"Andrew pass your sister the stuffing," directed Barbara.
"No thanks, I'm full."
"Anna, you can't be full. What can I pass you,” pressed her mother.
"Really mom, I'm fine."
"I'm calling Dr. Rhontorian in the morning. See if we can get you in."
"Mother," exclaimed an exasperated Abe.
"Anna Bella," stated Barbara.
Adam interrupted, "Barb, if she's full, she's full."
"Humph."
Abe was about to scream. Her mother had been trying to force-feed her for the last 24 hours. And if she brought up going to the doctor one more time, Abe thought she would lose it. Abe loved her mother dearly and realized this was just part of their mother-daughter struggle, but enough was enough.
Once the dishwasher was going, everyone headed for the family room to watch a bowl game. At halftime, Barbara disappeared upstairs. Soon she called everyone up for dessert.
"Anna, I fixed yours."
Abe looked at the dish holding a slice of fudge pie and ice cream. The slice was the size of one-quarter of the pie and her mother had put not one or two scoops, but three scoops of ice cream.
"Mother I can't eat all that. Stacey you want to split this," she asked her sister-in-law.
"Sure."
"Anna, you always had a large piece of pie and ice cream."
"Mother, I may have had a piece that big, but I never had three scoops of ice cream with it. Stacey, grab a spoon. We'll see you guys downstairs."
Sitting on the floor, Stacey said, "Abe, you look great."
"Thanks. I just wish mom would chill. She acts like this is a bad thing."
"One thing I've noticed about your mom, she doesn't like change."
"Yeah, well she needs to get over it."
********
“Hey sis,” replied Andrew.
"Mornin'."
Abe poured some orange juice and sat down at the table. Her mother was busy making breakfast. Soon a plate of food was placed before her. Propping her chin on her hand, she studied the plate. It was stacked high with food. There was a ham and cheese omelet, bacon, hashbrowns, biscuit and gravy. Before she could finish her inspection of that plate, her mother sat a plate of four chocolate chip pancakes down beside it. Abe looked across the table at Andrew. He handed his plate to her and she began moving some of the food to it. It didn’t take long for her mother to catch her.
“Anna Bella Cavett! I fixed that plate for you. If your brother wants more, I can certainly make him more.”
“You don’t need to make him more. I’ve got plenty for me and his second helping. Everything is fine. Here Andy.”
“Thanks,” stated Andrew, never looking at his mother.
The room remained silent until after Andrew finished eating and left. Abe was almost through and thought she would make a clean get-a-way. She thought wrong.
Barbara sat down and challenged, “Who is he?”
“He?”
“The young man you’re making all these changes for.”
“Why would you think there is a guy involved?”
“Why else would you do this?”
“Gee mom, I don’t know, because I wanted to…for me?”
“If that were true you would have done it a long time ago. Back when I tried to help you.”
“Is that what’s pissing you off? That I did it without you?”
“No! I just don’t understand why the change. You say there is no guy.” Her mother paused. “I know why. You are finally thinking about your future. You’re finally ready to settle down.”
Abe watched her mother's face light up with excitement. “Settling down? Mom, my life’s pretty settled right now.”
“And when this job is done?”
“Then I’ll get another. Creed should be ready to hit the road again by then. I know I’ve got a job there.”
“I just don’t get it Anna. Why are you wasting your life? You should be married and have children. If you wait much longer, no one will want you. You’ll be too set in your ways.” Barbara let out a frustrated breath when she saw the hurt in her daughter's eyes. She knew her words hurt, but she'd come this far. “Honey, I love you. I’m only saying this for your own good. Why waste time loosing weight if you aren’t going to find a man.”
“I don’t know mom. Maybe, because I was doing it for me. ME! I would love to find someone who loved me.”
Her mother interrupted, “then come home. I know not all the boys you use to know are married. Barry Reid is single. Bob Whitmore’s divorce should be final soon. I’ll just call Betty Whitmore and we’ll get the families together this weekend.”
