Holy Disunity: there is something good and useful about our differences

Holy Disunity: How what separates us can save us by Layton E. Williams is a call to “let go of the idol of unity and see the holiness in disunity” as stated by Diana Butler Bass in the foreword. Ms. Layton, a bisexual ordained Presbyterian minister, who sets out to show how we are unified in Christ and holy unity is not ours to create or to destroy. She sets out to argue for holy disunity and how we can faithfully coexist without being unified with each chapter dedicated to a challenge that we all face such as fear, doubt and tension and how it divides us and how we can use it in the Church. Through Biblical text and her own personal struggles and journey, she presents how we should embrace our differences in our life experiences, our abilities, our limitations and in our failures, so we can further the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

When I picked this book, I was intrigued by the idea of holy disunity. Ms. Williams makes a very convincing case of how the goal of “peace on earth” is not our mission. Holy Disunity is a very interesting read and while I disagreed with a few of Ms. Williams’ assertions, I found myself agreeing with her main points and thinking about how to use our differences as we strive to spread the Gospel. Just as Paul states in Romans 12:3-8 and in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, we are all one part of the a greater whole and each with different gifts and different roles. At the end of the book, she presents questions for reflection and discussion. They were thought provoking and allows the reader to apply the ideas presented in each chapter. I would have liked to see the questions at the end of each chapter so that the reflections can be done after reading the designated chapters. Overall, I enjoyed this book and Ms. Williams is heartfelt and honest in her arguments and examples for holy disunity. It is a book I will read again in the future. I recommend Holy Disunity.

Holy Disunity:

How what separates us can save us

Is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Marvel vs DC: is one really better than the other?

Last week I discussed the differences between Star Wars and Star Trek. Today I will post a comparison between DC and Marvel comic book characters. This is another polarizing debate which has fans of both fighting angrily between them about which comic is better. DC was founded in October 1935 and is currently owned by DC Entertainment which is a subsidiary of Warner Bros, which is owned by Time Warner. The first characters featured in their comics were Doc Occult and Superman. Marvel was founded by Martin Goodman in October 1939 and is currently owned by Marvel Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company. Their first characters were the Human Torch and Namor. They added Captain America during World War II. What are the similarities and differences between the two comic book giants? Why is there such a heated debate between fans?

There are many similarities between DC and Marvel comics.  First, they both feature superheroes with extra abilities. These abilities are either naturally occurring or are caused by a freak accident. These individuals usually have to conceal their true identities to protect their friends and families (Badgett, 2016). Marvel introduced the mutants of X-Men in 1963 while DC introduced the metahumans in 1986. Second, both comics features the heroes teaming up against a threat or villain. Marvel has The Avengers and X-Men to name a few and DC has The Justice League, Teen Titans and the Doom Patrol. Third, both comics have similar characters. It is common knowledge that the comic writers created characters who were similar to characters from the other comic. For example, DC’s The Flash, who was first introduced in November 1985, is similar to Marvel’s Quicksilver, who was first introduced in March 1964. Another example is Marvel’s Deadpool, who was first introduced in February 1991, is similar to DC’s Deathstroke, who was first introduced in December 1980. What makes these characters similar is their abilities and the idea that they “steal” from each other is evident in the character’s first appearances. Deadpool, whose real name is Wade Wilson, is known as the Merc with a Mouth, an antihero is a mercenary and assassin. Deathstroke, whose real name is Slade Wilson, is a mercenary who is completed the contract his son started. According to Deadpool co-creator and writer, Fabian Nicieza gave Deadpool the real name of Wade Wilson as an inside-joke to being "related" to Slade Wilson/Deathstroke. Rob Liefeld, co-creator and artist, designed Deadpool and was also a fan of the Teen Titans comic in which Deathstroke appears.

