Well, Becky is here. It is SO good to see her! She arrived earlier than expected on Thursday.

(That pen wasn’t working)

We talked a lot that night. She kept me up with insults until one. For some reason, I don’t remember her that way. I suppose, I just remember the good things about her.

Anyway, yesterday, I tried out for parts in drama–I hope I gut Fryer Luck! (spin off of Robin Hood). That’s a pretty big part. Summer school is great.

That afternoon, we went to Emily’s. From there, we took off for Santa Cruz 4 her birthday partee. Natalie and Becky got along pretty well and the ride was really cool. We were all on a sugar high and practically bouncing off the walls. When we reached our destination, we stopped at the cabin, where we’re staying. Then we hopped into the car and went to Taco Bell. From there we went to the Beach Boardwalk. We got the wristbands and went on the sky rides.

I was tired since I’d gotten up at six that morning. Em went on with Beck and Nat + I went together. I guess I was a little pissed at Em then. She seemed to be competeing 4 Beck’s attention. We kept going on rides. It was a cold night. To me, M was acting buddy-buddy with both Nat and Beck. I felt majorly left out. I felt as if, after they chose people to go on rides with, the one left would go with me. There were times when I could have burst out crying.

Natalie was singing all night and I didn’t mind at all. But every time I started to sing with them, I was told to go into acting, not singing. It just hurt me ’cause it’s not like I can help it. It just pissed me off, cause I was putting up with them. I guess I felt inferior cause I can’t sing and they can. But they don’t have to rub my face in it! So I sorta zoned them out. Or tried to.

I just wanted to go home and cry. Then we went on the Giant Dipper. I should have had fun on the ride, since it’s named after me. They even have a restaurant that’s named after me: Dipper Diner! Anyway, sometime during the course of the evening, Nat and M decided that they’d go on the roller coaster together. Beck hates roller coasters, so once again, I’m left out. We were going to get seats close together, but it didn’t work. I got stuck next to some guy. As we were climbing toward the top, I felt the tears stinging my eyes. I almost let them fall. I know that when M reads this, she’s going to apologize and give me a hug. I’ll say it’s ok. I’m tired of being fucking left out. OK, so may be I wasn’t the best company, but every single group trip I go on, I’m

ALWAYS

left out. You would not believe how much anger I have at this. I understand that no one means for it to happen, but it does! I go on the trips, hoping that it’ll be better than the last one. But each one seems to get worse and worse. I swear I’m not going to go on anymore. They’re just not fun.

Anyway, the rest of the time at the board walk was ok. I tried to enjoy myself. I guess I did a little. One thing that REALLY pissed me off was that after we got off the Dipper, Em’s dad talked to her almost immediately, she tried to cheer me up. But the only reason she tried, was because her dad told her to. And Em, don’t say that it’s not true, cause it is, and you know it.

That night, when the lights were off, Em + Nat were talking on their cots. I was with Becky on the sofa bed. It seemed as if no one wanted to sleep by me. And right now, I’m just so hurt I know that tomorrow I’ll brush it off and say it was nothing but it is. I’m tired of not being liked. It’s happened to me so many times. I just feel unloved by my friends. I wish it wasn’t so, but it is.

When they joke around saying, “Aw, I don’t want to sit by HER!” There is a limit. And this weekend, they went beyond the limit every time we chose places or something. I would hear the same line about me and after awhile, it just hurts. I’m not that sensitive, but these are my best friends! They’re the one’s who are supposed to support me, not make fun of me! But I don’t think I’ll change. This morning I didn’t feel resentful to Emily anymore. But then it started again. We went garage sale shopping and it was quite boring. Emily barely said one word to me, everyone else but not me, and that just added to my pile of reasons why I was pissed at her.

Then we went to the cottage and then to the beach. Becky wouldn’t get wet and Nat wasn’t going to go in as far as I wanted to so that left me + M. I did not feel like spending time with her. I suggested that we should take off our t-shirts so we wouldn’t have to worry about getting them wet. She didn’t want to. Then ten min. or so later, she took hers off. I know it’s really stupid, but that pissed me off. It’s like, the idea sucks when I think of it, but a little later, it’s a wonderful idea, just as long as I didn’t think of it.

