Lies My Parents Told Me

Bette and Tinas marriage disintegrates in front of there fifteen year old daughter. I dont know how far I will take this story.

Sometimes I think Im invisible. Id have to be invisible to witness the things that my parents say to each other in the heat of an argument. They toss under handed comments back and forth at each other. I witness every word and mannerism between them. I started taking photographs of them with my digital camera. Its a personal project for me and nobody knows about it. Im trying to figure out when it all started but there are many things I dont know. They say things in hushed whispers and names of woman Ive never heard uttered before are brought up behind closed doors. I want answers and with answers I can solve this problem and bring my parents back together. Things werent always like this there was a long stretch of time when we were a happy family. Is it wrong to want to get that back?

My name is Joss Kenter and Im the daughter of Tina Kennard and Bette Porter and this is my study of my parents relationship Ive titled it Lies My Parents Told Me I thought it was a fitting title because it speaks volumes. Neither of my parents seemed to want to acknowledge to me that there is a problem between the two of them. They both gloss over it and quickly change the subject but Im not blind or stupid and am inquisitive by nature. I will journal everything Im feeling about them in this scrapbook along with providing photographs of them. My first photograph is one of me with my parents after I was first born. My mother is holding me in her arms her long flowing blonde hair is tied back. My other mother has managed to also fit in the hospital bed with us. Her dark long hair is cascading down her shoulders and she has an utter look of awe on her face. I think my Aunt Kit took the photograph. I remember asking my mother why she was looking at us like she was on the verge of crying. She told me that I had been a difficult birth. Apparently my mother wanted to give birth to me in a tank of water. I laughed when she told me that but it did make sense because of mother was a bit of a free spirit. She told me she had recently lost her father around the time of my birth and when the midwife told her that there were complications and it would be best to take my birth mother to the hospital she was overcome with a fear of losing us. She said when I came out of my mother healthy and absolutely gorgeous in her own words it brought her to tears because to her it truly was a miracle.

There was a knock at my bedroom door I quickly closed my journal. I opened my desk drawer and dropped my journal inside and shut the drawer. My mother walked into the room and arched an eyebrow at me. She could tell from my quick movements that I had been up to something but she didnt want to push so she let it slide. My other was stricter and would immediately start in with the questions.[/i]

I could use your help in the kitchen chopping up the vegetables for the salad. Tina said.

Okay mom. I replied.

[i]I stood up and tied my light brown hair up into a pony tail and I looked over at my mother I had her eyes. We walked into the kitchen and I picked up a cucumber from a bowl of just washed vegetables and steadied the knife into the cucumber and cut off the end.[/i]

Wash your hands. Tina said.

[i]I turned away from her mother and rolled my eyes in irritation. I walked over to the kitchen sink and squirted anti bacterial soap into my hands and ran them underneath the warm spray of water. I wiped my hands with a paper towel and tossed it into the nearby waste bucket and held up my hands.[/i]

Im ready for salad duty. I grinned.

[i]I started to chop up vegetables for the salad as my mother stood at the stove throwing spices into the spaghetti sauce.[/i]

Your mother is coming home tonight. Tina said.

I thought she was going to be gone for a week. I replied.

The artist that she wanted for the gallery jumped at the offer to exhibit her work in your mothers gallery she didnt need as much time as she thought. Tina replied.

Are we picking her up? I asked.

No your Aunt Kit is going to pick her. Tina replied.

[i]Tina opened the oven and checked the garlic bread.[/i]

Momdo you remember when I was born? I asked.

[i]She looked over at me and smiled.[/i]

Of course I remember when you were born. Tina replied.

Do you remember what you and mom felt? I asked.

I was so happy to have you with me finally after everything that I had been through. After you were born that year didnt seem to matter it was a fresh start. Your mother was just so happy when she first saw you. Tina smiled.

[i]My mother got a far away look on her face. It was like she was reliving the moment right there.[/i]

Whats with the questions? Tina asked.

I was just curious. I was looking at baby photographs and I saw that one and you two looked really happy. I replied.

That was the happiest moment of my life holding you in my arms. Tina said.

[i]The phone rang and I quickly rushed over to the kitchen counter that had a view of the front door and picked up the phone.[/i]

Kennard – Porter household. I said.

Joss what are you doing? Mark asked.

I was chopping up vegetables for a salad that we are having for dinner. I replied.

