Family Brawl (standard:drama, 3739 words)
Author: goofykat	Added: Dec 27 2004	Views/Reads: 3449/2370	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
This is a short story about a disfunctional family that can't get together to enjoy a special event without fighting.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

early July.  Because of past experience with her and money, I 
understood where her, Mom's hostility was coming from.  Her favorite 
son was finally seeing how she uses people to pay her way and how she 
took them for granted and treated them like crap.  That is one thing 
you cannot do to Mom if you want to stay on good terms with her. 

With Patrick telling Mom that he wasn't going to pay half her bills
anymore, she became like a spoiled girl who was use to getting whatever 
she wanted and if she threw a big enough tantrum she would get her way. 
 Patrick is the type of person that if he decides on something, it 
takes just short of an act of God for him to change his mind no matter 
if he was wrong or not.  He is one person that can hold a grudge 
against someone for years. 

Patrick and Kim's wedding was a small, intimate wedding.  They were
married in a Baptist church in town.  There were no more than 40 guests 
in attendance.  After the ceremony, we paraded around town to the VFW 
hall where the reception was to take place.  The hall had wood paneling 
with two large areas and a kitchen off to the side.  The hall was 
decorated with blue streamers and white tablecloths covering the 
tables.  The entrance area was set up with tables piled high with 
wedding gifts.  On the left side of the room was several tables pushed 
together to form one large table along the wall where the wedding party 
was seated.  The far room was a large area with approximately six 
tables on each side of the room.  In the back corner was a dance floor 
and to the right of the dance floor was an area for the DJ to play.  To 
the right of the first room was a small kitchen area where the food was 
prepared in a buffet style arrangement. 

The reception was going well despite the fact that Mom was visibly upset
about something.  She didn't smile and it didn't look as if she was 
enjoying herself.  I kept my distance because I didn't want to give her 
a chance to disrupt the party and thought she might if I attempted to 
find out what was going on. 

The reception was uneventful until Mom and Kenny, the middle son, told
me that my sister was on the phone and wanted to talk to me.  
Reluctantly I picked up the phone to find out what she wanted.  She 
asked how the wedding and the reception went/is going.  I told it that 
the wedding went well and the reception was going well.  She wanted to 
come to the wedding but Patrick didn't want her there and she didn't 
understand why.  I didn't know what she wanted me to do about it.  Then 
she asked if she could bring the afghan that she crocheted for there 
wedding.  I told her that I didn't think that was a good idea seeing 
how Patrick didn't want her there and asked that she take them to Mom's 
house later.  After a few more minutes of dealing with her self-pity 
for not being invited I returned to the party.  Not even an hour later, 
Mom told me that Patricia was at the door wanting to come in and that I 
needed to go talk to her to find out what she wanted. 

When I got to the door, she was in tears and told me how unfair it was
that she and Darren wasn't invited.  She told me that she was there to 
give them the afghan and she was going to leave.  I told her that I 
would take them and that she needed to leave so Patrick wouldn't be 
upset.  "It is his wedding day and it doesn't need to be disrupted with 
you coming in no matter what your intentions are," I told her and she 
left.  I went back to the party and gave the gifts to Kim and told her 
they were from Patricia. 

Shortly after Patricia's visit, I saw Patrick and Mom arguing and asked
Kim what was going on.  Kim told me that Mom, Libby, accused Patrick of 
starting trouble because he told Kenny that his son was hitting my son 
and wouldn't stop.  Kenny then disciplined his son and Libby didn't 
think that Patrick had any right to tell Kenny.  I walked up to see if 
there was anything I could do but by then Patrick told Libby to get 
out, you are no longer wanted here.  Mom grabbed her grandchildren, 
which she saw were only Kenny's children and left. 

The DJ started playing music and again and Patrick worked on getting
back into the festivities by dancing.  The remainder of the reception 
went reasonably well and everyone had a good time.  When the VFW hall 
closed and kicked us out, we moved the party to the motel's courtyard 
and continued until about two the next morning.  Rooms were available 
for those who couldn't or didn't want to drive home.  Majority of the 
guests lived in Cahokia, Illinois, which was a good two to two and a 
half hours away. 

The following morning when I went up to the house, I could tell that Mom
was still upset about what happened at the reception.  I again question 
staying there and was given a reprieve when Patrick and Kim invited us 
to their house in Cahokia.  It was there that Kim and I were talking 
and the reason behind Mom's attitude came to light.  Kim told me that 
Patrick told Libby that come next month, August, he wasn't going to be 
paying some of the bills such as the satellite, electricity, and the 
gas.  She would have to pay those. 

