Excerpt from "Dear Diary"

July 19
Dear Diary,
Happy Birthday, Deirdre. We're sorry to tell you this, honey, but your mother and I aren't compatible.
My dad moved out today. He and Mom have been quiet the past few days, and I learned it was because they're separating but didn't want to tell me until after my birthday. It's 3 days past so I guess they thought it was time. You'd think they'd have discovered their differences before now. I mean, they've been married eighteen years. I'm sixteen. And now, they're not happy? Maybe it's just a phase they're going through. I hope.

***

August 22
School started this week and I'm so busy, I don't miss Dad quite as much, but it's not the same without him. I'm embarrassed to talk to my friends about my parents. So I haven't told anyone. I keep hoping...if I pretend everything is okay, maybe it will be.

***

October 23
Dear Diary,
Divorce sucks. My mom and dad's divorce is final today. It's not like dad has been around much since they filed, or even before since he travels a lot. But this big old house seems emptier now.
He picked up his last cardboard box of stuff yesterday, and there's dust on the wide wooden windowsill where it sat for months. Mom wouldn't go near it. I don't think she wanted to smell his shaving lotion. A half-empty bottle was in there, along with some other things that look useless. Mom said he left them here for spite, whatever she means by that.
He said he'll come to see me just as often, maybe more. Mom says he's trying to buy my affection because every time he comes, he brings me something. He doesn't need to buy it. I love him. I think he's bringing gifts because he feels guilty. He was the one who wanted out of the marriage, but of course, no one's told me why. You'd think I was a child instead of a sixteen-year-old who's smart enough to make the honor roll and popular enough to date the captain of the football team. Yes, I'm smiling about that.

***

December 15
Josh, the football captain, is history. He was too stuck on himself. That's what Mom always said about Dad and I never knew what she meant. Now, I know. Josh likes talking about his problems and triumphs and doesn't care to hear mine. It doesn't matter about him. I was never crazy about football anyway. But I still miss my father. He and Josh are nothing alike that I can see.
My mother had a date the other night and he was a real creep. Suit and tie, narrow glasses and--he wore his hair in a comb-over. Color me embarrassed! She's lost her mind! Mom's pretty cool and could do better, but he works in the same office and took her to hear the symphony. She's into highbrow stuff. Dad never was. Now that they're divorced, mom works full time, so I don't see her much.
My mother predicts my father will be first to marry again (even though he came after the cardboard box I learned was full of souvenirs from their dating days). I hope neither of them marries before I go to college. Is two years between spouses too much to ask? I think not.

***

January 1
Dear Diary,
New year, new day, same old life. Christmas was a disaster. I had to visit both families: Mom's with her, and Dad's with him. At each gathering, everyone acted as if my other parent had died.
Dad gave me a stuffed ape four feet tall. I have to agree with Mom that it looks hideous sitting in my feminine bedroom. I'd rather have had a handheld ebook reader, so I could read in bed at night when I have trouble sleeping. I sure dropped enough hints but he didn't get them. (He used to call me "monkey" when I was little, so I think he meant the gift to be sentimental.)
Mom gave me nothing but clothes and while she's right, I'm not a kid, I'd have liked some fun stuff. It's a good thing this is a two-year diary because neither of them remembered to get me a new one.

***

March 30
It's good that I have a job now. No one's ever home. Mom works 40 hours, plus she's taking a class 3 nights a week. Dad is on the road more than ever, with his job. He calls once a week while he's gone. When he's in town, he asks me to go places, but it's usually on short notice. Then he acts hurt when I say I already have plans.
I like working at New-vUe. I can exercise and tan free, and a lot of guys from HS workout there. Some of them joke and flirt and it's fun but I'm not serious about anyone. I don't want to marry before I'm 30. I don't want to find out years later I made a mistake.

***

May 23
Dear Diary,
My dad wants me to meet someone tomorrow night. A woman, he said over the phone and I've felt like throwing up ever since. I could tell by his voice that it's someone he's serious about. Her name is Heidi. Now, isn't that a juvenile-sounding name? She's probably a bimbo. I told him I was busy and he said, "Change your plans." He sounded very authoritative, like he has the right to tell me what to do. And would you believe? Mom backed him up. Sort of. Actually, she said, "Go, Deirdre. Get it over with. This isn't going away. Your dad has been looking for someone who shares his interests, and if it's not her, it will be someone else."
I asked, "What interests?"
Mom said, "I don't know, but he said we had nothing in common."
Parents always talk in riddles. No wonder they can't get along when neither of them makes sense.
I think I'm breaking out in hives. Maybe if I do, I won't have to go. Dad might be afraid I have something Heidi could catch.