's a shy little guy with a good heart, who likes playing Atari and reading comics in his own spare time, when Buzz is not forcing him to be a jerk towards his younger siblings. We get along great, and he enjoys hanging out with me, which I don't mind, because I love spending time with the little guy.
There are also the twins, Megan and Linnie, who are five-and-a-half, turning six real soon. I was jealous when they were born, because I felt threatened that they were taking my position, as being the only girl in the family, but that jealousy eventually turned into protectiveness, mostly from being blatantly bullied by Buzz, and unwillingly by Jeff, due to pressure from Buzz.
I know this is silly, but I enjoy having tea parties and playing dolls with my twin sisters. I have a feeling Megan is going to be a boy-crazy romantic, with a sense of polite snarkiness, while Linnie is going to be a brainy bookworm, who's going to excel in life.
Then, there's Kevin, who is 5 months old of pure innocence; blues eyes and blond hair. He made my heart melt the day he was born. Babysitting Kevin is a blast. I can sense he's going to be somewhat like me, except more resourceful and not as wild or hot-headed.
I have a bad feeling Buzz is going to make life hell for Kevin, when Kevin gets older, and my stupid parents are going to blame Kevin for everything in the same way they blame me for everything. As I think about this, I fall asleep…
Interstate 90/Interstate 94 Winnetka suburb of Chicago. 2:00 A.M., CST.
"Christine, wake up. Come on, sleepyhead, we're back in Chicago, and we're about to hit the off-ramp to Winnetka," I hear Sarah say, as my eyes slowly open. Last thing I remember, I was thinking about my siblings, and how I'm going to deal with my parents.
I suddenly bolt up and ask Sarah, "Did you say 'off-ramp to Winnetka'?"
"Yeah, I did, sleepyhead," Sarah laughs.
"So, we dropped off Tia, already?"
"Yeah, about a half hour ago. She tried to wake you, but you didn't budge. She wanted me to tell you to call her tomorrow,"
"What time is it?" I ask.
"It's two in the morning, Central Time. We gained an extra hour, since we changed timezones back in Northwest Indiana," Sarah replies.
"Oh, OK,"
The moment I face my parents is close at hand, I think, as I look out the window. I'm able to make out the I-94 exit sign to Winnetka in the darkness, as Sarah pulls off the quiet interstate and drives me home. It doesn't take long to reach my home on Lincoln Blvd.
I get out of the van and bid Sarah farewell. The neighborhood is quiet and dark, save for my house. A few of the downstairs lights are on.
My parents are most-likely napping downstairs, waiting to lecture and yell at me, like they always do. A mixture of anxiety and anger flow through me at that the thought.
Well, it's now or never… I climb the front steps, place my key in the front door lock, turn it, and open the door, only to be greeted by two angry parents, who are standing in the foyer, arms folded together. The yelling match soon commences.
"Where have you been, young lady?!" yells my Mother. "You had your Father and I worried sick! We thought something might've happened to you!"
"Do you have any consideration at all for our feelings, Christine?! You've been gone almost a whole day! How do you think that made us feel, worrying about our oldest, not knowing where she is and if she's OK, or not?!" Dad chimes in, also yelling.
"What about my feelings, Dad?!" I yell back. "Do you think about my feelings, when you forced me to leave Indianapolis and Tia behind?!"
Mom and Dad shake their heads in exasperation. "Not this again… How many times do we have to explain to you about how changes were needed with your Dad's new job, considering the recent arrival of Buzz. I also just found out I was pregnant with Jeff?! You're trying to change the topic, like you always do!" Mom shouts. "Your Dad and I demand to know where you have been for the last twelve hours! Now, tell us!"
"Fine, then!" I yell back. My anger is boiling, as I proudly begin to explain, "Well, I snuck out at five A.M., met up with Tia, napped a bit at Tia's place, ate, left Chicago around eleven A.M., reached Indianapolis around four P.M., ate again, reached Muncie around five P.M.; the concert started at six P.M., and it ended at nine P.M.. We returned to Indianapolis around eleven P.M., napped, woke up around two A.M. Chicago time near Winnetka. Of course, we can't forget the timezone changes, can we?!"
Mom and Dad are still furious at me, disregarding their authority, and not caring about my own safety. "Christine, I thought your Dad and I made it perfectly clear that you couldn't attend this concert with your cousin, Tia, but, as usual, you disobeyed us and went! Where did we go wrong with you?! You're setting a bad example for your siblings!" Mom continues to raise her voice.
