“Just be nice,” he said. “Don’t give her any shit about it. If you don’t have anything nice to say to her, just keep your trap shut.”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” I said. “You might want to talk to Howie.” Dad rolled his eyes. By this time, wise-ass Howie was a fraternity king at a big university in the southeast and could be counted on to be a first-class dick in most situations.
“If your brother says anything out of line,” my dad said, “you let me know.”
Jenny had difficult travel connections and was one of the last to arrive in the evening of the first day of the re-union. Grandma, an old school bigot, made a point of ignoring her. Aunts and uncles, for the most part, were polite but chilly. Cousins shunned her and snickered behind her back. She was putting up a brave front, but sometimes I could see the pain in her eyes.
My heart ached for her. I wanted to be the one to go to her and hug her and tell her the family still loved her, even if they were being psychotically weird about it. I wanted to but couldn’t. Last time I’d seen her was four years earlier during the Crush Phase and looking at her now dragged me back to that time. I found that I was still afraid to approach her. Or maybe I was just afraid of being ridiculed again by Howie and the gang.
On the morning of the second day, a bunch of us cousins were sitting in Grandma’s basement, shooting the shit. I was enjoying not being the little tag along anymore. By now I was the tallest, even an inch two beyond Howie. I was the extended family’s most accomplished athlete, and I had developed some swagger and confidence. Except for Howie, the older cousins treated me with deference now.
Suddenly, Jenny showed up. I remember how beautiful she looked in cute jean shorts and a pink tank top, her legs long and gorgeous.
Beautiful yes; in my eyes, probably the most beautiful girl in the world. But also, sad and anxious and in pain. Surely my cousins would see that and open their arms and hearts to her.
“Hey guys,” she said with forced cheerfulness. I admired her courage. There were a couple of grunts in response, and then everyone just clammed up, waiting as always to follow Howie’s lead. I was on my feet, leaning against a wall, while Howie and most of the rest sat in chairs. I was surprised when none of the male cousins got up and offered Jenny a seat. I would have, if I’d been seated. That was just how we were raised. Jenny pretended not to notice the disrespect and sat awkwardly on the carpeted floor.
A few heartbeats of uncomfortable silence, then…
“Don’t munch THAT rug,” said Howie to Jenny.
Everyone burst out laughing. Everyone except Jenny and me. Jenny looked shocked and terribly hurt, and then I could see tears forming. She got to her feet and headed out the door. This was too much for me.
“Jenny, wait!” I said and started after her.
“Let her go, Romeo,” said Howie, and the room exploded in a new round of laughter. Which faded when rage seized me, and I stomped over to Howie. He rose to face me.
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