After a much needed break from my bed-ridden mother, who, overnight, went from Donna Reed to Don-na Corleone, I went out the other night with my friend Patricia, who was also in need of a break. I hadnt seen much of Patricia since she had her baby, which was understandable, since motherhood and college mixer's dont exactly fit on the same schedule. But I decided that just because my wild child turned soccer mom friend had a kid, it didnt mean she wasnt the same ol' person I used to ditch and smoke pot with behind the bleachers during high school.
PATRICIA: You dont think I'm a bad mom, do you? Leaving Nicholas Scott Johnson with his grandma?
ME: No. Your a good mom. Really. You are.
PATRICIA: You dont think I'm a bad mom, do you? Leaving Nicholas Scott Johnson with his grandma?
ME: No. Your a good mom. Really. You are.
PATRICIA: Yeah. I hope so.
ME: But do you really need to say his full name all the time? What about just Baby Nicky?
PATRICIA: Because Baby Nicky doesnt sound nowhere near as good as Nicholas Scott Johnson.
ME: Whatever. The point is, yes, your a good mom. And your gonna be an even greater mom as you go along.
The truth was that Patricia was actually a better begginer mom than most mothers I knew. In her second trimester, she already had a year supply of baby clothes and diapers, which according to Carrie Donovan, would have made them so passé, but still. Raising a kid is tough, but when you're a single working mom, doing it all by yourself with no help, it's a little bit more tougher. And it was stuff like that, that let me know, she was going to be a great mother. It was also stuff like that, that let me know she had come a long way since her wild party high school days.
ME: Just make sure you love him, take care of him and support him, no matter what he does. Oh and make sure he doesnt grow up to be like his dad, DJ.
PATRICIA: Oh hell, no. Did I tell you he's dating some new slut?
And just like that, Patricia went from motherhood to high school student. As Patrcia talked about DJ and his new girlfriend, I could see that she wasnt totally over him, as she had once led me to believe. I could see that she was still heartbroken over the fact that he had left her and Nicholas Scott Johnson for somebody else. As Patricia continued to talk, she began to formulate a plan. A plan that she had obviously given prior thought to.
ME: Where are we?
PATRICIA: This is where his new girlfriend lives.
ME: And? We're stopping for tea and cookies, or what?
PATRICIA: I just wanna see if she's home.
ME: Why?
PATRICIA: Because.
ME: Because why?
PATRICIA: Because, because.
ME: Because, because, why?
PATRICIA: Because, because, beca...
ME: Never mind, Dorothy.
Patricia had driven us to a gated apartment complex, where she was planning a full on rock attack to her baby daddy's girlfriend's car. And, being the good friend that I was, I was expected to fully support her plan.
ME: Patricia, I cant do that!
PATRICIA: Why?
ME: Because it's wrong! Why are you gonna trash her car? What did she do to you?
PATRICIA: Uh, she's with him!
ME: And? You're taking it out on the wrong person!
PATRICIA: Dont you get it?!
ME: No, Patricia, I dont.
PATRICIA: Never mind, you dont get it. Are you gonna help me?
ME: Are you kidding me?!
PATRICIA: No. I'm serious.
ME: Patricia, you should be warning her against him, not trashing her car! You're supposed to be mad at him, not her!
It was scary seeing my friend so motivated and focused on destroying an innocent piece of property. No matter what I said or how hard I tried to stop her, Patricia was intent on ruining this girl's car. I knew that deep down, she wasnt upset at DJ's new girlfriend. She was upset with DJ, but unfortunately, was taking her anger out on the wrong person. I also knew that if she didnt let go of that hate she had for DJ, she was preparing herself for a lifetime of misery. And if she let go of that rock, she was preparing herself for some trouble with the law.
As Patricia approached DJ's girlfriend's car, getting closer with each step, somewhere in the background, a police siren grew louder. The very idea that it was a cop on its way to arrest Patricia and me was laughable but the prospect of having to tell everyone that Patricia and I were arrested for destroying her baby daddy's girlfriend's car, made me jump. Right out of the car and down the street.
Six blocks later, in a dark and deserted unknown neighborhood, I was alone. I felt bad for leaving my friend, but I figured if she was going to go through with it, then I really didnt want to be a part of it. That's when Maria called and asked me what I was doing. I told her I was in Timbuktu, and was planning my next move to get home.
MARIA: I'll come get you.
ME: No. It's too far.
MARIA: Dont be stupid. I'll come get you.
