"Well, who was it?"
I say, still slightly embarrassed.
"Oh, um my..my mom. inviting us to the beach and I said yes"
she says in a quiet voice
"What?! uuuggh, no! I hate hanging out with your mother! she's always telling me I've led her daughter to sin.."
I whine , her mother is always trying to break us up, she's religious but is "still praying for her daughter and her friend"
she always emphasizes the word friend in high hopes of convincing us that's what we are.
"haha, don't worry Bunni. her patronizing will never lead me from your cute lil face"
Jupiter smiles at me, and in that moment, I realized I would do anything for her, including facing her terrifying mom.
"fine, I'll go "
I say disgruntled. but I smile on the inside.
"but I'm wearing my sailor bathing suit no matter what your mother thinks, even if it's 'not a real naval uniform"
I mock her mother's uptight voice as I trail into my room to get ready for the beach.
THE HELL BEACH
"Jupiter! Bonni! how delightful this is!"
her mother comes walking up the sand to where we've parked
"it's uh, Bunni, miss"
I correct her
"yes yes, I'm sure it is dear"
and the fun begins.
Jupiter's mom leads us to where her and her husband were sitting.
"hello girls"
he says blandly
"hello"
we both chant as we sit down.
"so, tell me, bonnie, where do you work?
she looks at me, obviously excited beyond her years to shoot me down as purposefully mispronounces my name. again.
"I work for a tee shirt company that my father runs."
I sit like a duck, ready for the onslaught of criticism.
"Oh, how nice dear. how easy life would be if all of our daddy's paid our ways through it, wouldn't it?"
she grins. I cringe.
"mom! don't be rude, BUNNI applied to work there and was interviewed like anyone else was. she earned her job there."
she emphasizes my correct name while telling her mom off. I smile at her and she grins back.
"alright, alright. don't have a breakdown, I was merely observing your friends lifestyle."
ouch, double attack on me, Jupiter's friend and her lifestyle.
"okay who wants to eat!"
her dad swoops in for damage control and I silently thank him for it.
