Infestation: A Small Town Nightmare (6 page)

Sylvia's face now revealed more shame
than anger.

Marie wasn't finished yet. "You also
said that I don't give a damn about my brothers and sisters, but
who did everyone turn to anytime they needed any type of support,
regardless of how perfectly you had brain-washed them against me?
I've done so much for all of you and have loved each one of you in
spite of how much it hurt—as I have no good memories as a member of
this family. All I ever got back in return for my love and kindness
was immense pain, jealousy and back-biting. And you know what? She
glanced around the table. "I will still be here for all of you."
Marie stood up and looked at Steven. "Thank you for inviting me
here tonight, Steven. This episode reminded me of the very reason
I've stayed away for so long. And just so you all know without a
shadow of a doubt… this is the last time I will ever step foot
inside of this house again. It was evident when we came here that
we were not welcome." She looked at Sylvia. "My own mother wasn't
glad to see me. But that's okay; I'm leaving with my family." Marie
left the table and Amy quickly followed her.

Dave got up. "I convinced Marie to
come here today, but after what I've just witnessed… I really wish
that I didn't. Nothing she ever said to me could have painted a
clearer picture of what I just saw with my own two eyes and heard
for myself. I have never in my life come across a group of people
like you who go by the name 'family'. Sylvia, you said earlier that
the people of this town have gone berserk—that you don't know what
their problem is. Well, being here today, I understand, at least,
in part: No one seems to love each other anymore; no one looks out
for the other person like people used to back in the day; no one
cares about other people's feelings; everyone has gotten so sickly
selfish that they're walking around seeing no one's problems, no
one's pain, no one's heartaches except their own. The problem
around here is that there are too many people just like you and I
thank God, it's not every day that such people cross my path." He
dropped his napkin and stormed out of the house.

Sylvia, Jan and Vera sat in consummate
shock. Marie had never stood up to their mother like that and had
never expressed herself in that way. Steven looked at his mother
and sisters with disgust. "You should all be ashamed of
yourselves—each one of you. This is not what was supposed to
happen. Mom, I can't believe you did that!" He shook his head, then
hurried outside.

"Marie, wait!" Steven called as they
were about to pull off. He ran over to her side of the
car.

Marie rolled down the
window.

"Look, all of you… I'm really sorry
about that. I had no idea that Mom would react that
way."

Marie knew he was sincere.

"I'm glad you stood up to her like
that." He added. "She's probably in there trying to pick up her jaw
off the floor."

They all managed a chuckle.

"It's okay, Steven," Marie replied. "I
know you were just trying to smooth things over so that we could
act like a real family. At least you tried."

"Please don't allow this to push you
even further away, Marie. I want us all to be close like Dad always
wanted us to be." Steven was almost pleading.

"I can't be close to people who barely
tolerate me, Steven. I don't deserve to be treated that way. I
cannot give any more than I've already given emotionally. They
treat me like a reject and I'm not taking it anymore. I won't allow
their toxic behavior to destroy me. Now, we really have to
go."

Steven started to back
away.

"We'll be seeing you, Steven," Dave
said.

"Okay."

"Bye, Uncle Steven," Amy hailed from
the back seat.

"Bye, princess. I love you!" Steven
waved. He looked at Marie again. "Please don't be a stranger. Call
me sometimes, okay?"

"Okay," Marie answered
softly.

Steven stood on the driveway as they
drove off into the distance. Instead of going back inside the
house, he pulled out his car keys and left without saying a
word.

"Mom, you were really great in there,"
Amy said.

"Thanks, sweetheart. I'm sorry you had
to witness that," Marie replied.

Dave glanced at Marie. "I think she
needed to. Amy can now understand, based on what she saw tonight,
that she was never the problem—but they are. They always treated
her the way they did because they have serious issues they need to
resolve within themselves. Everything happens for a reason and in
every bad situation, something good can come out of it."

Marie smiled at him. "You're so full
of wisdom. Aren't you? I do believe that's what I admire most about
you."

"Really?" Dave frowned. "You mean it's
not my sexy body?"

"Ughhhhh," Amy almost barfed and they
all burst out laughing as they headed home.

END OF PART ONE

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