As there are similarities, there are many differences. First, DC’s characters reside in fictional cities which resemble real cities. For example, Batman fights crime in Gotham City. Superman saves the day in Metropolis and Green Lantern operates in Coast City. While Marvel characters are live in real locations, New York City being the most popular location for many characters: The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, X-Men, The Defenders and Spiderman. Second, the abilities of DC characters are often seen as gifts or blessings which calls them to action and they do their best to embrace it (Diedrick, 2016). The powers are usually developed at a young age or gifts. For example, Superman developed his powers as he grew up under the yellow sun of Earth and Wonder Woman receives her powers as a gift from the gods. In the Marvel universe, the abilities were from freak accidents or a product of evolution which are seen as curse and causing the individuals to be outcasts or seen as monsters and thus becomes a burden. For example, Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk after a lab accident and people fear the monster he becomes. Daredevil loses his sight after an accident with a radioactive substance. Upon losing his sight, he gains heightened senses. There are DC characters who receive their abilities from accidents: The Flash, Green Lantern or even a thirst for justice: Batman or Green Arrow. However, these characters are still treated as godlike figures (Diedrick, 2016). What makes the Marvel characters different is they still deal with real life issues like money, balancing responsibilities (Quora, 2014) or having a jerk of a boss (Mojo.com, 2016). Marvel characters have been featured in dealing with the aftermath of real events, like 9/11 (Mojo.com, 2016). Third, DC has cornered the market with their animation like Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) and movies like Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009), Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010), and Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) just to name a few. While Marvel has found gold in the live action movie market with the massive hit of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which DC is desperately trying to catch up to.

While there are many fans of both the DC and Marvel comics, there are many fans who deeply feel you cannot be a fan of one, if you are a fan of the other. Why? To find out, I read different message board threads and the number reason people consistently agreed with is because people get strangely territorial. Look at the different rivalries, which are simply opinion based but because a personal insult when someone challenges that opinion. Coke vs Pepsi, Ford vs Chevy, PC vs Mac, Xbox vs PlayStation, the list can go on and on. According to the individuals who posted on these threads, the majority of comic book fans like both DC and Marvel, although they had a general preference of one over the other, however, not enough to keep them from reading both. One individual said the people who force others to pick a side are either newbies, fanboys or both. These individuals are using wiki as their source material instead of the actual comics. Another individual said fans discuss, fanboys argue and when you don’t share their opinion, the argument usually leads to insult which is how you can distinguish a fan from a fanboy. FYI, a fanboy is a male fan who is obsessive about comics, music, movies, etc. and there is also fangirls too. These fans are known for their complete lack of objectivity and will usually argue in a circular logic that they refuse to acknowledge. With the wildly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the struggling DC Extended Universe (DCEU), the debate between some fans has become more polarizing than ever before.

In conclusion, I like both DC and Marvel. Both companies have been around a long time and with that time have borrowed from each other (one company has borrowed more than the other). My knowledge of the characters are from the 90s cartoons I grew up with and the current movies. I never enjoyed reading the actual comics but I enjoyed the characters. I’ve been a Superman fan since the 1990s show Lois and Clark (1993-1997) and more so with Smallville (2001-2011). I especially enjoy watching Henry Cavil as the current Superman. However, I have immensely enjoyed the MCU films much more than the DC films. But is Marvel better than DC? No, I think both comic books have their merits with different takes on the characters and stories. Most people I know who enjoy comic echo the sentiment I read in the message board threads, they like both but they are more likely to read one verses the other.

References

• Badgett, Emily. 8 Similarities between DC and Marvel. Fresh U.com. www.freshu.io/emily-badgett/8-similarities-between-dc-and-marvel. July 29, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
• Diedrick, Alex. What Comic Book Rookies Should Know About The Differences Between Marvel And DC. Uproxx. http://uproxx.com/movies/differences-between-marvel-and-dc/. March 21, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
• Mojo.com Top Ten Biggest Differences between Marvel and DC. YouTube.com www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3r2qF5_u_4. November 27, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
• Quora. Marvel vs. DC Comic Characters: How Different Are They? The Huffington Post. www.huffingtonpost.com/quora/marvel-vs-dc-comic-charac_b_5689075.html. August 19, 2014 Retrieved December 6, 2017. 

Star Wars and Star Trek: there is a difference

Actually, Penny*, there is a difference and as a fan of the Star Wars franchise and a casual watcher of the Star Trek franchise, I say there’s a world of difference. I grew up watching Star Trek. My father is a big fan of the original Star Trek (1966-1969) while my brother is a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994). Even my best friend loves Star Trek especially The Next Generation and Voyager (1995-2001). While I’m drawn more to Star Wars as is my husband. While I am not writing to argue which franchise is better because both have their merits, I am writing to distinguish the differences between the two.

