My mother is in full smother mode. I mentioned that I wanted to do something after school tomorrow. "Oh, I'll go with you!" I mentioned that I wanted to go alone and there it was, the guilt trip, the anxiety and the raised voices. I'm going anyway, I'm not listening to her anymore.

I went to the fortress of adolescent torture this evening. It was fake-phony-liar night. I ran around the goal posts and read my book while walking down the hallways. I propped my head on my brothers shoulder because the night was long, and I like the idea that he is my brother. But only when in public.