Boot Camp

04: Old Version

It feels strange standing in the driveway of my home, holding my large black suitcase in my right hand. My mother and sister are in front of me, ready to tell me their goodbyes. I keep reminding them I'm not leaving forever. I will return home in five weeks as a new and improved person.

Haha, almost believed myself for second.

"Look, just remember that if anything bad happens, call me, and I'll drive there before you can blink, okay?" My mom places her hands firmly on my shoulders, her eyes boring into mine.

I smile to feign some confidence. "Mom, I'll be fine, okay?" I reassure her, dropping my suitcase and reaching forward to give her a hug. Poppy stands off to the side with her lips pursed, her hands placed on her narrow hips.

She slowly smiles, reaching forward to give me a hug. "Good luck okay? You do everything you put your mind to. You're not stopping now." I nod, but then she leans forward and places her lips by my ear. "And oh yeah, go find a hot guy."

I chuckle, and she gives me a wink. Poppy ignores our mother and walks back inside the house. My father only gave me a curt goodbye before, skipping over the hug I thought I'd at least get.

I shove my suitcase in the trunk and sit in the passenger seat, rethinking this decision at the last minute.

"Is it too late to give up?" I ask with a slight wince. My mom stops the car and sends me one of her death glares; you know, the one that makes you want to melt into a puddle on the ground.

"Whitney, if you decide to quit now, I will personally pick you up and throw you into that camp," she says sharply, rounding the corner.

Throwing teenagers. Don't think they teach that at her Saturday afternoon Pilates class.

I don't respond and busy my eyes with the endless number of trees lining the side of the highway, looming above us with bright green leaves. In the silence, I reflect on yesterday afternoon. A huge commotion burst out downstairs between my mother and Poppy, resulting in her locking herself in my bathroom for two hours when I needed to use it.

An expert eavesdropper, I crouched at the top of the staircase and listened to their yells resonating from the living room to the upstairs.

"Mom, you don't get it do you?" Poppy's voice comes, slightly wavering. "I want to do this."

"Poppy, listen to me. Just because you are twenty-two and a responsible adult, doesn't mean you always know the best for you. What if you're rushing all of this?"

"Why do you always say that?" Poppy shouts. "You never look at the positive side of things. Ever! Just look beyond your plan for my life for once!"

"I am your mother, and I have a job to look out for what's best for you!" she yells back, and after a moment, grumbles, "I thought Whitney was the tough kid to handle, now you?"

That was slightly hurtful, but moving on.

"And how are you so sure?" Poppy tries at my mother, her tone gravely firm. "Do you know me as well as you think you do?"

Once again there is a long silence. "What I know is you are my daughter that I raised to be mature and intelligent, and you have plans to apply to law school. You don't need a wedding yet."

"Why do you always talk about school, for God's sake?" Poppy yells back at her, "I want to make my own decision for once!"

"Poppy, I can't argue about this anymore; it's ridiculous—"

"You know what? I'm done." Before my mother can continue, Poppy marches through the foyer and up the stairs. I fall onto my face as I try to escape, dashing to my room and shutting the door. I hear Poppy storm into the hallway and slam the door of my bathroom.