First, Star Wars is a dramatic epic rooted in legends like Beowulf and King Arthur, mythologies, world religions and ancient and medieval history to tell a story of a galactic society in conflict. The importance is not on believability of the science but on the characters and the moral choices they make while Star Trek has “ham-fisted dialogue and Gong Show-caliber acting. But the fictional science has always been brilliant” (Herzthe, 1998). Star Trek is rooted in a greater existential dilemma in which an idealistic, utopian prospect of the future human society is explored and debated. Star Wars focuses on the ethics of good vs evil and against totalitarian government systems. Star Trek features the morals of exploration and interference, how to properly confront and ethically resolve situations. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, is said to have been inspired by morality tales like Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift.

Second, Star Wars, essentially, focuses on the individual’s power to do good. It is the struggle with feelings of powerlessness and how an individual responds to that feeling. There is a strong connection to faith, mythology, or the Force within the individual and trusting yourself and others. It is about individuals breaking free from governmental oppression (Bedinger, 2015). The Original Trilogy avoided explicit political messages while being anti-authoritarian, the prequel trilogy is clearly a commentary on imperialism and warmongering. Star Trek focuses on a commentary on social structure, defining a society’s obligation to humanity, the world and the galaxy. Star Trek operates within a stable government, The United Federation of Planets, and spreading enlightened values throughout the galaxy (Bedinger, 2015). Each of the Star Trek television series focused on a central worry. For example, in the original show, the central worry was Captain Kirk (played by William Shatner) losing his command and the fight against anything undermined his command. In the Next Generation, Captain Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) was focused on choosing the wise path and being a responsible leader (Anders, 2016).

Third, the debate between the fan bases can be polarizing that it’s hard to image someone being a fan of both. Some fans believe that you cannot be a fan of one, if you are a fan of the other. This sentiment is also reflected in the statements made by the actors in each franchise. William Shatner argues that Star Trek is superior to Star Wars because “Star Trek had relationships and conflict among the relationships and stories that involved humanity and philosophical questions” (Emami, 2015). Tim Russ, who played Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager claims that Star Trek is better than the two because it is set in "our" galaxy and therefore people can relate better to it, whereas Star Wars takes place in another galaxy (Forbeck, 2011). He acknowledged that he could be biased (yeah, you think! LOL). Jeremy Bulloch, who played Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy. He is a fan of Star Trek: The Original Series. He argued that while both franchises are popular, Star Wars comes out as the superior, for its soundtracks and special effects (Forbeck, 2011).

Why does Star Wars seem greater in popularity than Star Trek? And yes, it does. Star Wars has a franchise revenue of $42 billion (as of 2015) while Star Trek has a franchise revenue of $10 billion (as of 2016). While both have large fan bases with fiercely loyal fans, Star Wars seems to speak to the American identity as the rebels, the revolutionaries fighting against an evil empire while Star Trek speaks more to the American political superpower we’ve become with unparalleled military and economic might (although there is some debate if this is even still true). Star Wars plays into the national fantasy as the righteous underdogs and Star Trek portrays our national reality and the moral question as to how to use that power. In a UK program for the Star Wars 20^th anniversary, Patrick Stewart said “A belief in one’s own powers; especially one’s own powers to do good because the underlying morality of Star Wars is a very, very positive one.”

In conclusion, while the two franchises are similar in that they depict societies of multiple planets and species, they promote different messages. A philosophical message verses a political message. The story and its characters verses the reality of the science. The individual and his or her role in the galaxy while verses society as a whole. I prefer Star Wars because the characters are relatable and the action adventure is entertaining. I often find the dialogue in Star Trek to be difficult to follow at times. Is one better than the other? It’s simply a matter of choice and nothing else. Both have had a great impact on pop culture that cannot be ignored.

