Family Night. Location: International House of Pancakes. Bette and Tina sat at the far end of the resuarant waiting for Angelica, who quickly excused herself to the
bathroom when she looked into her compact mirror. Bette had long given up on lecturing that make-up was not necessary for fourteen-year olds. The air was hot and Bette unbottoned
some of her top buttons and leaned back, thinking about the other day. When Angelica apologized Bette accepted but then Angelica shut down again as if embarressed that she
revealed too much. She had immediantly went into her room. When Bette told Angelica they were going on a family night she had nodded without looking up.

 Angelica touched the mirror, looking at the stranger opposite her. She had grown, Angelica had sprouted like a weed on steroids. Eyes were so black her pupils seemed
non-existent, just dark pools. Skin dark bronze and developing strength in those shoulders. Angie snapped out of it when a toilet flushed, fishing out her MP3 player she put them in
and left the bathroom, slowly making her way….Harvey Danger blasting her ear drums. However upon getting to their table she pushed the “off” button and sat down like a good little
girl, even making eye contact with Tina and giving a slight smile. The truth was that Angelica just felt tired, really ***** tired.

 Tina breathed in deeply when the food finally came, filling it’s role by filling the silence. Angelica basically fiddled with her napkin while Bette tried not to notice that nobody was
saying anything and just looking out the window. Tina then became fed up of both of their bulllshit, this was ***** family night and they were going to ***** enjoy themselves. So
Tina caught their attention by “accidently” banging her fork against the cup…Bette jumped and angie looked up. “you gotta hear this story Alice told me while in hospital, its
so funny….ok well she’s walking right down the street to get some coffee and maybe a muffin right? well earlier that day she had the most crappy day at work, and all that was going
through her mind before she left to get some coffee was how she would love to choke her boss….well while walking down the street she noticed people were look at her really funny-llike
and she didnt like it so she started staring at them back,  they looked at her like she was bad. She got her coffee, noticing that the cashier gave her a weird look…she was comtemplating
this when she looked down past her coffee and saw her shoes…..on the left foot was her usual loafer and on the other her Porky Pig Slipper!!”

 It really wasn’t that funny. Maybe it was the way Tina said it that made Bette laugh…Angie only snorted a bit. She reached over the table and patted T’s hand, who stuffed
her face with fluffy pancakes. Bette settled into her chair and looked at the two females in her life, things were settling down. After so long it felt safe to feel at ease, Bette took
a long cold drink and regretted it immediantly…she had already needed to go to the washroom and now look…the feel of water running down her throat made the burning begin and
so Bette excused herself and got up to piss.

 ’omg mommy’s gone’ That was the first thought that went through Angie’s mind. Now she loved Tina…Angie ***** loved her to death. But for the past couple months she
had never felt more uncomfortable to be around her. She didn’t know what it was. Love for her mom mad eAngie cry at night, but this was unbearable. She wanted to hug her mom but….
couldn’t. So Angelica stared at her food and poked at it with a fork…..she felt lonely.

 It was Tina who spoke first…..she couldn’t stand the gap between her and angie. “Angelica, have you…have you been feeling ok, in general?”  At the sound of her voice Tina saw
Angelica look up, and before angie’s guard was up T saw what was in there, submission, tiredness, loneliness….but she saw her face brighten, probably inadvertently. Angelica twisted
in her seat and beamed at Tina. Tina didn’t know why but her question seemed to bring Angie out fo her slump, but only for a few minutes…”im doing really good mom, real good”  Tina smiled
and poured more syrup on Angie’s pancakes, her daughter smiled at her, for the second time in a very long time. However a few minutes later Angelica shut down again until Bette came
back. Tina wanted to cry, but it was a start. It was certainely a step.