"I wish I had known about this before we came up.  I've been trying to
figure out what her problem was and now I know.  There is one thing 
that I had learned from Mom and that was not to take any money from her 
regardless on the source or what it was far.  Patrick has been paying 
for two households and then some because she lives above her means.  
There is no reason for her to depend on Patrick to pay for everything 
when she is the only one living in the house and she is working.  That 
is what happened to me.  I stopped giving her money and that is why she 
takes everything out on me.  She has no use for me.  I don't exist to 
her and never will unless I start giving her money," I said to Kim. 

"She has been telling Patrick that I'm making him stop giving her money
and it isn't the case.  Patrick finally sees that all she wants and 
cares for is money and how she could get someone to pay her way." 

Randy and I stayed at Patrick's visiting, going to the zoo, and
barbecuing until the day of Mom's graduation.  We got back to 
Clarksville just in time to clean up, dress and drive to Troy, Missouri 
which was a half an hour to an hour drive.  Troy was a big town of 
about 1300 people.  Big compared to the other some farming communities 
in the area.  Troy had two grocery store franchises, a Wal-Mart, a 
couple motels and several restaurants.  It was like the town to be in. 

The graduation was held at the Presbyterian Church in the center of
town.  The building was a large structure.  It was built of brick.  You 
walk into a large foyer area where there were a double wooded door 
leading to the congregation gathered.  To the right of the foyer were 
stairs leading to the balcony and to the left was a hall that took you 
to other rooms and a staircase leading to the basement.  Red carpet 
covered the floor in the foyer and the congregation area.  In the 
auditorium, there was a slight decline leading to the stage.  There 
were three columns of fifteen pews.  There were two steps to the stage 
and another two steps leading to three rows of seat behind the podium 
where the minister gave his sermon. 

The graduates of about fifteen ladies filed in from the foyer, up the
steps to the choir seats.  The speaker started talking about the 
accomplishments and sacrifices they made in receiving their diplomas.  
Then the speaker started calling out their names and they stepped down 
the steps to the floor, walked in front of the stage where their caps 
were pinned on their heads, came around to the right side of the stage 
to retrieve their diplomas and up the steps to their seats.  When the 
last person was seated, the speaker concluded the ceremony and thanked 
all of the support that the family and friends gave them throughout 
their studies.  The speaker announced that refreshments were available 
in the other room.  The graduates were the first to file out of the 
auditorium followed by their family and friends. 

Randy, Kim, and I walked into the foyer and saw Patrick and Darren
arguing about an engine that Patrick wanted Darren to get out of a 
vehicle that was parked at the house.  Darren was angrily responding to 
Patrick's request when he brought up not being invited to the wedding.  
Patrick, staying remarkably calm at this point, told him that he had 
until the end of the week to get the engine.  Darren proceeded to tell 
Patrick how upset and hurt he was and that Patrick needed to leave him 
alone before he made him.  Darren started daring Patrick to hit him and 
threatening to kick his ass.  We attempted to keep them separated and 
to diffuse the matter. 

"Calm down, Patrick is just asking you a question," Randy said to
Darren. 

"Come on, let's go.  I'll take all of you on.  It doesn't matter to me,"
Darren piped out.  "I don't care if this is a church.  Come on hit me.  
You chicken." 

"Go you sissy.  I'll take you on any day," Darren said. 

An off duty officer asked if she could help when Darren called her a pig
and that he wasn't scared of any of us.  So she called for assistance.  
Darren was unrelenting in wanting to start a fight with Patrick.  When 
the other officer showed up, he escorted the two brothers out of the 
building and in separate areas so he could take their statements. 

A few minutes later, I saw Patricia talking to the police saying how it
was Patrick antagonizing Darren into a fight.  When she was done and 
walked away, I called her over to where Randy and I was and asked what 
she was doing.  "Why are you getting involved?  It has nothing to do 
with you." 

"Someone has to put Patrick in his place," was her response and walked
off. 

The next thing I knew, Patrick and Kim left the scene and Mom walked up
to Randy and I asking what was going on.  We tried telling her what we 
saw and heard and that Patrick was only asking Darren a question when 
he, Darren, blew it out of proportion.  "I guess you are on his side," 
she finished. 

"No, we aren't on anyone side," I responded. 

"We'll see," she said and walked over to Darren. 