What else are you having? Mark asked.

We are having spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread. I replied.

That sounds good can I come over for dinner? Mark asked.

Let me ask my mom. I said.

[i]I turned around to face my mom.[/i]

Mom can Mark come over for dinner? I asked.

Any other night I would say yes but this is your mothers first night home. Not tonight maybe tomorrow. Tina said.

You cantmy mom is coming home from New York today and we are going to have a family dinner. I replied.

I wanted to show you this new video camera my parents got me. Mark said.

Maybe after dinnerlet me ask my mom. I said.

[i]My mother pulled the garlic rolls out of the oven and set the tray on the counter.[/i]

Is it okay if Mark comes over after dinner? I asked.

Sure Joss he can come over after dinner. Tina said.

Ill call you after dinner and you can come over. I said.

Okay bye. Mark said.

See you later. I replied.

[i]I hung up the phone and walked back over to the counter and continued to chop vegetables.[/i]

You and Mark are spending a lot of time together. Tina said.

Wellhe is my best friend. I replied.

Have you ever considered it might be more then that? Tina asked.

Yeahme and Markgrosshe is like a brother to me. I laughed.

[i]It was true I never had feelings for Mark. I had seen him pick his nose, watched him burp on numerous occasions, and smelled him after he let out inhumanly farts. We picked on each other and talked about people we liked. He truly was like a brother to me. My mother and I finished preparing dinner and I was setting the table as my mother opened the front door and took a step inside. My Aunt Kit was behind her a strained smile spread across my mothers lips as she walked out of the kitchen. I walked over to mother who was standing next to Aunt Kit and I hugged her then I hugged my Aunt Kit. My parents walked slowly over to each other and hugged but it was awkward and cold. I pulled my digital camera from my hoodie pocket and took a quick photograph.[/i]

How was New York? Tina asked.

New York wasfine. Bette replied.

[i]Kit put her arm around my shoulder and cleared her throat.[/i]

Something smells good. Kit said.

Would you like to join us for dinner? Tina asked.

Id love to but I have to get back to The Planet and make sure its still standing. Kit laughed.

[i]Kit left and it was just the three of us in a way I dreaded family dinners. I was always caught in the middle. We all sat down at the table and started to eat dinner. My parents talked to each other through me.[/i]

How is your art project coming along? Bette asked.

Pretty good I replied.

After dinner I want to take a look at your project. Bette said.

Its not even anywhere close to being finished. I replied.

I still want to see it. Bette said.

[i]Its hard having a mother who is into art. A mother who owns her own gallery art is something that came naturally to me. Ever since I was a young child I always was interested in creating things.[/i]

I could give you some advice and stir you into the right direction. Bette said.

I know what Im doing with this project and Id rather not have my mom helping me with it. I said.

Im just trying to offer you my help. Most kids your age would be clamoring for a chance to have an owner of an art gallery critiquing there work. Bette said.

Well maybe youre right but I live with said art gallery owner she critiques everything I do. I said.

Joss you dont have to show anyone anything until youre are ready. Tina intervened.

If youre going to be apart of an exhibition of young artist at my art gallery then youre going to show me what youre working on. Bette said.

I guess Im not going to be in the exhibition. I said.

[i]I stood up from the table and walked out of the dining room. I headed down the hall way. I couldnt see my parents but I could hear there voices clear as day.[/i]

Do you think that maybe once you could back me up when I try and discipline her? Bette asked.

Give her some room to breathe. She just wants to work at her own pace. The more you push you own stifle her growth. Tina said.

Do you have any idea whats youre talking about? You know nothing about art. Bette said.

[i]I walked down the hallway still out of sight to them. I managed to snap another photograph.[/i]

I know nothing about art? Ive only been with a gallery owner for twenty – three years and I have an incredibly talented daughter who can talk art for hours and create beautiful pieces of work. I know nothing about art? Tina questioned.

You knowI just wanted to come home and have a nice dinner and thats shot. Bette sighed.

[i]I headed upstairs and shut the door of my bedroom. I placed my camera on my desk next to my lap top and fell into bed. I grabbed my I-Pod off of my night stand and placed the head phones into my ears and closed my eyes. Hopefully they would stop arguing soon and I could call Mark and he could come over and hang out.[/i]


Okay…quick dumb question. How do you do the italics thing?