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Scene #23
Chantal was enjoying her early morning quiet time in the tub when
there was a discreet tap on the bathroom door. "Mom,"
whispered her eldest daughter Lori. "Are you decent? Can I come in
for a minute?" Raising an eyebrow, Chantal glanced down at
the bubble-filled tub. "Yes, sweetie, you could say I'm decent,"
she said. The bathroom door opened and Lori slipped in,
closing the door quietly behind her. Her eyes widened at the sight
of her mother in the bath, "I thought you were done! You said you
were dressed," she exclaimed. "No, you asked if I was decent.
I am. I just happen to be in the bath. There are still plenty of
bubbles. What's the problem?" Lori rolled her eyes and
sighed, "None, I guess". The tap on the door, the whispered
request to enter and Lori's quick capitulation on the question of
decency were indications to Chantal that Lori had a request and
wanted her mother receptive. Lori nibbled the inside of her
bottom lip. Taking a breath she said, "Mom, do I really have to go
to Uncle Dan's tonight? We go every year, it's getting boring and
I'd really like to go to the ski party with Eric." "We've
already discussed this. New Year's Eve at Daniel's is pretty much a
tradition and I am not any more comfortable now with this ski party
idea than I was a few days ago, so the answer is still no."
"But, like, this party is really important to me and Eric. It's
our one month anniversary and this way we can be together on the
exact day. It'll be SO much fun at the ski party tonight and it'll
be even more special because of our anniversary." "Whoa,"
said Chantal. "Since when are you two dating exclusively?"
Lori twisted a strand of hair around her index finger. "Well, we
have lunch together all the time at the ski hill, we ski together
when we're done teaching and we met up at the theatre when I went
to the movies last week. We can't really see each other during the
week because he's at school in Montreal, but we are together on the
weekends." "Alright, hear me out again," Chantal said. "One,
we missed last year at Dan's so I really want to be there this
year. There are friends I want to see, your cousins will be there,
there will be other people your age to hang out with. "Two,
it's New Year's Eve. Every yahoo and his brother will be out on the
roads, drinking and driving. I don't want you out there in a car,
with kids I hardly know, however responsible they may be.
"And three, since we are sleeping at Dan's, you will be up here on
your own. Again, not with kids I don't know, no adults around,
moving from place to place. The answer is no." "But, Mom,"
said Lori, looking mutinous, "we're just gonna grab a pizza and
probably go to someone's house." "Pizza, where? I can't
imagine this group will bypass the bars, you're underage and I
don't want you in one. And go to whose house? Will the parents be
home? What will the sleeping arrangements be?" Lori blew out
an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. "It's like you don't trust
me. I'm not going to do anything stupid, I just want to spend my
New Year's Eve with Eric." "Sweetie, I do trust you. It's
everyone else out there that I'm worried about. I don't know these
kids. I don't know how hard they party. And, I will be an hour's
drive away if anything happens. "Anyway," continued Chantal
reasonably, "if you insist on spending the evening with Eric, why
don't you ask him to join us? You'd have lots of time with each
other, there will be plenty of food, he can have a few beers and
I'm sure Daniel won't mind finding a bed for him." Lori
looked at her mother as if she had just suggested having a tooth
extracted. Throwing her hands in the air, she burst out, "Mom,
that's so lame! I can't ask him to come to a family thing on New
Year's Eve! He won't know anybody. It wouldn't be cool, he'd think
I'm a geek!" Shooting a filthy look at her mother, Lori ran
her fingers through her hair. "If you won't let me go to the ski
party with Eric, I'll just stay home." Chantal raised her
eyebrows, "I don't think so. I bend over backwards to accommodate
your activities, sports and social life. I would appreciate a
little effort in return from you. Tonight we are going to Daniel's,
there will be family and friends there and I want you with us. Eric
is welcome to join us if it is so important you spend time with
him. It's your choice, invite him or not. You are not going to the
ski party, that's final." "I don't believe this," muttered
Lori. "You are ruining the first shot at a decent New Year's Eve
I've ever had!" "Well, if Daniel's tonight doesn't fit into
your plans, you can see him tomorrow. He can come for supper and
maybe you guys can go to a movie, go night skiing or something."
Lori moved towards the door, putting her hand on the doorknob.
"Going out tonight was the point, Mom," she snapped. "I can go
skiing with him anytime. New Year's Eve comes once a year!"
"Well, I'm sorry, but if you want to be together tonight, it's
going to be at your uncle's." Clicking her tongue in
frustration, Lori flung open the bathroom door and strode out.
"Close the door behind you, please," Chantal called after her,
"you're letting the warm air out." No response from Lori, but
the bathroom door was shut firmly, just short of a slam. A muffled
thump seconds later indicated that Lori's bedroom door had received
the same treatment.
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