References

• Anders, Charlie Jane. The Essential Difference between Star Wars and Star Trek https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-essential-difference-between-star-wars-and-star-tre-1754297235. January 21, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
• Bedinger, Melissa. What are the main differences between Star Trek and Star Wars? www.quora.com/What-are-the-main-differences-between-Star-Trek-and-Star-Wars. December 21, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
• Emami, Gazelle. William Shatner On Star Trek Vs. Star Wars: ‘Star Wars Is Derivative of Star Trek’ www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/15/william-shatner-star-trek-star-wars_n_964530.html. September 15, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
• Forbeck, Matt (2011). Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Could the Empire kick the Federation's ass? And other galaxy-shaking enigmas. F&W Media.
• Herzthe, J.C. Star Wars' World with a Sense of Humor. The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/29/technology/game-theory-star-wars-world-with-a-sense-of-humor.html. October 29, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2017.

*The Big Bang Theory “The Weekend Vortex” Season 5 Episode 19 originally aired March 8, 2012. 

The Force Awakens v A New Hope: are the movies really identical?

After The Force Awakens was released in December 2015, many fans began to immediately compare it to A New Hope. The main complaint was that The Force Awakens is identical to A New Hope. With today being May 4^th, I decided to do a comparison and contrast between the two movies to see how much the two movies are alike and different. Since I have seen both movies so many times and I didn’t have time to watch the movies over again before writing this post, many of the points I will bring up are from my memory. So please forgive me if I miss points that you may think need to be included. Thank you.

First, both movies have a special droid who is carrying information that both sides desperately wants. In A New Hope, R2-D2 is carrying the Death Star plans and in The Force Awakens, BB-8 has the missing piece of a map which leads to the missing Luke Skywalker. Second, the droids end up on a desert planet where we met our heroes. R2-D2 and C-3PO end up on Tatooine where they encounter Luke Skywalker and BB-8 is left on Jakku where he is rescued by Rey. Third, both Luke and Rey are skilled pilots when they are first introduced. Fourth, the main villain is a black robed, masked man. Darth Vader, of course, is the iconic villain. He was number 3 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Heroes and Villains in 2003 (behind Hannibal and Norman Bates). In The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren is a blacked robed, masked man who is trying to emulate his grandfather, Darth Vader. Although, honestly, Kylo Ren is only menacing when his mask was on. Once he took it off, he wasn’t scary anymore he was emo.

Another similarity is how the mentor was killed in each movie. In A New Hope, Luke’s mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is killed in a duel with Darth Vader. In The Force Awakens, Han Solo is killed by his son, Kylo Ren. I hesitate to called Han Solo Rey’s mentor because she viewed him more as a hero. She recognized him as the famous smuggler and not as the Rebel general like Finn did. Either way, the deaths propel the heroes on their life changing journeys. However, this plot point isn’t new. It’s a part of the Hero’s Journey as outlined by Joseph Campbell in The Hero With a Thousand Faces (1949).  One last similarity is the presence of an ultimate weapon. In A New Hope, the Death Star was the newly operational weapon of the Empire in order to control the many star systems. In The Force Awakens, Starkiller Base is a mobile planet which has been equipped with a superweapon which is capable of destroying star systems from across the galaxy.

The first difference in the movies is in the main characters. After the deaths of his aunt and uncle, Luke leaves Tatooine to join the Rebel Alliance and to become a Jedi like his father. From the very beginning, Luke expresses his desire to leave Tatooine and with the death of the only family he has ever known, there is nothing there to hold him. In The Force Awakens, Rey flees Jakku only to take BB-8 to the Resistance’s hidden base. She fully intends to return to Jakku as she is waiting for her family to return for her. She doesn’t return as she decides to seek out Luke Skywalker now that the map is complete. Second, Luke has no Force vision in A New Hope and Rey has one in The Force Awakens. Luke’s lightsaber calls to her from the depths of Maz Kanata’s castle.

Another difference is in A New Hope, Leia is captured and rescued by Luke, Han and Chewbacca. In The Force Awakens, Rey is captured and is “rescued” by Finn, Han and Chewbacca. I use quotations because Rey is able to escape her restraints, secure a weapon and is trying to find a way off the base when she runs into her rescuers. Lastly, in A New Hope, the Emperor is only mentioned by name and isn’t seen until a hologram in The Empire Strikes Back and physically in Return of the Jedi. However, in The Force Awakens, Supreme Leader Snoke is seen by hologram throughout the movie. A slight difference sure; however, the leader who is pulling the main villain’s strings is more mysterious and menacing when he has influence and power when only his name is enough to strike fear in everyone else.

