What Cannot Be Helped: Chapter 4

"Mother Knows Best"

Unfortunately, morning eventually came. I awoke to the sound of my coo-coo clock chiming loudly, alerting me that it was time to get ready for school. Heading to the window I open the curtains to see what the weather was like. Thick clouds covered the sun; it actually looked like it was going to rain. Maybe today wasn't going to be so bad after all.

My thoughts travel back to what Mama had told me last night. She was right; if I was going to salvage our friendship then I need to let my love for you go. Today was only the beginning, and it's going to be hard but I need to try, for you. So taking a deep breath I give myself a swift slap to the face to wake me up and get me pumped for the long hard day ahead of me and go to my closet to retrieve my school uniform.

After slipping into my uniform I shuffle down the stairs to the dining room for breakfast. Mama had prepared grilled yack and ostrich egg omelets, my favorite breakfast foods. It was quiet clear that she was still feeling sympathy for me and was trying to make me feel better. My brothers don't even like grilled yack, they prefer it cold. I smile a silent thank you to Mama and take my usual seat.

We all sit in awkward silence for several minutes until Mama finally decides that she should try and get the conversation going. "How did everyone sleep last night?" she asks. I can tell that she's directing her question at me even though she said 'everyone', so I shrug. I didn't really want to discuss how I slept. Everyone would be expecting me to say something like 'I didn't sleep a wink, I was tossing and turning all night' but in all honesty I slept like the dead. They would wonder why and I really didn't want to tell them that it was because I was dreaming of you.

The awkward silence falls once again despite Mama's feudal efforts. That is until the hog horn sound of the doorbell rings through the house. Lurch leaves the room headed for the main entry way.

Just seconds after he leaves, we all hear a familiar voice. "EUDORA ADDAMS!" the booming and pleasantly witchy voice of your mother calls out to mien. "Your daughter owes mien an apology!" She yacks as she storms into the room. "Her unwanted romantic advance last night has put my baby girl in a frenzy! She's been plagued with gilt ever since! Her hair is practically falling out from the stress!" Miss. Frump nags on and on.

"Franny! Drear, do calm down." Mama tries to intervene. "I can ashore you that it was not Genevieve's intention to stress Morticia out like that. She was merely sharing her feelings."

"That's right! I would never intentionally harm Tish!" I blurt without thinking.

"Well you have. You have harmed her! Don't get me wrong, I like you Genevieve. You have been a loyal friend to my youngest daughter for years now, but I do not take kindly to anyone who makes her cry! Not even you!" Your mother exclaims.

I gasp. "She cried?" I ask in the tiniest voice I can muster. I instantly feel terrible! The thought of your blue eyes filled with tears makes my hart sink into the pit of my stomach. I start to breathe heavily as tears start to build in my own eyes. But no! I will not cry! Not in front of everyone! So I swallow the lump in my throat, bite my lip, and suck it up.

"Mother please, stop!" We all hear your voice beg from behind your mother in the doorway. You stand there, arm folded over your chest, staring daggers at your mother.

"Morticia" Your mother sounds surprised even though you always come here in the morning to meet me so lurch can drive us both to school. I suppose she was surprised that you still came even aster last night.

"Mother! I know last night was tough and confusing for everyone involved, but that does not give you the right to barge in here and scaled my friend for sharing her feelings with me." You say sternly. "It's a good thing she shared them with me, rather than keep them bottled up."

A sigh of relief washes over me at hearing you still call me your friend. I can't help but admire the way you are standing up to your mother right now. You have struggled with that for a long time. You are one of those people that like to please everyone, so standing up to people of authority, like your mother, is a challenge. Yet here you are telling her what's what like a grown woman. It makes you seem strong, powerful even. My face goes flush and my heart beats faster before I realize that you've got me all flustered. Once I do realize it, I cast my eyes to the floor to try to get a hold of myself.

"But, darling!-" Mother Frump protests.

"But nothing, Mother! I love you, and it's kind of you to want to stand up for me, but this is our business, not yours." You interrupt. "Please leave Genevieve alone." You request.

Your mother is left speechless as well as everyone else in the room. We all still couldn't believe how stern you were being with her. "Gene!" you blurt, and I jump. "We should probably get to school now." You inform me in a much softer and sweeter voice.

"Uh- yeah…" I stutter. "Lurch?" I turn to him with raised eyebrows. He grunts, nods, and heads back out of the room towards the front entry way once again. You and I fallow him out the front door and to the car.

The car ride to school was much like breakfast was, mostly silent until an outburst of conversation at the end. We sat there in the back of the Addams car in dead silence, both looking out our own windows until you finally speak up about a block from New Mayson.

"I'm sorry about what my mother said…" you begin, not turning from the window. "It was un-called for." You admit, still not looking at me. "She was out of line." You continue.

I didn't really know what to say so I just sat there, staring blankly at the back of your head, waiting to hear what you would say next. "I'm also sorry that I don't feel the same way for as you do for me." BOOM! There it was; the pulling of the trigger. I had known that you didn't feel that way for me for years, but finally hearing you say it out loud was like being chocked by my pet deadly viper, Tom. For a secant I couldn't breathe, or move, or do anything.

"It's okay." I finally chock out after what feels like forever. "I don't blame you for the way you feel." I go on after caching my breath. "I mean it's not like you can control those kinds of things." I shrug. "It's tough for me to deal with, but I don't blame you." I explain. "Just PLEASE say we can go back to being friends like before." I beg.

"Hhhhhhhmmmmm" You hold your chin and raise a slender eyebrow in mock thought. "I don't know… do you promise not to make moves on me?" you kid.

I crack a giant smile at that, and just like that it's like our friendship is repaired. We gab non-stop for the rest of the ride. If only the next few years were as easy as those few minutes.