My brother’s departure to marine boot camp was an event more than three months in the making; My mom’s temper is a detriment that has been in progress for a much longer time. They went head to head in a who-will-say-sorry-first event on the evening my brother was to depart.
We had approximately four hours with my brother until his flight left. We understood he’d be back after boot camp was done in December, but we still made the most of the time we had left — especially since he was only allowed one phone call during his three month training period.
Surrounded by the other trainees and their family, we were made a spectacle of by our Mother who threatened to discipline us, yelled out quips and just acted rude. We tried to watch a movie on the portable DVD player and faced the screen to the three of us. Mom rudely grabbed the player and faced it in her direction. When we said she was being rude, she said we were in fact being rude by not allowing her to see the screen. I complained she didn’t look interested in the movie since she had a freakin’ newspaper in front of her face. She did not laugh. Instead, she grabbed the DVD player, her things and left us all there sitting by ourselves. She was our ride back home, but we chose to stay. Apparently, everyone except our mom knew the reason we came was to see our brother off.
I could not believe how selfish she was being. Putting her pride before making my brother’s last moments with us an enjoyable one.
It didn’t end there. She came back to confront us all about us being disrespectful. It was time for my brother to leave, but she was still being selfish. As everyone walked towards the bus with their duffle bags, she stood there scolding him. He tried to hug her, but she wasn’t receptive. When he finally turned around to leave, she did too. I made sure to tell my brother I loved him. If his own mom wasn’t going to show it, I was.
Needless to say, it was a very quiet ride home. I started talking with my Grandma about the fact that we’ll be missing his birthday this year. I was hoping my mom would overhear and feel guilty for her selfish ways.
On top of that, my fish died. Little Marco Polo — only one year old. I dumped his body into a cardboard box today. My boyfriend insists I should get a new one. I think I might name him Ponce DeLeon.
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hi cheyne,
i’m reading a book right now called “jarhead” by anthony swofford. its a first person account by a marine who fought in the first gulf war. its a pretty good book, u might want to pick it up.
ross
Cheyne - from the outside it seems pretty obvious that your mother’s behaviour was really a reaction to her feelings of losss at your brother going. Sometimes it easier to be abrasive and stony rather than show the emotions we are feeling. You know your mother better, but perhaps she was hurting inside and didn’t want to show it? Jay x