Chapter One
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October 1999 (entry 1)
Dear Diary,
Have you ever noticed how many words there are for tasty? There's scrumptious, yummy, delectable, delicious. . . (quote) I was sitting at the dinner table eating a meal my brother, Michael, had prepared for the family. "This is [b]really[/b] good, Mikey." My brother only grunted in response. I noticed that my parents were unusually quiet that night. I looked at my mother and noticed with a start that her eyes were all red and puffy. She had been crying. I questioned, "Mom, are you all right?"
She nodded, and we all finished eating in deep silence. As I finished the food in front of me, I pushed my chair back. "I have to finish my homework. As I moved to ask my plate, however, my mother quickly stood and said, "Wait. . .we have something to tell you guys first."
A while later, my entire family sat quietly in the living room. My parents sat in chairs across from Michael and I who were sitting across from them on the sofa. My parents faces appeared tired and older than their years. My mother asked me, "Lizzie, do you remember Sheriff Valenti?" I shook my head in bewilderment.
I thought back to what I remember of Roswell, my birthplace. Suddenly, the face of a childhood friend appeared in my mind, a scruffy blonde boy. "Wait-- is that Kyle's dad?"
My father nodded. "Yes. Anyway, Jim and I are old friends from college. He and his wife were very supportive during the adoption." I suddenly stiffened. Our parents [b]never[/b] mentioned my brother's adoption. I grasped my brother's hand firmly within my own. He smiled gratefully towards me.
Mom stated, "Jim pulled all the strings to get Michael to us. When we decided to move, Michelle bought the Crashdown from us."
Michael pulled me into his arms. "So. . .why did you call this meeting? To tell us that?" my brother asked.
My father's eyes glistened. "We just got a call from Jim. His wife, Michelle, just died last week." And the word stopped. Shattered Reality #2.
As always,
Liz