Just a normal family

One of my neighbor friends has house guests this week. Her mom and younger brother are visiting. I met them the night I went to hear my friend perform at the restaurant down the street. Then, the next day, we all hung out by the pool. Actually we were in the pool most of the time. It was too damn hot to not be underwater.

During that lazy Sunday afternoon at the pool, my friend's brother invited me to join them for dinner. He was very persuasive, so I said yes. At the time I didn't realize it was the official meeting-of-the-family for my friend's boyfriend. They seemed natural - like they'd known each other for a while.

While we enjoyed a nice Italian dinner, I had a unique cultural experience. The family - mom, daughter and son - have a deep love for each other. They vocalized it often. It was kind of sweet. And baby bro is more than extremely protective over his sister. If it was up to him, she wouldn't have to move or think or probably even be. It's probably one reason why she lives 500 miles away from her family. She has a good job, money and independence.

Their mom lost her husband and the siblings their dad two years ago. The wound is still fresh. And they vocalized it often. The raw pain of losing a loved one too early was evident. Mom giggled though. The siblings would express their undying love for each other and Mom would just laugh. I said something once about her cute giggling and my friend dropped her smile and shook her head for me to stop. How could that possibly offend?

The three of them were very open and welcoming to me. They treated me with kindness and respect - and baby bro acted like he was interested in me. Then my friend picked up the check. We ended the evening with a nightcap at the pub across the street. They also invited me to take a road trip to the next state for a gambling outing in a couple of days.

But there was something very wrong with the family. Alcohol, pills, dragging people out of bed after an afternoon of drinking at the pool, falling down outside of the pub and lost keys are the cloud over the loving family. It worries me. And it's why I would never get into a car with them.

When I saw them two nights later, my friend and her boyfriend separately apologized for the evening's events. I'll confess, it was a bit shocking, but it was okay. It's just he way they are - and it's not my place to try to change anything. But then baby brother scolded me for not going out for drinks after dinner.

"I did," I answered. "Don't you remember?"

"Yes," he answered. "I mean drinks after that."

"Sorry, it was late," I answered.  It was a school night. Then I grabbed the blue lighter with the rainbow from him. He swiped it from my friend a couple of nights before. There are certain things a single girls need and others they can live without.

Love to the single girls,
Addison