Then a little later, she wants to talk to me. She says that since Becky wasn’t having any fun, she and I should take turns cheering her up and taking time out of our own fun time! I felt like saying, “I’m not having a fun time at all, so how can I take time out of it, to cheer Beck up?!!!” But I didn’t, mostly because I didn’t think of the line til after she talked to me. Soon we left.

The ride home was pretty good. It’s a really long drive! We had tons of candy and we were all sick. I forgot about my anger towards M. But now it has returned. And now, I’m out of room in my diary and have no money to buy a new one. My life just keeps getting worse and worse. The line of problems is a leaky faucet–it never stops leaking new problems! And I keep crossing my t’s!

Ice skating was cool. Dave got there forty min. after Nat + me. Nat was in her lesson, so I had to make conversation with him. It went badly. But overall the day was ok. I felt pretty left out, but I’ve come to accept that. I still like him.

Summer school is soo cool! In art we have to sketch on our own and I’m very into it! I exell in art. Drama’s different. I’m having a wonderful time doing pantomime and such. It’s so easy to perform. I love it!

Becky is going to here

TOMORROW!

I can hardly believe it! But I can’t wait! I miss her so badly. I just hope we still have stuff in common…

I’m writing on binder paper because I left my diary at Emily’s. I felt that today was to important to write in later.

Well, I guess I’ll begin. At noon Mom asked me to clean my room. Dad was gone, and would be back at 1. So she came in at 12:30, and yelled at me for not getting it done. I had just started on it. We stood there yelling at each other for awhile. Then she left. About five minutes later Mom came back. She told me that if Dad and her got divorced it would be my fault for not cooperating at all. I thought she was just threatening me.

Later, she asked me if I would be coming to Colorado with her or staying here with Dad. I asked her what she meant. She told me that they might be splitting up. I felt like crying then and there but I waited till she left. Then I cried into my pillow for awhile. Then she came in again. She talked to me about it as I cried. After about ten minutes, we asked for a miracle and then she left. Dad got home but I barely talked to him. My eyes were all red.

Dad and Mom sat in their room talking for quite awhile. Almost an hour. I listened for awhile, but after awhile I just couldn’t. Mom and Dad went to the grocery store awhile later to get lunch. We had a huge meal around 4. Mom and Dad seemed to be getting along. At six, I made cookies. At seven we watched “Upstairs Downstairs”, a T.V. show. Mom and Dad were sitting hella close together. For awhile they were holding hands. Later Mom told me that it probably wouldn’t happen. I’m scared, though. Throughout my childhood, I’d ask Dad after a fight between them, if they we’re going to get a divorce. He said, no, of course not. Then I made him promise that they wouldn’t ever get one.

I just never thought that my parents would get a divorce. They still might not. Things seem pretty normal around here. I’m just praying…

That’s not the only thing going on around here, but it’s definately the most upsetting. Tomorrow is the 4th of July. I wanted to do something with the “cool group,” but it looked like it wasn’t going to happen. Anyway last night, Dave called. I broke out in a sweat after he said who it was. He told me that the plan for the 4th is that everybody goes to his house at about 7:00 or 7:15 that night. We’d go swimming at nine, we’d go the the end of the street and watch the fireworks. Then we’d go back to his house and eat dessert. Parents would pick us up at around 10:15.

I really want to go. But when I learned about my parents, I shouldn’t go with them because it might be one of the last family activities. Not to mention the fact that Dad said I couldn’t go. I really want to, though. I need to get away. Every time I see one of my parents, I get scared. I need to have some fun with my friends, and quickly! I’m going crazy I swear! But I won’t push it, in case it would just cause more trouble between my parents.

I just pray for a miracle…

Well, it couldn’t exactly be classified as a double date. It was more of a get together with 2 girls + 2 guys, at the movies. Emily and I came together and the guys came together. We got there at 2:30, which was when we had agreed to meet. We bought our tickets 4 the 2:40 showing of City Slickers 2, and headed into the lobby. We bought food at the concession stand, and proceeded towards a bench to wait 4 the guys. It was about 2:35.

