Moms Ruin Everything

by Saber (*cough* really)
(Texas)

When I was in middle school, I wasn't the most outgoing of kids. Too smart, too big, and too headstrong for my own good. The town I lived in had about thirteen thousand people in it, and so only maybe five hundred in the school. There were three bible schools and one public, plus another two non-christian private schools, and the entire community was German-Texan.

As a liberal atheist (and not even with my parents to back me up) I was more or less a social recluse. I was pretty tough, a borderline redneck and pretty strong, though adults tried to convince me I was pretty.

But I wasn't in the 'in' crowd. I didn't even really want a boyfriend up until eighth grade. Then William Harris came along.

In sixth I had history with him, but we were only casual friends then, nothing more. He was cute, with dye-bottle blonde hair and pale skin, and these amazing brown eyes that really just drew you in...but he was pudgy. He took Play Productions and Library Aide, and didn't take full advanced placement courses. I was also a Library aide, but I took Art, Health, Speech, and all advanced placement classes. I guess all around I was the good girl to the teachers and the outcast to the students, but I was happy enough.

Then I started trying to get his attention. It just wasn't fair: I was developing nicely, but Will wasn't the sort of guy to make his noticing of girls obvious. We still talked occasionally, but I never quite had the courage to ask him out or anything.

Then there was the Fall Fling dance. Cliche, I know, but the PTO put it on. And, for once, they didn't hire my cousin Sparky as DJ, so no one had to know if I took a date.

After waiting almost as long as I could, I finally found the courage to ask him on the way to lunch one day. We were a bit behind, walking side by side.

I remember very clearly what I said. After all, it was the first time I ever had the courage to ask someone out; who wouldn't remember it?

"Hey, Will, are you going to the dance Friday?"
"No... I don't really do dances."
"Why not?"
"They're...well...I don't really like them."
"Well...if you don't just go to dances...would you go with me?"
He was surprised, and didn't really answer for a few seconds. "I guess... yeah. I just have to make sure I can come. Oh, and one more condition..."
"Yeah?"
"If Cohen Crenwelge finds out about it, I get to punch him."
The guy in question was a self-righteous Catholic who had declared war on anyone who wasn't completely conformist to his views. I called him a Neo-Nazi, and he called me a Jew, if that gives you any idea of how fond we were of each other.

Anyways, the day ended soon enough; I didn't manage to talk to him, for fear I'd make an even bigger idiot of myself.

Then, the next day, I checked in to make sure we were on.

And this is what he said:

"Uh...about that, yeah...My...my mom says I can't go." He nearly winced as he said it.

To this day, I don't know if it was a lame excuse or if he really does have one of 'those moms', but a moral to this story, girls...

The answer isn't always yes. Life sucks, love sucks, the entire world sucks at times. You can either call it quits or keep on going, and believe me, the first is sometimes easier.

And a moral for you guys out there, too...
If you have to let a girl down, never say that your mom said no. Let her down easy or just plain say no if you don't like her, but don't be mean about it. She might be a bit pissy for a while, but it's better in the end.

And a moral for everyone...
Moms really suck sometimes.
(Stars help me, I still halfway believe that excuse to this day)