October 15, 2021

We made it upstairs and made it to Eloise’s room. Her room was slightly more than double the size of mine and Julie’s. Her room resembled that of a princess but wasn’t tacky, and some features highlighted her interests, like some throw pillows on the mini couch that had pi written out.

I took a seat on the couch and then looked at Eloise, who had a castigated expression and said, “So am I going to get an explanation because I know the difference between well-off and rich, and based on what I have seen, it is definitely the latter. P.S despite my calm exterior, I am freaking out on the inside.”

Looking guilty, Eloise says, “I am really sorry. I should have told you sooner; I just never found the right time or words. I have learned to be pretty privy about how much my family’s worth is based on some past experiences with some ex-friends and boyfriends. I was going to tell you on the way here, but I got sidetracked. I know what you are thinking. I know you’re not a gold digger or anything.”

I think for a moment, “Okay, you are forgiven. But not going to lie; I am pretty annoyed you didn’t tell me beforehand but given your past experiences, I understand. Besides, it’s not like you have ever looked down on me”

 “I actually do look down on Minerva; you are only 4.7,” Eloise said with a shit-eating grin.

“Shut the fuck up, Miss Crosswire. I am 4.8.”

“As always, your cursing is such an amusing contrast.”

I rolled my eyes and said, “Why, thank you for the kind words. But are you going to explain anything yet?”

“Sorry, okay, on to the explanation. So, my family is kind of famous. Since the 1930s, my family has been running a hotel chain called the Lapwing Hotels. There are locations across Europe and Latin America. My family has stakes in other things, but the main focus is on the hotels and the event-planning company my aunt created two generations ago. My cousin Esmeralda will take over next year,” Eloise explained while showing me pictures.

“Wow, but what is it that your dad does?”

“My dad is the COO, so he has to travel constantly; his traveling has lessened during the height of the pandemic, but most of the time, he was locked in his office, and now that it has gotten a little better, it has gone back to usual,” Eloise said frowning.

“How do you feel about that?”

“Honestly, I always appreciated the independence and financial support my dad has given me. But it gets lonely with my dad being gone most of the time and only being here when it comes to special events or if I get into trouble. Abigail is here, and she is great, but I sometimes want the only parent I have to be around more. I haven’t told you about my bio mom, right?”

“Nope, you haven’t. If you don’t feel comfortable telling me, it’s okay.”

“No, I trust you. My dad met my mom when he was 23. They had a short relationship that lasted around two months until they realized they weren’t really interested in each other. My bio mom found out she was pregnant with me five months after their split. She wasn’t interested in being a mother, but my dad, so he got custody of me, and she got a sizable check as compensation.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah, when I was 14, my dad told me, and I wanted to meet her and get to know her, but after meeting her, it was clear she didn’t want to form a relationship. I understood that I wouldn’t want motherhood to be forced upon me, but at the same time, it stung, which is why I always want to spend more time with my dad.

“I get up from where I was sitting and give Eloise a hug. “Hey, if you get lonely, you are always welcome in my house. Besides, your dad does care. He was talking about you and wished he could spend more time with you when he spoke.

“Thanks, Minerva. You’re my best friend.”

“Really? Even though you knew me for like two months.”

“Even though we haven’t known each other for a long time, I still consider you my best friend even though your favorite ice cream flavor is mint chip.”

Rolling my eyes, I then think for a moment, and I realize that the feeling was mutual. I haven’t had a really close friendship with someone since high school. I did make two friends during the Gilbert Program’s summer bridge program when I was a freshman, but now I only see them occasionally around the college. Since the start of this semester, I have spent a lot of time with Nova and Eloise. Despite our differences, I have gotten along and grown to trust them, especially Eloise.

 “You’re my best friend, too, Eloise.”

My statement made Eloise smile. She then turned to me and said, “Your turn.”

“My turn, for what?” I asked, now confused.

“Your turn to get whatever you are feeling off your chest.”

“I don’t have anything I need to get off my chest.”

“Minerva, I might not be as observant as you, but I do notice things.”

“Like what?”

She then grabbed my right wrist and then says, “Like how I know you are constantly snapping a rubber band on your wrist sometimes to the point it’s red as a tomato? Therefore, I can say with certainty that something is bothering you, and it’s not just about your future.

Quickly retracting my arm, I said with some annoyance, “How inquisitive of you.”

“Cut the sarcasm, Minerva. I am being serious. If you have something that is making you upset, you can tell me,” Eloise said with clear eyes as if trying to secure a business deal.

Unfortunately for me, it ended up working. I then said in a quiet voice, “I am tired…”

“What did you say? I didn’t hear you.”

