Episode 2 - Mother and Daughter
Written by: Fun But Shy Girl
Based on Characters Created by: Mark Reisman
Sophia sat in her house with Olive, as the two were looking through several magazine. As Sophia held one magazine out, she said, "Ooo. This looks a great spot for you and Emmy to celebrate your anniversary." Olive smiled as she said, "I agree. Thanks for helping me plan this Sophia. I always need a good outsider opinion on these things. Anyway, I better get home soon. Emmy always gets home around five." Then Sophia suddenly looked scared as she said, "Five!? Oh no. Can you help me vacuum my place as I clean the bathroom?" A confused looking Olive said, "Huh? Are you expecting company?" As Sophia began looking for cleaning supplies, she said, "My mother is coming to visit. I gotta make this place look perfect." A still confused Olive then said, "Um... your place looks great Sophia. Does your mom own this place or something?" Then an anxiety filled Sophia said, "No. Look... it.. it just has to be perfect. Now please help me with the vacuum!" Olive sighed as she said, "Okay, I guess."
Sydney and Harry were sitting in front of each other during breakfast in their kitchen as Harry said, "Oh. I'm gonna be late tonight. Big project at work today." Then suddenly Sydney saw her adopted daughter Valicity trying to sneak past her. A confused looking Sydney said, "Valicity, you okay? Don't you have to get ready for school?" A nervous looking Valicity then said, "I am. I just... wanted to put some of my clothes in the washing machine." A confused looking Harry then said, "Val, you know you can just put them in the basket and one of us will throw it into the wash when there's enough to put in there." Valicity then said, "Yes, but... I just want to be... responsible. So... bye." Then Valicity quickly ran away, as a confused looking Sydney said, "What's going on with her?"
As the sun was setting in a parking lot, Sophia stood in front of her mother: Angela with a brand new sports car. A happy looking Sophia was showing off the car's features to her mother as she said, "And check out the display features and auto park tech." A smiling Angela then said, "I'm impressed Sophia. You finally saved up enough money for a new car and now can finally look like a successful self-made woman while on the road." A smiling and very happy looking Sophia said, "Thanks mom." Then Angela's face changed to being more serious suddenly as she said, "So did you pay for it all upfront?" Sophia suddenly began to look a little nervous again as she said, "No. I... I paid for just over half of it, and set up a financing thing where I'm gonna pay the rest off in three years." Angela had a look of disappointment across her face as she said, "Sophia, you've spent a decade at your current job and have only been able to save enough money for half a car? You either need to push to get that promotion you deserve or find a finer line of work fast. Understood?" Sophia held her head low as she said, "Yes mom."
Sydney was sitting in the living room of her home reading a book. Valicity then slowly walked into the room looking nervous as she said, "Mom... I... I... I have something to tell you... something terrible." Sydney suddenly looked nervous as she said, "Well Valicity, sit down. Tell me, what is it?" Then Valicity looked scared as she said, "I... I don't know how to tell this to you... or anybody." Sydney with a reassuring look said, "Valicity, I'm here for you. No matter what. So tell me... what's wrong?" Valicity closed her eyes for a moment... and then opened them as she said, "I'm dying mom." A very confused looking Sydney said, "What? What are you talking about?" A scared looking Valicity then said, "I... I've been bleeding internally for awhile now and it doesn't stop. It hurts and... I'm so scared." Then a now calmer and more curious Sydney said, "Valicity... where has this bleeding been happening?" Valicity looking ashamed pointed just below her waist line. Then Sydney raised one eyebrow as she said, "And has it been happening about once a month on average?" Valicity nodded her head and said, "Yes. How did you know?" Sydney made a tiny smile as she said, "I think I have to explain a few basic things about being a woman to you."
