Big Fat Disaster by Beth Fehlbaum Page A

Portland. She’s going to be a lawyer, just like your grandpa. Get yourself on the right track again, and maybe you can do the same. Bring
pride
to our family, not
shame
.”
    “
That’s it!
” Leah bolted out of her chair and gestured to Ryan to follow her. “I
knew
it was a mistake to come here! Just when I start to forget why I avoid this fucked-up family, you people remind me!”
    She stomped over to the picnic table, tossed their potato salad into her ice chest, and told Ryan to take it to their car. As they sped away, Ryan rolled down his window and gave us all a one-fingered salute.
    About the time they rounded the corner, Uncle Dale’s wife, Judy, clucked her tongue. “You’d
think
a woman her size wouldn’t wear tank tops in public.”
    “The way you acted like her best friend, I’m a little surprised to hear you say that,” Mom said snidely.
    “Oh,
please
. I wouldn’t be seen talking to her in public. What would people think if they associated me with her? She looks like a…a…biker chick!” Aunt Judy collapsed into giggles, and Mom and Rachel joined in.
    “Can I come out now?” Drew called from the doorway of the motor coach.
    “Yes, it’s safe,” Dad grinned. “The biker chick has left the building,” he said, sounding like a World Wrestling Federation announcer.
    Drew cocked her head. “Huh?” The adults laughed, and she gave an adorable smile, flipped her hair from side to side like Mom does, and practically skipped down the motor coach steps.
    Grandma opened her arms; Drew ran into them, and she was enveloped in a White Diamonds–scented cloud.

    I brush my teeth, then sit at Mom’s desk and eat a couple sleeves of Pop Tarts while I search the Internet for Piney Creek, Texas.
    Mom and Drew come through the back door carrying a few Walmart bags.
    “Good morning, sunshine!” Mom smiles—like, she really
smiles
—for the first time since I saw her standing next to Dad when he was shaking hands with supporters at his rally about ten days ago. Feels like it’s been a lifetime.
    I wonder if she’s about to go crazy again. “
You’re
in a good mood.”
    Mom pops the top on a diet soda and takes a sip. “I spent time in prayer last night. I’ve handed our future over to the Lord.”
    “Hmm.” I look up from reading the
Piney Creek Chamber of Commerce
website. “Aunt Leah called. She said it’s cool if we live in the trailer behind her house.” I watch Mom’s face to see if this statement strikes her as odd.
    It doesn’t seem to; Mom looks relieved as she empties the plastic sacks. “See there? Prayer works! I’ll call her back in a sec.”
    I log off the computer and lean back in the chair with my feet on the desk. “So…you
want
to move to Piney Creek?” I gesture to the monitor. “Have you
seen
Piney Creek?”
    Her eyebrows bump up and she shrugs. “Well, the offer of a place for us means I don’t have to ask your grandma or Uncle Dale to let us live with them. It’s not like I’m overflowing with family to rely on.”
    Drew kicks off her flip-flops and sits cross-legged on the sofa. “I thought we didn’t like Aunt Leah and Ryan. You and Aunt Judy made fun of her for looking like a biker chick, and everybody said it’s Ryan’s fault that he got beat up, ’cause he has a big mouth just like Aunt Leah.”
    Mom crosses to the coffee table, picks up the TV remote, and clicks it On. She doesn’t look at us but mumbles, “I didn’t say that.”
    Drew insists, “Yes, you did! Remember? Remember, Mama? You, Aunt Judy, and Grandma were trying to figure out why she got all those tattoos, and Uncle Dale, Grandpa, and Daddy kept talking about how she already ruined Ryan.”
    Mom stares, trancelike, flipping the channels, but going so fast that there’s no way she could be seeing each TV show.
    “…Mama?” Drew just doesn’t know when to give up. “…Mama? Didn’t you say that?”
    I whisper, “Drew! Knock it off!” I catch her eye and shake my head.
    Drew