Excerpt from "Dear Diary," found in No Rain, No Rainbows

by Betty Jo Schuler

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.

***