In conclusion, I do not see The Force Awakens as a copy of A New Hope. I see many of the similarities as homage to the original film which has captured our imaginations and hearts for forty years. I also see the similarities as history repeating itself because the citizens of this galaxy far, far away haven’t learned from the past. Just like humans of Earth do not learn from history and bring up old ideas as new. The Force Awakens is a great addition to the Star Wars universe and I look forward to The Last Jedi when it is released in December 2017. However, there are the hard core fans who love the original trilogy so much that any future Star Wars film will be compared, analyzed and probably found wanting. 

Stop! There are no big or little sins

Ever hear someone say “well my sin isn’t as big as his sin” or “my lawbreaking is a big as hers?” I have and I find it annoying that 1) people would compare. Sin is still sin and breaking the law is still breaking the law. Second, committing sin is different from breaking the law. There is a difference. Sin is an immoral act which is considered to be a transgression against divine law. Laws are man made system of rules that are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior. While some laws are derived from divine law, there are differences how man and God see these crimes.

Misdemeanors are crimes which are punishable by a fine and/or confinement for up to a year. These crimes are considered less serious than felonies. There are three degrees of misdemeanors and are classified different state by state. First, Class A misdemeanors are punishable by confinement up to a year and/or a fine of $500 to $5,000. For example, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrested. Second, Class B misdemeanors are punishable by confinement up to six months. Examples of a Class B can shoplifting and first offense DUI. Lastly, Class C misdemeanors are punishable by confinement up to 30 days or a fine. Examples of Class C are public intoxication and theft under $50. Violations are often lumped together with misdemeanors and are punishable by a fine only.

Felonies are more serious crimes punishable by death or imprisonment in a state or federal penitentiary for one year or more. There are four degrees of felonies. First, Capital offenses carry the maximum penalty of death. Examples are murder, espionage and treason. Second, a first degree felony has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Examples are arson, burglary and robbery. Third, a second degree felony has a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment. Examples are assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated battery and aggravated arson. Lastly, a third degree felony has a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. Examples are embezzlement, theft, and fraud. There are some felonies which can be classified as a misdemeanor depending on the state and judge, these are known as wobblers.

Sin is disobedience to God. For example, the Ten Commandments are God’s laws about certain behaviors. Many of the laws in the Bible stem from these ten. In the eyes of God, sin is sin. There are no bigger sin or smaller sin. Murder and lying are equal to God and carry the same penalty: spiritual death. A just and perfect God could not just simply forget sins. He must deal with the injustice of sin, all sins. Sin is sin in God’s eyes despite being big or small in our eyes. God is holy and righteous that He cannot accept any sin regardless of how big or small it may be. In the Old Testament, the practice of a sacrificial lamb was established to cover the sins of the people. In the New Testament, Jesus came and fulfilled prophecy to be the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

In conclusion, the main difference between manmade laws and sin is after time served, the offender is usually free to go while sin carries an eternal punishment. What we really need to do is stop comparing. Don’t make yourself better because you only commit “little sins” or “little crimes.” It is little only in the eyes of man, not in the eyes of God. We need to take responsibility for our wrongdoings and admit that we do wrong. How many of you speed? All of us do but not all of us have gotten caught. Misdemeanors, felonies and sin are still wrongdoings. Even though misdemeanors and felonies have various degrees, sin does not. We all have fallen short of the glory of God and are redeem through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-24) for those who willingly accept it. 

A great new children's book about love and acceptance

T-Bone’s Traveling Circus by Janice Virant is a story of overcoming bullying and celebrating our differences. Rita Bonita is a young horse who was very different from the other horse. She was teased and laughed at. One day she saw a covered wagon traveling very slow. Rita Bonita is invited by Tiny the Tortoise to join T-Bone’s traveling circus and stay for a while. She also meets Scorch the dragon, who explains that they are a band of misfits who are always the butt of jokes. Inside the wagon was different animals who were different than other animals in some way. Rita Bonita joins the group to learn to embrace her one-of-a-kind uniqueness.

