MASH

Chapter 32: MASH Meeting 4

The wind blew inside the small apartment belonging to the Chandlers. The little TV they had showed only their reflections and nothing more. Kristle’s hair was swept to one side and her fringe; long over the years was clipped up with her signature butterfly-shaped pin. Her hairs still had the faint brown highlights from her prom, making it slightly lighter and actually look pretty good. Her deep chocolate brown eyes, inherited from her father were showing no specific emotion.

Jessica had her hair tied up in a ponytail, revealing her earrings that had the shape of a heart. She had a shirt on that said in captions ‘SHAKESPEAR HATES YOUR EMO PROBLEMS’. Under different circumstances, or happier times Kristle Chandler would have laughed about it but she knew that was not the case. Unlike her sister, she has creamy brown eyes from her mother and they were shining not because of happiness, but because of another broken heart.

Kristle knew the whole truth now; the reason behind Jessica’s mood and actions lately. It was another boy. Kristle had come in earlier in the day to break out her news on the scholarship when she heard Jessica crying outside her door. She came in and that was when in mid-consolation Jessica told her everything. The affair and the car accident. The whole truth.

“You don’t have to tell them if you don’t want to, Jess,” Kristle said, gripping her and as they sat on the couch, waiting for their friends to come. Their apartment was quite small actually. It only had two rooms- one for each Chandler- but they didn’t really need much. After all, only two people live there.

“But I want to Kris. They deserve the truth and so did you.” She said, returning a squeeze to Kristle’s hand before continuing, “a-and, I know I don’t deserve it but I’m sorry for not telling you anything. I could have used one of those advices you gave me instead of…” she trailed off at the last part but Kristle knew and understood.

“Well,” Kristle began, “I have some things to tell the girls too.” Jessica gave her a questioning look but said nothing.

Kristle was never the one for handling crying people due to the fact that Jessica put up a tough exterior as she raised Kristle Chandler when their parents passed on. Jessica knew that Kristle, as young as she was, did not deserve to be left without the love and care of her mother and father, so she did what she could do which was to try to give her that.

Now… she really lost it.

The sound of footsteps grew nearer as a familiar figure appeared at their doorstep. Clarice Hathaway had her hands in her pockets, wearing the usual jeans and a red hoodie to match her T-shirt. Her hair was tied into a simple messy bun, letting the loose strands just fall nicely an inch above her shoulders. She had a twinkle in her eye knowing there was a purpose behind the MASH meeting rather than just a simple hangout.

Next that came was Grace Delaney. Her lusciously long hair fell to her shoulders and the fringe is as always held steady with a pink hair band; her favorite color. Her black eyes showed the same longing it always had after the divorce thing. Grace was never the one for jeans so she wore a skirt similar to the one Kristle had and detested and a pink top.

When all settled down, nothing pierced the silence between these girls as they waited for each other to start. Kristle decided to break this uncomfortable silence by saying, “Well then, we have some news and you girls are not gonna like it.” The girls edged closer to her, as if straining to hear what Kristle has to say.

Kristle cleared her throat dramatically and said, “Well I’ll start… err…. I am transferring to Boston. I got a scholarship there.”

“WHAT?!” They said in unison. Clarice almost fell off her chair and Grace choked and Jessica well… let’s just say her face was priceless. Jessica felt like crying again but she knew this would not help anything but heck, make the situation even worse. She back tracked, knowing that Kristle would have told her earlier if she was oh I don’t know, crossing the continents or something!

Clarice stared at Kristle, letting her words settle down deep. It felt to her as if someone had just burst the balloon of a toddler, her best friend was leaving. Her advise-giver. Her second sister. “You’re leaving? But how?” It was a rhetorical question of course and she knew the answer. She stared at her best friend, eyes filled with concern. “What about Tristan? What about your life here? Don’t you realize this is a big change?”

Kristle winced at the sound of Tristan’s name then cringed slightly at an agonizing pain that nobody can see. She tried to keep a composed face and her voice even when saying, “I… I’ll tell Tristan… some other time and… I know what’s at stake at leaving but don’t y’all see? The school is affiliated to Yale and Dartmouth. Yale! Dartmouth! I could go as a scholarship student and have a great chance of getting in either prestigious school. Plane tickets are with my documents and… accommodations are taken care of as they have a dorm house. I have to give my decision tomorrow or I forfeit the scholarship.” She finished with slight bitterness and slight anguish.

The girls did not keep her eyes off Kristle as she explained. Kristle knew it was a bad move not to tell Jessica about this whole thing but consoling her was the first thing on her mind. Clarice stared at Kristle for a while. Her explanation sounded unreal, a dream, but sadly it was the truth. She felt tears form at the corner of her eyes, before she glared at Jessica saying, “You approve of this?!” her voice cracking as she felt her tears cascading down her cheeks.

“I…I,” Jessica began. “Don’t blame Jessica it’s my choice!” Kristle suddenly said. Grace gasped and Clarice was taken aback by Kristle shouting for the first time. Kristle the psychologist and peacemaker finally lost her cool and started to break down. Her build-up emotions started to pour out. But she kept her grip on Jessica’s hand. Jessica felt astouned. Kristle, her sister the person who loses an argument purposely so not to stir trouble shouted at her best friend. Her best friend!

Grace, who was all quietly watching this whole thing going on, saw her best friend’s sister cry for the first time in many years. The smile Kristle wore was just a façade to hide many emotions going through all at once. She realized that it was a tough decision to make as well and she did not want to put into the position where she loses her best friends, family and crush for an opportunity found once in a blue moon.

She turned to face Clarice who also had tears in her eyes, looking as if she had too much to handle. Knowing Clarice, an advice-giver would be what she needed at that moment right now but the psychologist is leaving and may never come back. Then she noticed it; Kristle’s hand on Jessica’s.

Knowing Kristle, there must be something going on between these sisters. Jessica looked like she was at the verge of crying and was not talking for the whole meeting, like her. Now Grace only did that because she does not feel like it but Jessica is unnaturally quiet.

“Jess… is there anything you want to tell us?” Grace said. Kristle lifted her face and shook her head but Jessica said, “Yes.”

“I…” she began, “committed a terrible sin.” She said, voice slightly cracking. Kristle stopped crying but hiccoughed slightly and looked into Jessica’s eyes and shared a mental conversation. “I… had an affair.” Surprisingly, no one fainted and no one started crying. Jessica then explained everything till the car accident. They all said nothing and Kristle merely just let Jessica lean for comfort.

“And you knew this when Kris?” Clarice suddenly began. “Since last night.” Kristle replied. “Aw Jess, why didn’t you tell us about this. You could have avoided this whole mess!” Grace said. Jessica just looked down shamefully and said nothing. Kristle sighed in defeat as she said, “Okay. Look it doesn’t help if we argue about this whole thing. Jess, look whatever caused you to be in that whole affair but I forgive you because you’re my sister and I trust that you’ll get through this. And that transfer… I’ll make the final decision tonight. If I choose to go, please… don’t stop me because I considered everything and thought leaving would be the best option for all of us. Sorry to make you girls come far.” With that, the MASH meeting ended.

Hey, it's me, K writing my first ever MASH Meeting ever! So cut me some slack if it's not like J's which was short and sweet. Mine is ging to be slightly longer than usual becaus a lot of revelations ae coming up! Enjoy! Oh and listen to this song Torn by Natalie Imbruglia cover by Cassadee Pope. I like her version better.