7/17/2020

She just sits there with this indignant ass smirk on her face. It makes me want to slap her. We had been going back and forth all week about whether or not I should go out of town with my friends because she "doesn't trust them". I could never understand how, seeing that all of my friends in the circle have at least one parent that has a position in our PTA. But that's always been my mom; never wanting me to do anything or go anywhere.

"But you know Los and Nita's parents! All of y'all planned and hosted the End of Finals cook out last year!"
"You know I don't allow you to go anywhere unless I've already spoken to them anyway, and you just sprang this up on me like you didn't have to get permission first."
"But--"
"The answer is no."

I didn't even bother to say anything else because I don't like to argue with her. It drains me, diminishes my brain cells, and all-around makes me feel small. I left the conversation where it was and went into the kitchen to grab a stress snack. I chose a pudding cup out of the door of the fridge, a spoon, and trudged upstairs to my room to call my best friend.

"Hey Ms. Macnamera, is Los home?" I had to call her house phone due to hers being confiscated for the semester.
"This Teeny?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Hey girl, yes she's home. Hold on a second, I'll get her."

I say okay and wait for a few seconds then I hear my goofy best friend's high pitched voice.

"Teneeshaaaaaaa!"
"Hey Los..."
"What's wrong?"

I sigh and think about why I actually called, and get irritated all over again.

"My mom won't let me do ANYTHING! I asked could I go with you and Nita tonight to hang out and she said no because she don't know everybody's parents."
"... Seriously?"
"Mm-hm."

She sighs. I can hear the irritation in her voice too and I understand. I'm always the one who gets left because her mom says no or I just flat out refuse to even ask because I know the answer. There'll be some times where she'll surprise me and actually let me out of the house for a few hours but I haven't figured out what criteria I'm meeting to get those very rare surprises.

"Well... Could I come over?"
"You wanna come to MY house?"
"Yeah! I know your mom is strict and I also know you get tired of being there alone."
"You're right..."
"I'ma ask my momma and I'ma call you right back, okay?"
"Kay!"

My mom usually will allow me to have a friend or two over as long as she knows the parents. She definitely knows Los and her mom, she just wouldn't let me go because she doesn't know Nita or her mom like that... So really, I knew better when I asked. I head back downstairs and she's sitting on the couch watching Law & Order with our huge lion blanket draped across her lap, and she looks like she's in a decent mood.

"Hey baby girl."
"Hey mama, can Los come over? Pleeeeease?" I decided to go ahead and cut to the chase.
"She have a ride?"
"Yes."
"Did her mom say it was okay?"

Like my mama said some magic words, my phone rang. I answer and put it on speaker.

"Hey Los, you're on speaker."
"Hey Ms. Scott, how are you!"
"I'm doing fine, Los", she smiles. "Did your mama say it was okay?"
"Yes ma'am, that's why I was calling back."
"Okay, tell her that's fine. When should y'all be here?"
"Within the next 30 minutes."
"Alright baby", I start grinning.
"Okay Teeny, I'll see you in a li'l bit!"

I hang up and start grinning again and tell my mama thank you. Like I said, it's no surprise she let Los come over, but I'm just sad she had to change her original plans to accommodate my strict mom.
Exactly thirty minutes later, I hear the doorbell ring from downstairs. I head down to greet everyone.