Если я останусь

           Becauseeventhoughhehadbluehairandtattoosandworeleatherjacketsandworkedinarecordstore,hewantedtomarryMombackatatimewhentherestoftheirfriendswerestillhavingdrunkenone-nightstands."Girlfriendissuchastupidword,"hesaid."Icouldn’tstandcallingherthat.So,wehadtogetmarried,soIcouldcallher‘wife.’"

           Mom,forherpart,hadamessed-upfamily.Shedidn’tgointothegorydetailswithme,butIknewherfatherwaslonggoneandforawhileshehadbeenoutoftouchwithhermother,thoughnowwesawGrandmaandPapaRichard,whichiswhatwecalledMom’sstepfather,acoupletimesayear.

           SoMomwastakennotjustwithDadbutwiththebig,mostlyintact,relativelynormalfamilyhebelongedto.SheagreedtomarryDadeventhoughthey’dbeentogetherjustayear.Ofcourse,theystilldidittheirway.Theyweremarriedbyalesbianjusticeofthepeacewhiletheirfriendsplayedaguitar-feedback-heavyversionofthe"WeddingMarch."Thebrideworeawhite-fringedflapperdressandblackspikedboots.Thegroomworeleather.

           Theygotpregnantwithmebecauseofsomeoneelse’swedding.OneofDad’smusicbuddieswho’dmovedtoSeattlehadgottenhisgirlfriendpregnant,sotheyweredoingtheshotgunthing.MomandDadwenttothewedding,andatthereception,theygotalittledrunkandbackatthehotelweren’tascarefulasusual.Threemonthslatertherewasathinbluelineonthepregnancytest.

           Thewaytheytellit,neitherfeltparticularlyreadytobeparents.