"Maybe my birth was a mistake to the both of you, since you both didn't have any more kids, until I was seven years old! Why couldn't you have had kids closer to my age?!" I holler. Mom and Dad look hurt at that statement.
"That was nature's choice, Christine, and it hurts both your Dad and I that you think you were a mistake, because you're not. We're blessed to have a wonderful daughter like you," Mom tries to explain, gently.
"I think it's best we all go to bed and sleep on this. And, young lady, first thing in morning, we will be discussing your punishment," Dad explains, calmly.
"Fine!" I raise my voice back, as I glare at the both of them, while I march upstairs to my room.
They don't care about me, and I'm going to show them that they shouldn't mess with me. I'd like to see how they're going to punish me, when I'm not here to be punished, because I've had it with the both of them. I open the attic door and gently climb the stairs, leading up to my room, because my twin sisters' room and Kevin's room are closest to the attic, and I don't want to wake them.
My room has a bed, a TV, and is full of Rock band and car posters; and other things that you wouldn't normally find in a sixteen going on seventeen-year-old girl's room, because I'm not into that girly-girl stuff, like some are. I grab my suitcase out of the closet and start to pack everything I'm going to need.
Once I'm done packing, I open my window, climb out onto the roof, and down the garden wall, onto the ground. I soon begin my journey down the street towards the bus stop, without looking back, as I ignore Mr. Marley's pleas for me to stop…
(Kate's PoV:)
Peter and I go upstairs right after Christine does. We make sure all the kids were not awakened from the fight that happened between us and Christine earlier. To my relief, they're all sound asleep.
I have a tugging feeling in my chest, urging me to go up to the attic and check on Christine, but Peter convinces me not to; unknowing that it's a mistake that leads me to trusting my feelings more often in the future. I cry myself to sleep, because I feel something bad is about to happen in regards to my oldest child…
The next morning is one of sorrow for Peter and I, when I discover that our daughter is missing. I go to her room to try and discuss last night in a claim manner, only to see that she's gone. I scream for Peter and sob, while he's hurting on the inside.
We both question ourselves on how we failed with our oldest child, when we gave her everything she needed or wanted. We gave her love, shelter, food, and clothing. We can't understand why our daughter acted like this.
The police are called, and we file a missing person's report. Peter gives all the basic information about Christine and shows the officer on-scene recent pictures, while I sob, holding baby Kevin, tightly.
We also alerted our family members, friends, our children's friends, and close friends of Christine about Christine running away from home. They promised to keep an eye out for Christine and contact us if they should encounter her.
The entire family is subdued for the next few weeks, because the search for Christine turns up empty. Even Buzz isn't his normal self. He loved Christine very much, and it crushed him deeply that Christine was gone. Jeff and the twins are hurt, because they lost a playmate.
The twins cry, when they find out their big sister is gone. Kevin may be a baby, but he feels the emotional change and the emptiness that Christine running away leaves behind. However, Kevin's feelings are not known to us.
Two weeks later, we receive an angry letter from Christine. I sobbed, while Peter read the letter. It says that Peter and I are no longer her parents, and any attempt to find her would result her leaving the state. Peter and I become more determined to find her, but luck is not on our side.
We don't know it, but Christine is hiding right under very our noses, at Peter's brother Patrick's house. Christine is perceptive enough to hide her presence from her Aunt and Uncle. Little do we know, that the two people that do know of Christine's whereabouts also feel guilty about withholding information…
(Old Man Marley's PoV:)
I sit in my chair, feeling conflicted, as I read the letter Christine sent me. I witnessed Christine leaving the night she left home. I tried to stop her, but she ignored me. I eventually decide to reluctantly withhold Christine's whereabouts, even though it feels wrong doing so…
(Tia's PoV:)
I also feel a sense of conflict, though much smaller about knowing Christine's whereabouts, and not sharing them with any of the family, because I feel Christine is right to run away; that my Aunt Kate and Uncle Peter are no different than my own parents.
My parents grounded me for sneaking out, as well, but I don't care, because my parents wronged me the same way my Aunt and Uncle wronged my cousin. Only, I'm different in the fact that I'm the emotionless Ice Queen to my cousin and best friend's emotionally-driven hot-hotheadedness, and I'm going to stand with my cousin, no matter what…
END