My parents are at it again. You would think (or, I thought) at my age that it wouldn’t really bother me, but surprisingly it did.
Quick recap: Dad has been unemployed for over a year. Is not actively seeking a job, probably suffering depression, and pretty much sits in a chair in the living room all day and generally avoids people as much as possible. Mom is now working 1.5 jobs, and resents that my dad does nothing to help around the house even after being given explicit instructions. And I’m at home.
So there’s a yelling match on Friday afternoon. Which is actually my mom yelling at my dad while he refuses to speak. Mom storms out of the house and is gone for the rest of the evening. Dad is suddenly industrious and cleans the kitchen. I go to the liquor store and then retire to my room, emerging only for fresh ice. Had a later run-in with mom where I greeted her cheerfully, she replied stonily, I responded in kind and retreated, and then the next day she accused me of being sassy.
Saturday. My uncle calls. I know something’s up because he never calls here and only rarely does someone actually call for Dad. Grandma has broken her hip and is in the hospital. Fortunately (?) she and Grandpa were actually in the hospital for Grandpa’s biweekly blood transfusions when it happened. Apparently her hip just gave out and caused the fall (as opposed to the fall causing the break).
Sunday. Emily’s home. We’re gonna take dad out for dinner. We ask him at 2:00 if he wants to go to dinner later this afternoon.
This is where I remind you that Dad is darn near incapable of stating what he wants or likes. He will acquiesce, waffle, hedge. For example, I once asked him if he wanted this extra piece of pizza I had. “Well, only if you don’t want it.” Oh, in that case, I’ll rescind my offer. Anyway….
He says he wants to go the hospital, which I was fully expecting. I was also expecting him to give a general time frame and say “yes, we can go at this time” or “no, let’s go later” as I asked him which he preferred. He says “well, what time does Emily need to leave?” and “what about your mother?” I say Mom’s got things to do so we’re not planning around her and Emily’s pretty flexible but if you get to the hospital and need to stay, call and let us know and we’ll plan to do this another time. 30 minutes pass as Dad sits in His Chair in the living room and has some more coffee. So I have to ask him again what the dealio is. He just left and said he’d try to be back around 4:30.
