Read Too Much Drama for Free Online Page B

to be speaking to your former-long-time best friend.
    Even worse not to get them a gift.

The only way to have a friend is to be one.
    â€”Ralph Waldo Emerson
    Sunday, December 21, 10:02 p.m.
Gaga dropped a bomb
    Gaga has done a lot of unexpected things over the years, so whenever she does what my Uncle Drew calls her “crazy thing,” I’m never all that surprised. But I was shocked tonight at dinner when she announced that she and Willy had booked a last-minute cruise and wouldn’t be with us for Christmas. I wasn’t the only one who was shocked. I thought my mom and her sisters might go into cardiac arrest at Gaga’s dining room table.
    â€œMom, you can’t leave us at Christmas,” said my mom. She sounded like a two-year-old.
    â€œI already have tickets,” said Gaga.
    â€œBut Christmas together is our family tradition,” said my Aunt Lilly.
    â€œAnd we always have it at
your
house,” said Aunt Lila. She made a face like she was a puppy that had been left outside in the rain.
    Willy took Gaga’s hand and gave it a squeeze. I guess they’d anticipated this reaction, and he was silently reminding her to be strong. “You will be just fine without me,” said Gaga.
    Everyone stood there, speechless. Finally, my little cousin Izzy broke the silence. “Are you still going to give us presents?” she asked.
    â€œOf course,” said Gaga. She smiled at Izzy and her twin, Charlotte, who were both started clapping and rambling on about how much they like presents.
    Then she turned her attention to the grownups at the table who were all looking at one another like they had a real problem on their hands. “For goodness sakes,” said Gaga. “Your silence is worse than your screaming. Stop being so dramatic and eat your meatloaf.”
    So we did. At least some of us did. Aunt Lila took a tiny bite and made a face like Gaga’s news had killed her taste buds. Aunt Lilly used her napkin to wipe her forehead.
    â€œShe’s premenopausal,” my cousin Harry announced to the table.
    Amanda laughed out loud.
    Aunt Lilly shot a stern look to both her kids. She told Harry that even though he’s almost an adult, he wasn’t acting like one, and that certain topics need to stay in the privacy of their home. She said we could do Christmas at her house, and she got up and went to the kitchen for a legal pad. When she came back, she started making her to-do list.
    Christmas should be interesting this year.
    Monday, December 22, 4:15 p.m.
Back from the mall
    I rode my bike to the mall. I’d been debating all weekend about what to get Brynn, and I still couldn’t decide. I didn’t want it to be too personal or too impersonal. Just something nice to let her know she’s still important enough to me to give her a Christmas present.
    I also didn’t want to pick it out with anyone else. Mom and Dad have both tried talking to me about what’s going on with Brynn since the day Brynn screamed we weren’t friends anymore. I know they’re worried, but I just don’t feel like talking to them about it, so I didn’t want them to drive me there.
    I didn’t want Leo to go with me either. I’d already told him that I wanted to get her a present, and his suggestion was to take her to yoga. Even though he hasn’t said it, I think he thinks all the drama with her is silly. But still, it’s there, and I can’t just ignore it.
    And I didn’t want Sophie to go with me. She’s not a fan of Brynn. She’d probably want to know why I’d get Brynn a present after how she’s treated me. She wouldn’t be wrong. But Brynn and I have a history.
    So I went by myself, and after a full day of shopping (I’ve never bought an ex-best friend a Christmas gift before), I got her cinnamon-scented bubble bath and body lotion. That sounds kind of anticlimactic, given how much thought I put into it.