When I wake up after my shift last night, I open my door, I know no one else is home for now. Tulips and I head upstairs and I let her out into the yard. She runs out into the grass, and when I turn to look around I see a giant beetle right by my head on the wall.
I let out a loud screech and hear Jerry Lee copy from inside.
The huge ancient creature moves over to the door blocking my reentry. I’m taken back to the day Aaron and I met, and how looking back I wish it would have gone differently. Parker may notregret how things happened, but I do. I hated who I became with Aaron; I hate how he treated me and I hate how long it took me to get back to Parker.
I use all of those feelings of regret and anger for the time I’ve missed to face one of my biggest fears. Ginormous bugs. I can do this. I don’t need to be saved from this situation, or any other one I find myself in. I’m a strong independent woman, and the only reason I need a man is because Iwantto have him there.
I can do this.
I look around to see if there’s any sort of large stick like object I could use as a weapon, but all I see is my dad’s grilling tools. Something tells me he wouldn’t be too happy with me if I used one of those to murder a bug.
My shoes also don’t look like a great option either. I learned throwing them doesn’t work so I would have to get really close. I look around a bit more and finally see an old piece of wood resting off to the side. Picking it up, I put it in the path of the beetle and pray to whatever being there may be in the universe this thing doesn’t choose to take this moment to attack me.
It climbs onto the wood, and I rush off to the side of the deck, dropping the wood onto the ground below. I throw my arms up in the air in victory. “I did it!” I call out to Tulips who looks up at me with her tongue hanging out, completely oblivious to the win I just had.
“See, I don’t need anyone!” I announce proudly.
Again, I hear Jerry Lee inside squawking. I can’t help but think he’s celebrating with me. He may not understand thesignificance of this moment, neither does Tulips, but I do. It may seem silly to most people, but this moment is for me. I know I can do anything, and don’t need a man.
But I want Parker, and I can’t wait to tell him about this. It may seem silly, but I know he’ll understand. He always understands everything with me, no matter how ridiculous it may seem.
Tulips and I go inside, and we aren’t alone for long because my mom comes home with Ethan who chooses to ignore greeting me and focuses completely on Tulips.
“I guess I’m chopped liver,” I tell my mom as Ethan drops onto the floor to hug Tulips tightly.
“Don’t take it personally.” My mom shrugs. “Especially when you have kids of your own, this is what every day is like.”
I gasp. “You could never be chopped liver to me, mom.”
She scoffs. “That’s a lie, but I appreciate it.”
“Lily worm! Bitch!”Jerry Lee barks.
“Did you just call me a bitch?” I gasp, turning around to face Jerry Lee.
“Probably,” Ethan says from the floor with my dog.
“Okay now I know I’m even less than chopped liver,” I huff.
“Ethan, that’s not nice,” my mom scolds, but I see her trying to hold back her laughter.
“Sorry,” he mumbles, back to focusing on playing on the floor with Tulips.
“That felt sincere,” I say sarcastically. “See if I let you come to the Amity Strawberry Festival with Parker and me.”
“Hey,” he looks at me, “Parker invited me, you can’t take it back.”
“Watch me,” I threaten with a smile.
“Oh stop, of course you’re going to go,” my mom tells Ethan gently. I’m standing behind her and shake my head at him mouthing, “No you’re not.”
“Lily, stop,” Mom scolds. I’ve always wondered if she has eyes in the back of her head like people say.
“I didn’t do anything,” I lie.
“Go get more sleep if you’re going to be rude.” She waves me off and my jaw drops while Ethan laughs loudly at my expense.
“You all are mean to me, wait until dad gets home, he’ll be on my side,” I announce proudly.