"That's it.  We can't stay with her anymore.  We need to find somewhere
else to go.  I can't stay with her another night or we will get into it 
and it won't be pretty," I told Randy.  "They better not leave us here. 
 I hope they know I don't know my way back to the highway.  I could get 
us back from there."  Just then I saw everyone getting in his or her 
cars, "Let's go," I said to Randy. 

We managed to find our way back to Clarksville before everyone else. 
The house was dark so we went to the motel in town to see if Patrick 
and Kim were there.  They hadn't gotten back so we went next door to 
the gas station to get something to eat when they pulled up.  "Just to 
let you know," Randy started, "We aren't on anyone's side.  We are 
staying out of it.  This is a fight between you and Darren." 

"Thank you for staying out of it.  What happened after we left?" 
Patrick asked.  Randy told him what occurred and finished with Mom's 
statement about seeing which side we were on. "We told her we wasn't 
getting involved.  She didn't want to hear any of it." 

After a few minutes of talking, we saw Mom drive by heading toward the
house.  "I wonder who is in the car with her," I asked. 

I guess we need to see what is going on," Randy said. 

"All I know is that we are not staying there tonight," Kat responded. 

"You could come stay with us if you need to," Patrick stated
nonchalantly. 

"Like that would help our cause," Randy jokingly replied.  "No, I think
that if we leave we will head back home."  Just then the sheriff pulled 
up next to Patrick.  "I guess it is time for us to go.  You ready?" 

"As ready as I'll ever be," I said with a smirk. 

When we got up to the house, we walked into the dining room.  There was
so much hostility in the house that all I wanted to do was pack our 
belongings and get out of there.  As you walk in the door, you walk 
into the dining room and Darren was in the kitchen to the right and Mom 
was in the living room to the left.  Across the room on the left was a 
bedroom where we stayed.  Randy went outside to gather his tools in 
case we left and I went to the bedroom with every intention of not 
wanting to talk to anyone and stay to myself. 

No sooner than I got into the room, Mom walked in to ask whose side I
was on.  "We are not on anyone's side.  We were talking to Patrick 
because no one was here and we couldn't get in," I told her. 

"Well you need to pick a side.  If you're not with me, you are against
me."  At that she walked out. 

Not wanting to be disturbed, I tried to close the door but Darren
wouldn't let me claiming that he wanted to make sure I didn't steal 
anything.  I walked away and went back to the packing.  At that time, 
Randy came in and told me we were leaving.  "I know.  That is what I'm 
doing.  I'm getting our things together."  He told me to finish up 
quickly that he was going out to put his tools in the trunk. 

A few minutes later, I saw Patrick and the sheriff walk toward the
living room.  I continued to get our things together when the next 
thing I knew Mom came into the room upset about something and said, "I 
hope you're happy.  Your brother just kicked me out.  I don't know 
where I'm going to go." 

"I'm sorry to here that.  You will find a place to stay," I replied. 

"I don't know how you will get a hold of me." 

"You have my phone number.  Give me a call once you've settled in," I
said as calmly and understanding as I could possibly mustered. 

"Not anymore I don't." 

"Wait a minute, what are you saying." 

"Because you are on his side, I no longer have anything to say to you." 

"Hold it.  Be careful what you say if you don't mean it.  Because I'm
only giving you this one chance to not go down this path," I warned. "I 
don't care." 

"That's it.  You will never see me or hear from me ever again." 

"Fine.  I don't care." 

"Don't let me hear from anyone that you are asking about me."  Before I
was able to turn and walk away, she slapped me.  Without thinking, I 
swung back and knocked off her glasses.  The next thing I knew was 
someone pulling her off of me while someone held me back.  After a few 
more "I hate you", "I never want to see you again", Randy came in and 
told me to go directly to the car. 

"Go directly to the car.  Don't talk to anyone.  Don't even look at
them.  I'll finish up her and bring them out." 

On my way out, I saw a cake that said Happy Birthday Kathy and
Congratulations Libby on the edge of the dining table.  On impulse I 
picked the cake up and hurled it toward Mom saying, "Here's your cake.  
Enjoy!" 

When Randy climbed in the driver's seat he asked if I was okay as tears
streamed down my cheeks. 

"I will be.  I knew something was going to happen but didn't know what
or when.  I've already mourned the loss of my mother.  Now is the time 
to grieve her death.  She is dead to me.  I no longer have a mother." 

Before leaving town, we went to the motel to repack our luggage and tell
Patrick what happened.  Once the car was repacked, without looking 
back, we headed back to North Carolina. 


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