So, That's Your Dad? (Freddie Mercury)

Chapter Forty Three: Class Of '89

       I am shaken from my sleep and forced to wake up. I jump because I think that it's the demon that has terrorized Ralph and I for the past month since we knew of it's existence. I'm surprised to look up to Joe standing over me. I forgot for the span of my sleep that I am in my room at Garden Lodge. "Hey." I say to him while staring into his brown eyes. "Hey good morning." He replies and takes a seat on the foot of the bed. "How are you?" He asks. "Nervous." I sigh and sit up positioning the pillows to make myself comfortable. "Why? We're fucking graduating today!" Joe was very excited. I am too although this is very scary. I'm not nervous, I'm terrified.

My life is actually going to begin starting tomorrow. Today is my last day of being a child. I'm going to have no choice but to leave and start a life of my own. For a very long period of time I have been waiting for this day to come. Now that it is here I want to go back in time. If I had the choice to where I would go, I would want to be back in 1972 when I was an infant. All I had to do back then was eat, shit and sleep. I didn't have to worry about anything and it was ensured that I was safe waking up and going to bed every night. If I had the opportunity to start my life all over again, I would definitely accept that offer. I wouldn't have made the mistakes that I have made in the past couple of years. I would have listened to my dad and had more respect for him. I wouldn't have hurt him the way that I did.

This is a day that I will be regretting my life decisions instead of moving forward. I get out of bed still not thinking of something to say to him. "You're not ready are you?" Joe read my mind. I shook my head and crossed my arms. "I don't know. I have wanted to grow up for a very long time. But now that a lot of shit has happened in my life, I don't know. I think I want to stay home for a little bit, until I think that my dad is ok. I don't know what to do." I vent. "I understand." Joe replied. We're silent for a moment. "Tiff! Joe! Hurry up we're leaving soon!" we could both hear Jim warn us from downstairs.

"What are you going to wear today?" Joe wondered. I opened my closet door. Our school required us to wear white. The same color of our cap and gown. I only have two white dresses in my closet. The next time that I planned on wearing a white dress was my wedding day that probably won't happen. I randomly pick the white laced dress and displayed it to him. Joe was not very pleased. His face looked like he had tasted something gross. "What Joe?" I almost laugh because I know that he is going to criticize the shit out of me. "It's a beautiful dress. But I just don't think it's for you. In fact I don't see you in a dress at all." Joe was very honest. I didn't think about that. I wanted to wear a dress. But anything white that I have does not look good on me apparently.

      Joe scanned me up and down and closed my closet. He then walked over to my dresser and looked through everything that I have. I have no words to say about what he had picked out for me. I loved it, but it's different compared to what I would wear to a special event. "Tiffany, this is perfect." Joe complimented his own creation. I uncover my mouth and cross my arms once again. "I agree. It's just a bit too, casual." I'm now the critic. Joe shrugged. "Honey no one is going to care they're only going to see the gown." He is doing everything he can to persuade me. Which is working because that does make sense. "Well what are you wearing?" I ask him. "The same thing that you are." He giggled. He really is trying to make us match. I like it.

       "Ok, I'll wear this. Now get out so that I can get ready." I tell him with a smile on my face. He brushed his hand on my shoulder and then exited my room quietly. I observe it again questioning if I was sure whether or not I wanted to wear this. I did. Joe's right, I typically can't pull off a dress. I take off my nightgown and I'm in my undergarments. Ew. The white jeans is the first thing to go on my body and they fit me correctly. Who wears jeans to their graduation? Joe and I obviously. Then I start buttoning the white long sleeved shirt and that fits me as well. I sit down in front of the vanity in my room. I get the comb and just start combing out my hair. I haven't been able to wear my hair freely for two months straight. I had almost forgotten how to wear it down.