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(imagine pale pink streaked in bright red—it’s not a pretty picture). But just the same, I tried really hard not to make too big of a deal out of it. Then finally, I think Nathan suspected I wasn’t having all that much fun, and he suggested we might like to leave early, which I gladly agreed to.
    Then as we were driving home, he asked if I wanted to join Josh and Jenny. Surprised, I said, “But I thoughtjosh took Jenny home because she was sick.” Nathan just laughed, and then explained how Josh and Jenny had gone to a hotel where Josh had reserved a room for the night. Apparently several other couples were doing the same thing. Well, I’d heard about kids doing stuff like this on prom night, but for some reason this kind of took me by surprise. So, feeling fed up with Nathan and everything else, I told him that I preferred to go home. (Home, to my flipped-out family was what I was thinking.) So, without saying much more, Nathan took me home. And I have a feeling we won’t be going out again. Which, I must admit, is something of a relief.
    Fortunately, when I got home, my parents weren’t around. I wasn’t real eager for Mom to see that awful stain on my dress (which I doubt will ever come out). But somehow, I thought she might like to hear about how everything had gone. It’s not like I’d gotten home all that late or anything. Then I wondered if perhaps my parents had made up after their big fight and gone out to a movie or something. (They say that Benjamin is old enough to be left home alone now that he’s twelve, which I happen to think is totally ridiculous—that kid is more dangerous now than when he was seven!)
    So I peeked in the garage to see that Dad’s car was gone. But then on my way to my room, I walked past my parents’ door and heard my mom in there—crying. I wanted to ask her what was wrong, but somehow I just couldn’t make myself do it. Maybe it was the awful stain on my dress—or maybe it was something more—like somesort of childish denial where you want to believe that your parents are special, like they have some secret marriage formula that guarantees that they’ll never have problems, ever. But, of course, I know that’s not really true. I just don’t want to know anything more about it tonight. I mean, it’s already been a pretty rotten evening. Why make things worse?
February 11, Sunday (a revelation)
    My dad never did come home last night, and this morning we didn’t even go to church (which didn’t bother me in the least). My mom slept in and when she got up she had these dark circles under her eyes. And I felt really sorry for her. I think Ben did too, because he actually managed to keep his big mouth shut for the most part. In the afternoon, when I just couldn’t stand the silence anymore, I sat down next to her in the living room (where she had been sitting on the sofa for the last hour or so, still wearing her robe) and I asked her what was going on. She just waved her hand and said, “Oh, it’s really nothing.” So, without beating around the bush, I asked her why Dad never came home last night. And she said they’d had a little spat, but not to worry, everything would be okay, and that she was probably just having a bad case of PMS. Nice try, Mom.
    But then suddenly it hits me and I totally realize what is going on here. They are fighting over me! And now I feel absolutely miserable. Of course, it all makes sense, lately I’ve become so self-centered with my new friendsand popularity, and I started dating (against my dad’s wishes) and then I wear this expensive and what my dad considers “indecent” dress. I can see now I’ve pitted my parents against each other and I feel really bad about it. So, I throw my arms around my mom and tell her how sorry I am, and how everything is going to get better—just wait and see!
    I know this unexpected display surprised my mom a little, but she did seem comforted by my concern. Anyway, I decided not to say too much