The Military Girl

Dinner

"Hi honey!" My mom said, as I slammed the front door behind me. "We're going over to Kenny and Pat's tonight for dinner."

I groaned, and then my mom continued, "I thought you would like it. It would give us all a chance to make some memories."

"Mom, Harry's mad at me." I said. "I didn't tell him, but his friend told him."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Can we just say I'm sick or something?" I begged.

"No, honey. You and Harry need to work this out." Mom nodded and then went back into the kitchen. I groaned loudly, so she could hear me. I went upstairs and threw my backpack on my bed.

I was incredibly mad at myself. I should have known that telling would've been important. I just didn't know how to tell him. Telling people that you're moving hurts almost as much as the actual move.

This was a different kind of pain. Harry felt like I betrayed him. I knew I wouldn't be able to explain why I had to move. I just had to. I didn't want to, but it had to be done.

"Change into something nice! Your clothes smell like school!" My mom yelled from downstairs. I didn't want to change into anything nice. I wanted to fake sick. I wanted to run away instead of face an angry boyfriend.

My dad wouldn't have it. I came downstairs to complain to him, after he returned home from work. I told him what happened. Like a good father, he told me to suck it up, be an adult and face my problems like the military brat I was.

I resisted every urge to roll my eyes at him. I went back upstairs and changed into nice sweater and jeans.

At five o' clock, my parents and I walked across the street, with a lasagna in hand. Kenny opened the door, smiling widely as usual. Patricia was dressed like a 1940s house wife, and Kenny was dressed for the Grammys. Harry hadn't changed his clothes.

Harry sulked in the corner of the room, in a chair that went along with the kitchen table. His arms were crossed against his chest. His legs were crossed and he avoided any eye contact with me whatsoever.

At dinner, I sat across from him. I poked at my green beans. I tried to get a sympathetic look from him, but he didn't look up from his plate. He just stared blankly at his food.

"So, Olive," Patricia said, "Are you excited?"

"Sorry?" I said, remembering my manners.

"For the move? I hear Washington State is lovely."

Harry noisily set his fork down. He pushed his plate away and sunk in his chair.

"I'm sure it'll be fine." I told Patricia. Harry mumbled something under his breath, that everyone pretended not to notice.

"You should see Mount St. Helens." Kenny said. "It exploded in the eighties! Just BOOM!" Kenny took a handful of green beans and threw them in the air. I tried to not let it disturb me. "God is wonderful." Kenny finished.

"Didn't people die in that?" I asked.

"Yes."

I opened my mouth to say something, but my mom interrupted by asking anyone if they wanted dessert. My mom and Patricia got up to get everyone pie. My dad and Kenny went into the living room to check on the game. That left me and Harry alone.

We stared at each other for a moment. I tried to send him subliminal messages, but he kept staring at me like I stabbed him. His eyes were filled with pain and anger and his lips were curled. I wondered if I actually mental powers. Maybe the more I said I was sorry, the more he wished that I would vanish.