Mary Anne frowned as she thought of Granny and Pop-Pop. They were such warm, loving people. In fact she had thought of them as grandparents almost instantly when her Dad had married Sharon. She couldn't picture them ever being so close minded and standoffish. As she sat and thought about her dad, she realized he never really elaborated on his childhood or his teenage years. Setting aside Sharon's diary, she picked up a thick leather bound book and opened it up.
15 November
Mrs. Severs gave us a rather interesting assignment today in my Life Experiences class. I am to write a report stating what my parents have taught me and how I will apply that to when I am a parent. I wonder if I can write my report on how well my parents have taught me how NOT to parent. It's bad enough that dad is hardly ever home, but now mom has been leaving for longer periods of time. It's all I can do to put food on the table and get our electric bill paid. I know my parents love us but they are never around. They don't parent at all. My buddy, Bruce, always tells me how much he envies me for not having a curfew, not having to eat meals at home, not having any rules. It's not that great. I don't have anyway who makes sure my homework is done just as there is no one to ask me how I did on my test. The house is always a mess and I can't find anything. I know for one thing, when I am a parent? I will be the exact opposite of my parents. I'll make sure my kid's homework is done; my house will be orderly; we will eat healthy, balanced meals together. I will actually take an interest in my children's lives. I won't let them grow up too fast either. Some days, I feel like I'm 50 years old instead of 17.
Mr. Booker has been a great guidance counselor. He's actually the one who suggested I write down my thoughts rather than keep them inside and become withdrawn. I wonder if I ever would have worked up the nerve to ask Sharon out on a date had I not talked to him about it? I can't say enough about Sharon. She's everything I'm not. She's full of life, carefree, silly, fun, outgoing yet she's also tender, loving, patient, and trustworthy. I really have never felt like this about a girl before. I really am thinking of giving her my class ring to wear. I'm confident she'll accept it, yet I still feel like she's holding something back. I can see the contempt in her parents' eyes whenever I pick her up for a date. They see me as some rough kid from the wrong side of the tracks coming to ruin their daughter's life. They've never asked me what my plans are after graduation. What my intentions with their daughter is. Nothing! They don't know anything about me. They just look down their nose at me. In some ways, they're no better then my parents, they just have money.
I just don't know what to do. I really like Sharon. I am pretty sure I am in love with her and she is with me. But I can't come between Sharon and her parents. What kind of father would I be in the future if I split up a family?