ME: No...I'm ok.
MARIA: David. You're in trouble. That's why I'm here. To help.
And then I realized, that's why I was with Patricia. To help. Not to help destroy the car windows, but to help her deal with the fact that she wasnt as alone as maybe she thought she was. I felt horrible, because now, I was just another person who walked out on her. I wasnt there for her when she needed my help. I ran back to the gated apartment, but like the rear windshield window, Patricia was gone. And now, I dont know what to do...
PATRICIA: Because Baby Nicky doesnt sound nowhere near as good as Nicholas Scott Johnson.
ME: Whatever. The point is, yes, your a good mom. And your gonna be an even greater mom as you go along.
The truth was that Patricia was actually a better begginer mom than most mothers I knew. In her second trimester, she already had a year supply of baby clothes and diapers, which according to Carrie Donovan, would have made them so passé, but still. Raising a kid is tough, but when you're a single working mom, doing it all by yourself with no help, it's a little bit more tougher. And it was stuff like that, that let me know, she was going to be a great mother. It was also stuff like that, that let me know she had come a long way since her wild party high school days.
ME: Just make sure you love him, take care of him and support him, no matter what he does. Oh and make sure he doesnt grow up to be like his dad, DJ.
PATRICIA: Oh hell, no. Did I tell you he's dating some new slut?
And just like that, Patricia went from motherhood to high school student. As Patrcia talked about DJ and his new girlfriend, I could see that she wasnt totally over him, as she had once led me to believe. I could see that she was still heartbroken over the fact that he had left her and Nicholas Scott Johnson for somebody else. As Patricia continued to talk, she began to formulate a plan. A plan that she had obviously given prior thought to.
ME: Where are we?
PATRICIA: This is where his new girlfriend lives.
ME: And? We're stopping for tea and cookies, or what?
PATRICIA: I just wanna see if she's home.
ME: Why?
PATRICIA: Because.
ME: Because why?
PATRICIA: Because, because.
ME: Because, because, why?
PATRICIA: Because, because, beca...
ME: Never mind, Dorothy.
Patricia had driven us to a gated apartment complex, where she was planning a full on rock attack to her baby daddy's girlfriend's car. And, being the good friend that I was, I was expected to fully support her plan.
ME: Patricia, I cant do that!
PATRICIA: Why?
ME: Because it's wrong! Why are you gonna trash her car? What did she do to you?
PATRICIA: Uh, she's with him!
ME: And? You're taking it out on the wrong person!
PATRICIA: Dont you get it?!
ME: No, Patricia, I dont.
PATRICIA: Never mind, you dont get it. Are you gonna help me?
ME: Are you kidding me?!
PATRICIA: No. I'm serious.
ME: Patricia, you should be warning her against him, not trashing her car! You're supposed to be mad at him, not her!
It was scary seeing my friend so motivated and focused on destroying an innocent piece of property. No matter what I said or how hard I tried to stop her, Patricia was intent on ruining this girl's car. I knew that deep down, she wasnt upset at DJ's new girlfriend. She was upset with DJ, but unfortunately, was taking her anger out on the wrong person. I also knew that if she didnt let go of that hate she had for DJ, she was preparing herself for a lifetime of misery. And if she let go of that rock, she was preparing herself for some trouble with the law.
As Patricia approached DJ's girlfriend's car, getting closer with each step, somewhere in the background, a police siren grew louder. The very idea that it was a cop on its way to arrest Patricia and me was laughable but the prospect of having to tell everyone that Patricia and I were arrested for destroying her baby daddy's girlfriend's car, made me jump. Right out of the car and down the street.
Six blocks later, in a dark and deserted unknown neighborhood, I was alone. I felt bad for leaving my friend, but I figured if she was going to go through with it, then I really didnt want to be a part of it. That's when Maria called and asked me what I was doing. I told her I was in Timbuktu, and was planning my next move to get home.
MARIA: I'll come get you.
ME: No. It's too far.
MARIA: Dont be stupid. I'll come get you.
ME: No...I'm ok.
MARIA: David. You're in trouble. That's why I'm here. To help.
And then I realized, that's why I was with Patricia. To help. Not to help destroy the car windows, but to help her deal with the fact that she wasnt as alone as maybe she thought she was. I felt horrible, because now, I was just another person who walked out on her. I wasnt there for her when she needed my help. I ran back to the gated apartment, but like the rear windshield window, Patricia was gone. And now, I dont know what to do...
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