Chapter Three

Silence filled the room, enveloping each of us with its presence. I wasn't sure which one of us was more shocked. My mother sat just as before, on the edge of her seat, but her lips were pressed together as if suppressing something, My dad was staring at Anna, as if he was confused as to what was going on. Actually, that's about right. Confusion fit this situation perfectly.

Dad finally regained the use of his vocal chords and voiced the opinion that all of us were thinking. "I wasn't even aware that you were dating anyone."

Anna looked extremely guilty, which was new for me. In fact, this situation was an entirely new experience. Never before had my sister been the center of a family crisis. Usually I was the one whom my parents talked about, worried about my behavior. But this time was different because my parents were looking directly at Anna in a way that they never have before. I couldn't quite register the expressions on their faces, and I wasn't sure that I wanted to.

Anna risked a glance at me, and when she saw that she had someone on her side, she started to explain. "Well I haven't really known him all that long. It's all happening so suddenly I'm trying to wrap my mind around it."

My father scrutinized her, as if trying to figure out what she was thinking. "Well it must be sudden if we're only just finding out about him now. How did you meet him? Is he employed?"

Anna fidgeted in her position. Oh no, I thought. This is going to be bad, I can feel it. She shifted her eyes nervously from parent to parent, no doubt trying to think of a suitable response. "Well, I met him when I was at the gas station, and he assisted me."

"Well," my mother spoke up for the first time. "That's not so bad. You were having trouble and he helped you? That's very gentlemanly of him. So, did you say where he is employed?"

I knew this was going to turn out badly. Right when my dad asked if he was employed. What is it with parents and their need to make sure that their child is with someone who has their life figured out? What's wrong with someone who's still deciding what they want to do with their life? Obviously that just doesn't cut it in our family, as I'm finding out.

My sister exhaled loudly, preparing herself for the coming confrontation. "He is employed, Daddy. He works at the gas station, pumping gas."

At this statement, my father rose from his chair. It took a lot to get him angry, and usually I was to one to do it, but this time I wasn't even a blimp in his mind. "So you mean to tell me that out of no where you're marrying a boy who pumps gas for a living?"

Anna seemed to gain courage, and she stood up tall and nodded. My father dared venture another question. "And how old is he?"

All at once, her courage plummeted to the ground. She looked at me, as if begging for help. I had no idea what to say to get her out of this, so I just stood there. She turned back to our father. "What you have to remember is that I am an adult and I have the right to make my own decisions. It doesn't really-"

"I SAID HOW OLD IS HE?"

Now I knew it was bad. Rarely had I heard my father raise his voice. His way of intimidation was to look you square in the eye and speak calmly, as you hear disappointment dripping in his words. This time was different, though. It looked like he had finally snapped.

It seemed that Anna had come to this revelation at the same time as I had, so she just meekly replied, "26."

The color drained from our father's face. I could see in his mind's eye. All his hopes and dreams for his eldest daughter were slipping away right in front of him. He was probably imagining ten years from now, Anna living in a crappy apartment with her gas pumping husband, a brood of bratty children scampering around their ankles.

Anna looked back and forth between mom and dad, desperate for a response of any kind. What she got made me cringe for her, because I knew that she was only following her heart.

My mother got up from her seat, cast a disapproving look in Anna's direction, and swiftly exited the room. My father took a few steps toward Anna. He looked as if he was about to say something, but his mouth opened and closed, changing his mind at the last second. The least he could do was grace her with a few words, but even those escaped him. With that, he slowly made his leave.

When they were both gone, I saw defeat evident in my sister's face, and she slumped down on the couch that my mother had vacated. I knew this must be devastating for her. She had always been the good child, never doing any wrong. Our parents told Brian and I to look to Anna as an example of what to do, but I knew that after today they would look toward her with wary eyes.

I looked at my sister, who, with all the stress heaped on her tonight, was so in need of a friendly response.

"So what's his name?"

Anna smiled at me, and I could see that it was a real smile. Not the fake kind you see on some people, where it looks planted and never reaches their eyes. This was a genuine smile, and I was glad for who ever this guy was because he put it there.

"His name is Stan."

I fought back a laugh. This is not funny. This is not funny. I am not supposed to laugh because my sister loves this guy. But I couldn't help but imagine him as Stan the Gas Pumping Man.

"What's he like?"

I sat back and listened as she rambled on and on about what a great guy he is, how much she loves him, and how she just knows that she's going to spend the rest of her life with him. I guess this really is what sisters are for. Not to go running around the mall with you, though I think my sister would appreciate that. No, I think what she needs is someone to listen to her and understand where she's coming from. Despite our 5 year age difference, I do sympathize with her simply because she is my sister.

When she was finished talking, she got up out of her seat and stood up next to my chair. She pulled me up out of the cushions and gave me a hug. It was a warm hug, a sisterly hug, and I was grateful for it.

When she pulled away, she looked me in the eyes. "Thank you for being here, Ezzie. I don't know what I would do with out you here to back me up."

I stared right back at her, completely sure where I stood. "I wouldn't be anywhere else. And don't worry too much, okay? Everything will work itself out in the end." The words I spoke were familiar to me, because I had heard them so many times before. Every time I was in a bind, Anna would always reassure me that in the end, everything would be alright.

I walked her to the door, and watched her as she got in her little black buggie. It had been a gift from our parents for graduation, and I knew she adored the thing. I watched her drive off, and slowly closed the front door. I locked everything up, and made sure the house was closed for the night.

I made my way up to my room, and carefully shut my door behind me. Sitting on my perfectly made bed, I thought about what was in store for this family. Man, as if going into high school wasn't enough, now we had this huge event on the horizon that would forever change us.

I thought about my sister, and how she was breaking the mold that had always been set for her. And all I could think about was how she had smiled a real smile, and I was happy for her.