How Typical

Chapter 3

        The clatter of families gathering their belongings and departing filled the church as the service came to an end. I rose from my seat, making sure to hold the back of my dress down to keep the wind coming in through the open doors from causing a problem. Shuffling out of the pews, I went in search of the rest of my family.

            At our church, all of the kids were split into youth groups by age and we sat together to make it easier when we had to leave for Sunday School.

            I could hear the drumming of running feet approaching from behind and turned to see who was coming. To my great displeasure, I saw that it was Tyler. I considered cuting a corner to avoid him but I figured there was no use so I just prepared myself to endure whatever small talk he was going to make.

            “Hey, Andy.” he cheered, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

            “Hi, Tyler.” I didn’t look at him with the hope that he would drift away from me.

            I had no such luck as he continued talking.

            “Are you coming straight back to our house or are you stopping home first?” inquired Tyler. I don’t see why that matters because our houses are literally ten yards apart.

            “I think we’re going home first. Your mom has to make dinner anyway, right?”

            “Well yeah but she put everything on the stove and in the oven so it’ll be almost ready when we get there.”

            “Oh. That’s convenient.”

            An awkward silence fell over us but we found our families at the entrance waiting for us and split off in the directions of our cars. The drive home was short and soon we were pulling into the driveway.

            We headed into our house and quickly fixed ourselves up so we could head over to the Rockwells’. I traded my heels for flats and opted to bring my umbrella, seeing as the sky was still overcast and threatening to downpour.

        Waiting in the den for my family to congregate, I pulled out my book and began reading- I’m now half way through the book. Jason has confessed his love for Isobel and is trying to break it to his girlfriend. The entirety of this plot is based on the fantasy girls think love should be like. If this book were from the point of view of the girlfriend, everyone would think Isobel is a home-wrecker.

        “I hope you don’t plan to bring that book to their house, Andrea.” I heard my mom say as she entered the spacious room, still adjusting an earring that dangled from her ear.

        “Why not? I’m not going to be reading it at the table. What if we get rained in? I don’t want to be stuck there with nothing to do.” I explained.

        “I still don’t want you bringing it. It’s like saying ‘I’m here but I’ve already assumed your company won’t be very entertaining’” she mocked. I rolled my eyes in response. “It’s rude, Andrea, and so was that eye roll.” Warned my mom.

        “But it’s only in case we get rained in.” I pleaded.

        “We won’t.”

        She snatched the book from my hands and laid it on the coffee table as the rest of my family piled in.

        “Everyone ready?” my dad asked as he scanned the den for all of our family members, his hands perched on his hips. No one responded but, seeing that everyone was here, he announced our departure.