We waited. Emily went to the bathroom and returned. Soon after we spotted the guys. They bought their tickets and joined us in the lobby. After Doug had bought food, the three of us ditched Dave and began to enter the theatre. Quickley Dave caught up with us. We strolled down the aisle looking 4 an emty row. There were a great many of them. We chose one. Emily took the second seat from the aisle, I grabbed the one on her right. Em shoved Doug into the aisle said which forced Dave to sit next to me.

After a few previews, a sad advertisement for the garbage can came on. Everyone remarked at how pathetic it was. I had bought Sour Patch Kids. About 20 minutes into the movie, I accidentally inhaled a few grams of sweet n’ sour sugar. The effect was a few sneezes.

About halfway through the movie Dave’s Reese’s Pieces spilled all over. Dave’s face was a tomato and Doug doubled over with laughter. Em struggled to keep from laughing and I laughed slightly and asked Dave what happened.

A while later the movie ended. The guys went to the bathroom and after realizing that that was where they had gone, we went there too. Em’s mom had been waiting outside for forty minutes and was not very happy. We dropped Dave off and went to Doug’s house. He told us that he was planning to move near Dave. Doug went bye-bye. We went to M’s house and then to ours. And now my feelings on the matter:

Wasn’t that account of my adventure just fascinating? I’m really wierd. Anyway all morning I was really nervous. But everything turned out OK. I’m not even dissapointed. I mean he couldn’t have asked me out. It was just a movie. Did you know that Dave’s brother was fifteen and that he has made all four of the holes in the walls of Dave’s house? the holes all happened because his brother was pissed at Dave. Emily made a complete and utter fool of herself in the car. Just Joking. (kinda!) I had a really great time today. I can’t wait till next time!

Ciao!

[Note: In the latest of adolescent Jen’s “gimmick” entries, the first page of the following prose is written right to left, in the fashion of Arabic calligraphy]

Directions: Hold to mirror and read!

Do you like my writing? I’m doing something different again. I’m getting good at it. Anyway, Emily called me this morning. She said that since Nat couldn’t go to the movie, Doug asked if she’d go by herself. So Em was going to go on a real date! But they didn’t go. Nat can’t go tomorrow or Fri. So M (Em) is going tomorrow (with Doug of course!) To-night we were talking on the phone. She asked if I wanted to go. I said yes, so she called Dave.

(I’m tired of writing backwards)

So now Dave and I are going on a double date with M + Doug. Of course he doesn’t know it’s a double date–Em asked if he wanted to go to the movies with her me + Doug. But technically it’s a first date. Except that in order for it to be a “date”, Dave has to ask me, or we are going out. Or I ask him. Here’s how the seating arrangement is supposed to be:

[    ][    ][    ][Dave][ Me ][  M ][Doug]|aisle|<—–chairs

It’s going to be majorly obvious that we’re being set up. M’s going to say that she wants to sit by me + Doug and since Doug has the aisle seat, Dave has to sit next to me. I pray everything works out. We’re going to go see “Getting even with Dad.” It’s a comedy starring Maccauley Culkin. I’m really nervous.

Today at ice-skating there was a guy about our age. He was semi-cute. He had his own skates and was hella good at hockey skating. Anyway, he kept sitting on the wall, looking too solemn. So Nat dared me to go over to him and ask him his name.

So I finally did it. It was Mark. A while later I was dared by Nat to go over, wave to him and say “hi, Mark!” Well, I did it. His younger brother was there and after some investigating, I found out that his name was Isaac and that Mark likes Dr. Pepper. It was so funny! It gave ice skating a twist.

I don’t know what to do about the movie tomorrow. I’m so nervous. What will happen? I can’t count my chickens before they’re hatched, so nothing’s certain.

In an effort to look good, I braided my wet hair tonight. If it doesn’t look good, I can just brush the crimps out and look normal. I hope everything works out. Wish me luck!