Sophia and Emmy were sitting at an outdoor cafe waiting to be served food as Emmy said, "So when I heard the mom yelling at the kid for getting bad grades and demanding they spend more time studying after school, the kid actually said: I don't gotta study more if I don't wanna, and if you make me... you're not getting any grand-kids. And then the mom actually said: You're seriously threatening me with that? If you're gonna be the type of person who doesn't study or work hard, then you better not be making me any grand-kids. I was holding back so much laughter as I heard that." Then a waiter came by and handed Emmy some food. A confused looking Emmy then looked at Sophia as she said, "You didn't order Sophia?" Sophia held up a brown bag as she said, "I brought my own sandwich and drink with me. Just trying to save money right now." A concerned looking Emmy said, "What's going on Sophia? Are you strapped for cash? Saving up for something?" Sophia turned her head and said, "No. I just gotta pay off my current house in less than four years so I gotta save money where I can." A very confused Emmy then said, "Sophia, what's going on? You bought your current place four years ago, and you're trying to get it paid off in less than eight. You know most people take twenty to thirty years to pay off their homes." Sophia then casually said, "Yeah, well... when I was a kid, my mom paid off our old home in less than seven years, and I'm supposed to as well." Emmy looking a bit worried said, "But Sophia... you don't live with your mom anymore. You can decide what your timetable is." Then Sophia looking slightly upset now said, "Yeah, but... my mom... is my mom. I just want her to be proud of me." Emmy looking concerned again said, "Sophia, having our parents being proud of us is nice. But as an adult, the more important question you have to ask yourself is... are you proud of yourself?" Sophia then looked down as she had a sad look on her face.
Valicity had her hands covering her face as Sydney sat next to her in the living room. Valicity tilted her head back as she yelled, "Uggggh! Are you kidding me!? I was just having my period!? I'm taking advanced Algebra and Chemistry and I didn't realize I had just started having my freaking period!? Aarggh!" Sydney with a reassuring face said, "It's not completely your fault Valicity. We adopted you after I had already explained how it all works with your sister, and I just assumed you already had a similar talk with your biological mother before she died." Valicity then put her hands down as she titled her face down while saying, "We... didn't have much time to talk near the end. My mom... she was bleeding often before she died, and I... I've always been worried I'd die like her. So when my period first started happening, I... I guess I couldn't think straight because feeling or seeing any bleeding of any kind just triggered me." Sydney then put an arm around Valicity as she said, "Well... the kind of bleeding you're dealing with now; it has nothing to do with death. It's actually all about life and growing up. Now come on. Lets go to the store and buy you some things you're gonna need from now on."
Sophia and her mother Angela were sitting at a dinner table together as Sophia said, "And so thanks to all the good work I did this past week at work, my boss gave me a huge bonus. Resulted in my biggest check in any pay period yet." Angela looking pleased said, "Excellent Sophia. So why don't you use all that extra money to pay off your car and home faster." Sophia knew her mother was making a statement, but decided to respond to her as if she made a question instead, and then said, "Because... I want to spend that money on other things." Angela looking confused said, "Other things? Sophia, you need to pay off your home and new car as soon as possible. That's what successful women do." Then Sophia looking suddenly angry said, "No mom! That's what you do! You know, most people take over two decades to pay off their home, and I'm already on track to do it in eight. That's a success. Most adults can't afford a new car with a down payment over half it's actual amount, but I did. That's a success. I'm also a college graduate in a world where most people haven't accomplished that, I was the youngest person to get a promotion in my company's history when it happened, and have given multiple lectures at what I do at several community colleges. All of those are successes. Doesn't any of that please you enough!?"
Angela looking a bit caught off guard said, "Sophia, I... I've always loved you and have always supported you two hundred percent. I just want what's best for you." Then a bitter looking Sophia said, "Well your idea of what's best for me is simply what worked for you; not me. I mean... I have spent my entire adult life trying to succeed at things and buy things just so you could brand me as being an accomplished woman. But you know what one major thing I haven't accomplished yet mom? Being happy. I have spent my entire adult life struggling day after day to find some level of happiness. But I don't allow myself to go out with friends often, meet new people, go on fun vacations, or open myself up to new things: because I've been trying to make you happy, all the while I didn't allow myself to be happy." Angela then looked upset but was at a loss for words. Sophia realizing her mother was upset, then calmly said, "Mom... you raised me to be smart and responsible, and that's what I became. I wouldn't have half the knowledge I do if you hadn't pushed me to be my best when I was a kid. You had a plan on how you were gonna raise me early on, and you stuck to that plan, and that plan worked out. But I'm an adult now, and I have to make my own plan on how to live my life. Mom, I will always be your daughter... but I am no longer your child... and I should've made that clear to both of us a long time ago... I'm sorry." Angela continued to sit silently while Sophia, silent herself, got up... and then quietly walked out of the room.
The End