Memories and the stories of her going out with Frank, her engagement, wedding and her life afterwards filled me with disgust as I couldn’t imagine living her life! And that day I was happy and proud to say “I’m single and loving it” many times over!
But, she put up with it as Frank was “the love of her life” and yet he never stood up for her.
He was a good provider (as all Italians want that for their daughters), a decent father, not too exciting as a person, and he was the worst “mamma’s boy” I ever met!
I had not seen this evil woman in years as every time Laura invited me over and her in laws were there, I didn’t show up. I was honest with my friend and told her that I couldn’t be around that type of energy, it made me nauseous when she put her down and I couldn’t say anything and had learned many years ago to pick and choose where I wished to be, and with whom I would associate with. So it was at least 10 years since I had not been in the mother in laws dark presence. But it was Laura’s 40th a momentous celebration and so I decided that I’d ignore the old bag and just go!
Red and white balloons decorated her home, some kids were playing on the lawn and I froze as I saw her mother in law on the porch as I was filled with memories of the first time Laura ever met her.
Picture it: mid 80’s, big hair, a lot of makeup, everybody smoked and wore clothes that most times just accentuated every part of your body. Frank and Laura had been going out for a year and she and I were meeting for coffee to discuss how “going to meet the parents” went.
Laura walked in, smoking a cigarette wearing dark glasses and didn’t have the usual kick in her step. She sat in the booth; I ordered 2 coffees and lit a cigarette.
“Laura, what’s with the damned shades?” I asked
She hesitated and off they came. Her eyes red and puffy and for a moment I thought she’d been hit but quickly realized that she had been crying.
“She hates me!!!!!” Laura sobbed
“Who hates you and why?” was what I wanted to know.
“Frank’s mother! I met her last night and the first thing she said to me was how she thought I’d be slimmer.”
« Okay, that's it.