“I said I am tired and feel numb most of the time. Most of the time, not all the time, I feel like I am surrounded by crazy people when I am home. My dad stopped working when I was in my last year of middle school. He managed to find temporary jobs, but nothing long-term since my second year of high school. He doesn’t have a job right now. When he initially lost his job, he would try to find ways to keep himself busy around the house, like cleaning. But as the years have gone by, he’s been in a constant state of self-pity and has basically reverted to the mentality of a child. He no longer attempts to clean around the house, and he doesn’t keep serious tabs on school matters concerning my brothers. . My mother found a job about a year after my dad lost his. My mom has to do a lot of things. She works, cooks, cleans, and takes care of us. It also takes a toll on her health and she doesn’t go to the doctor as much as she should which worries us. My mother also has anger issues which have been exasperated since she started working. Whenever my mom calls my dad out on his inactivity and careless spending, he always brings up the past when he was the one who was working. But that argument is flawed. We were in a better financial position in the past. Even then, my mother was frugal when it came to getting things we needed. Besides, bringing up the past in the present will not make anything better. Then you have my sister. She is three years older, but my parents treat me like the oldest since I am the responsible one out of my siblings. Julianne is really messy; you saw her side of the room when you came to my house and how it’s engulfing to my side. My sister rarely helps around the house; if my mother is coming back from work and my sister left a mess somewhere, she will bring Roxy down with her to distract her. Speaking of Roxy, as the years passed on, my mom had to pay more attention to Ruby than her actual owner. Don't get me wrong, my sister cares about Roxy but not as much as in the beginning. Even though my family’s financial situation got a little better with my mother working, we still had lots of bills. Since I get refunds from school, I always give whatever I can to my parents to pay for bills or anything we need. My sister doesn’t volunteer to help pay a bill. It is like pulling teeth to get even contribute $10 to the groceries she also eats. Unlike her, I don’t have a job, but I am willing to help out. She is entitled to her own money, but shouldn’t she help her family even a little, especially since she still lives at home rent-free. My dad notices this too and tries to make my mom realize that, but it falls on deaf ears and enables her. This is also hypocritical of my dad because he chides my sister on her irresponsibility and gets frustrated with how I am the one who has to be responsible for what they are lacking. But doesn’t see how his own lack of irresponsibility also contributes to the family dynamics. Because my dad and sister are not responsible, my mom considers has considered me her second and relies on me a lot. Then there is Issac and Lucas, who live in their own worlds, oblivious to whatever is going on in the world. They showed little interest in school even before the pandemic. My sister and I always suspected they had ADHD, given how they behaved, but my parents never paid it any mine. It wasn’t till this year that my parents took them to a specialist, but they only went once and never followed up. I don’t know what my brothers are going to do. Everyone in the family also comes to me to rant about the things that frustrate them about one another. All that then contributes to anxiousness and adds to my stress from school and the world being shitty. I love school, it is kind of the only thing I have, but I sometimes put too much pressure on myself to get good results and don’t ask for help. I don’t even have the foggiest idea of what I am going to do when I graduate. I am just so tired of everything. I feel depressed but doesn’t everybody? I feel like I am going to break at some point. Sorry, I think I am crying,” I said, trying to hold back my tears with little success and my breathing getting erratic.

“Minerva, name five romance movies.”

“What?”

“Name five romance movies.”

“Shakespeare in Love, 10 Things I Hate About You, Notting Hill, Sleepless in Seattle, and Pretty Woman”

“Name five horror movies.”

“The Conjuring, The Ring, The Wailing, Cabin in the Woods, Scream, and Ready or Not.”

“Do you feel less anxious now?”

“Yeah.”

Eloise then scoots over and hugs me. “If you feel like crying, cry. You have every right to feel the way you do. I don’t know if things will get better, and I know the future is unknown, but I can assure you I will be there for you.” Eloise said with the utmost seriousness I have ever heard her speak.

“Thanks, Eloise,” I said, wiping the tears from my eyes with some tissues that Eloise passed me.

“I mean it. Whether you need a shoulder to cry on, a place to stay to get away from your family, or if you are comfortable, I could always lend you money. Also, I could introduce you to a therapist, and you can do some sessions here, so you don’t have to worry about privacy,” Eloise said.

“I appreciate it, Eloise I might take you up on the last offer.”

“Great let me know if you do would you like another hug?”

I appreciated the asking for permission. When I entered high school, people would hug me without asking since they thought I was cute.

“Yeah,” I said, and Eloise gave me a hug.

After regaining my composure, Eloise gave me a tour of her house. There were eight bedrooms; five were guest rooms, while the other three belonged to Eloise, her dad, and Abigail. In addition to her dad’s home office, there was also a pantry, wine cellar, and laundry room. She then showed me the backyard, where there was a large pool, a grill, and some lounge chairs.

After the tour, we returned to Eloise’s room. I then remembered that Eloise should have gotten back her results for her ANTH 100 midterm.

“Eloise, did you get your results for your ANTH 100 midterm results back?”

“I did give me one minute,” She said as she got up and went into her backpack; she then walked back and passed me a folder.

I opened the folder and saw her midterm exam with an 80%. “Eloise, you did so well." My comment causes a bashful smile on Eloise’s face. As I was putting her exam back in the folder, I noticed a blue packet protruding from the back of the folder. I glance and see that it’s the work packet given in ANTH 100. I then remember that when I took this class, one of the tasks in the work packet was observing the behavior of lemurs and macaques at the zoo.

“Hey Eloise, have you done your animal observation yet?”

My question makes Eloise’s eyes grow large in dawning horror. “You forgot about it, didn’t you?”

“Yeah…” She said with some unease in her voice.

“When is it due?”

“October 20,” She said with slightly wincing.

“Eloise, that’s next week!”

“I know, I forgot.”

“When do you think you can go?”

“I am going to have to go tomorrow since I don’t have enough time the other days. Oh, you should come with me!”

“Why?”

“Come on, I know you hate being outside, but you also like cute animals. Pretty please, going to the zoo alone is awkward.”

“I don’t know….”

“I will take my car, and I will buy you lunch.”

I think for a moment, “Sold.”

“Great, do you think we should invite Nova would want to go?”

“I don’t know; let me text her.”

I texted Nova, and she said she could not since she was going to celebrate a friend’s birthday but to take some pictures so she could use them as a reference for one of her classes.

After telling Eloise, Nova’s answer. We continued watching our program until my mother told me its time to come home. Eloise dropped me off and came in with me to tell my parents about our plans for tomorrow and our expected departure time. They agreed so long as Eloise and I were careful.