Runaway

Upheaval

It was the day before my parents left for their trip.

Well, technically, the night before the trip, when my dear friend Ivy made certain decisions that led to a series of actions and consequences that my parents and, well, almost everyone found quite questionable.

Now, let's make few things clear before we get into the detailed, in-depth description of the manoeuvre. (We thought it was ingenious, don't blame me).

See, my family has a tendency and attitude of planning almost each and every facet of life. We are usually the kind of people who have backup plans for backup plans for backup... you get the idea. It is sometimes farcical because we even have plan B in general aspects that are not conventional, for instance, which shops to visit if the first one is closed or the flavours of ice cream to buy if the first one is not available. Now I know general humanity does this too, but they consider these after failing the precedent actions. We just expect things to go downhill.

I've tried to challenge it. To not become a part of it and avoid it. It doesn't ordinarily work, so I try to reason with my parents and ask them to be a bit laid back. The dialogue usually goes this way.

Me: "We really don't have to prepare for each and everything!"

My parents: "It is not wrong with being prepared."

Me: "Isn't it kinda pessimistic assuming everything is going to go wrong."

My parents: "There is nothing wrong with being pessimistic then. Half the time, we are correct, and when we are wrong, everyone is happy, including us."

Me: .................

My parents: "The optimistic side of being pessimistic."

Me: Uhhhggggggg!

(Walks out and slams the door)

To be honest, after all the backup plans and possible case of what can go wrong even they would not have expected us to do what we did.

Now imagine I'm halfway through the middle of some long story, and I dropped this on you. "By the way, my parents are the most methodized people on this planet, which is why I'm used to marshalling as well." You really wouldn't know what to do next, or you would keep on questioning my actions.

I realise that it is beneficial in some cases. Still, the fact that they have two totally unrequired suitcases, 5 backup plans for my future career and collages, and an almost hour-long lecture for me when they leave tomorrow really does not make it look appealing.

Anyway, back to where we started, as I was saying, it was the night before we left for our trip. But wait, I didn't tell you what trip I'm talking about. Ugh! I'm sorry, I'm new to the art of storytelling. Customarily, I really don't have much to share.

Anyway, this local fellowship in our society makes plans and trips every year exclusively for parents. The primary purpose was to provide them with escapism and create the illusion of enjoying life even when they are stuck in dead-end jobs with teenagers and kids who drive them insane every day, financial issues, future decisions, family problems, responsibilities and so on so forth. Issues that I plan to avoid in the future.

The trips are planned in such a manner so that they essentially take place during summer vacations. My parents have accepted this trip almost every year for the last five years. Usually, they call my aunt and uncle to take care of me, but this year I've convinced them to allow me to stay home alone. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love my uncle and aunt, but there is a different kind of elation and exhilaration in being alone.

The best part is my best friends' (Ivy, Sapphire and Emeric) parents are also leaving, which means that these will be the best days of my life. Sapphire's parents leave him alone almost every year, so there was no question there. At first, the rest of our parents were obviously reluctant to leave us alone cause, well, leaving four teenagers alone without supervision is the perfect recipe for disaster. Although, after two months of exemplary behaviour, the best grades ever obtained by all group members and joint efforts of behaving like the most elite class of kids to ever exist, we could convince them that we can handle ourselves.