“No you won’t!”
“Anna!”
“Mother!”
“What’s going on in here,” asked Adam, entering the kitchen to look at his wife and daughter.
“Anna is just being difficult. I’m calling Betty and inviting the Whitmore’s over Saturday. It will give Bob and Anna a chance to catch up.”
“Why,” he asked, puzzled.
“Because mother has decided that I’m not worth anything unless I’m attached to some man…any man. Never mind if he’s gay, divorced, or a criminal.”
“You are exaggerating,” cried Barbara.
Ticking them off on her fingers, Abe argued, “Barry is gay. Lamont and he have been together since right after high school. Bob is divorcing and he was arrested for shoplifting.”
“That was when he was 15,” countered her mother.
“Hello! Still an arrest. It counts.”
“Hold up,” warned Adam.
Abe let out a sigh and said, “Bottom line Daddy, I don’t measure up to what Mama wants. She can’t be happy for me, because I’m not living the life she picked out.”
Without another word, Abe disconnected her phone for the charger and walked out the back door. She went to her favorite thinking place, the garage roof. Climbing up she took a seat and looked out over the neighborhood. She could see the backyards of all their neighbors. Tumbler, the Spurlock’s old Saint Bernard, was taking advantage of the late November sun. A new family had moved in two houses behind hers. She could see them playing with their children. Minutes went by as she tried to clear her thoughts. Finally, she hit speed dial.
“Hello?”
“Tim?”
“Yeah. Abe?”
“Yeah. Chel around?”
“Hang on a second. She’s changing my nephew’s diaper. How was your Thanksgiving?”
“It was a typical Cavett affair. How about there?”
“It’s been good. Here’s Chely…Talk to you later.”
“Bye Tim.”
“Happy Thanksgiving,” greeted Michele.
“You too. Changing diapers…practicing are we?”
“Maybe. How are things going there?”
“I’m heading to the apartment in the morning. How does it sound like its going?”
“What happened,” asked Michele.
“I lost weight and mom isn’t happy.”
“Explain.”
“Chely, you know mom, I won’t ever make her happy,” complained Abe.
“I thought she would be happy about you losing weight.”
“You’d think! Nope, I did it without her. I didn’t do it for a guy. I’m not settling down. I won’t move home…get married…have kids. Shall I go on?”
“No. I’m sorry she’s acting this way. I think it is probably a good thing for you get away from the stress. You don’t need all that negativity.”
“Exactly, I just hate leaving, because I do miss them.”
“I know, but give your mom some time to adjust,” reasoned Chely.
“So what’s up with you?”
“It’s been hectic, but a good holiday. Between dividing time between mom and dad’s places and his parents are divorced too.”
“What you’re saying is you’ve spent more time in the car than anywhere else.”
“You got it,” chuckled Chely.
“Well get use to it. This is your life from now on.”
“Don’t start that again,” scolded Michele.
“Chely, he will ask.”
“I think you’re right.”
“I know I am. Hang on,” directed Abe, waiting for an ambulance to pace the house.
Once the sound died down, Chely asked, “roof?”
“Yep.”
“Don’t let your dad catch you.”
“Oh pooh. I guess I should go. I have to break the news to them.”
“Hang in there friend. Tim and I will be in late Sunday.”
“See ya then.”
“Bye.”
Hanging up, Abe stared out across the yards again. Sighing, she jumped down from her perch.
“Anna Bella Cavett!”
She jumped at her father’s voice. “Way to scare me Dad.”
“I’m not the one jumping off the roof. You and your brothers always scare me when you do that.”
“Sorry,” she apologized, walking beside him toward the house. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
“You and your mama always seem to butt heads."
“Dad…”
“You’re going,” finished Adam.
“Yeah. I think Mom and I need some space. She has to adjust.”
“That she does. You going to you’re place?”
“Yeah.”
“Little Bit, ya better let me tell your mother.”
“Thanks Daddy,” she said as she hugged him.
