The Norm His house was the envy of the neighborhood. A massive seven bedrooms, six bathrooms and a sprawling green yard greeted him each day after school. Today however, he was quickly ushered to the patio and forced to sit on the marble bench. It was mid-December, which meant feigning happiness for family portraits. He hated taking pictures. They still gazed at each other with that sickeningly love struck stare made famous by archetypal lovers in corny movies. Joey was sick of it. For his seventh birthday, all Joey asked for was for his parents to separate. “Why can’t you just be normal?” He tried to ask them. “But don’t you like having mommy and daddy living in the same house?” They really weren’t that bright. If his parents separated, Joey would get two Christmas’ just like Timothy. He could even get another summer house on the Cape, if his parents felt really guilty. Joey knew his father would be the one to immediately resort to buying Joey’s affection, so he would only have to work on his mother. She was more righteous than his father. When given the opportunity, she always made him share toys and snacks at school. It made him sick to his stomach. He could finally join the ranks of the divorce-greats. No longer could Claire taunt him with her two puppies – one at each house. He could have three if he really threw a fit. Jordon wouldn’t be able to tease him with the garage his father converted to a game room. Joey could easily have two game room, plus one in the summer house. So Joey sat as far away from his parents and the photographer as possible. He hated this time of year. The holidays meant family portraits. His parents insisted on taking a new family photo every year to go on the Christmas card. They picked out matching sweaters and forced him to sit, smiling in front of the gazebo in the backyard. Joey couldn’t take it anymore.
Pillars of Salt 51