T-Bone’s Traveling Circus is a great story that celebrates our differences and teaches to stand up to bullying. Through love and acceptance, bullying can end. The illustrations are brightly colored and beautiful. When the book arrived in the mail, my three old daughter immediately wanted me to read it to her and she enjoyed the story immensely. Young children will love the band of misfit characters with their differences. This story is a great way for parents to introduce treated everyone with love, kindness and acceptance. I highly recommend this book to families with young children.

T-Bone’s Traveling Circus is available on Amazon and Outskirts Press

www.outskirtspress.com/bookstore

in paperback for $11.95 and hardback $17.95

Short Story: Three Sisters Part 2 Brynn

Brynn cringed at Amy’s voice. She knew she wouldn’t be happy. The contents of Carrie’s room was stacked haphazardly in the living room. Brynn knew that Carrie did it to piss off Amy and it was working. Carrie did nothing without malice of some sort. Brynn looked at Carrie who was acting as if she did not hear Amy and continued to unpack lunch.

“What…the…hell…is…this?” Amy asked again slowly, trying to control her anger. Brynn didn’t think it was working.

“Lunch” Carrie said innocently “I brought your favorite, Chinese!”

Amy signed “You know I can’t eat Chinese.”

Carrie looked at her with fake shock “Oh no! Since when?”

“It doesn’t matter. What happened with all your stuff?”

“It’s packed like you said.” Carrie began dishing out the food.

“Why don’t we sit down to lunch and we’ll fix the packing later?” Brynn asked, trying to defuse the time bomb that ticked loudly in their heads.

Amy continued without acknowledging Brynn’s question. “That is not packed. This is absolute mess, as usual. I knew better than to ask you to help. I tried to tell Mom that you wouldn’t help.”

“I am helping and now I’m hungry. Are you hungry? Brynn?” Carrie continued nonchalantly.

“Yes, I’m hungry. Amy?” She looked at Amy, hopeful and somewhat pleading her not to start the fight that Brynn knew was coming.

Amy sighed, turned and walked out of the room. Carrie smiled as if her evil plan worked. Brynn sat down and accepted the plate from Carrie.

“That was cruel, you know. She only wants to get the job done.”

“Cruel? She’s uptight and needs to have a little fun.” Carrie replied as she stuffed her face with chow mein.

Brynn shook her head and stared at her plate. She was always in the middle, the buffer between her sisters. Sometimes she sided with Carrie and sometimes with Amy. She hated the fact that Amy was the automatic “little helper” as Mom always called her. She didn’t like being called her little movie star either. It was a cute nickname but Brynn knew that her mom didn’t mean it. Amy was the apple of Dad’s eye and Carrie was the center of Mom’s world. That left Brynn, the typical middle child to find ways to get attention. That attention usually meant getting trouble at school and with friends. Brynn did it a little different. She became the fixer in the family. She helped Dad with repairs around the house. She learned how to sew in order to fix the clothes that became ripped and torn. She used tried to fix the rift between her sisters. Her “fixer” skills as she likes to call them is probably the reason why she is a great contract negotiator. She can help both sides feel like they were the ones that came out on top.

“Hello! Anyone home?” Carrie waved her hand in front of Brynn’s face. She shook back to reality. “Where were you?” Carrie said jokingly.

“Just thinking” Brynn replied. She got up from the table and walked to the closed door of Amy’s room. She knocked softly. “Amy?”

“Come in” came the muffled reply.

Brynn opened the door to find Amy faced down on the mattress. “Are you ok?”

“I just want to get this over with.”

“I know. I…” Brynn didn’t get to finish as she felt Carrie behind her.

“What’s this? Are we being a lazy bones?” Carrie joked.

Amy shot out of bed like someone poured ice water on her. She was immediately in Carrie’s face. “Lazy bones?!?! I’m been working my butt off trying to get this house in order so we can sell it and you have been nothing but a pain in the ass.”

Amy pushed Carrie out of the way so that she could leave the room. Carrie was quick on her heels. Brynn took a deep breath. Here we go again, she thought as she followed the storm into the living room.

“What are you doing?!?” screamed Carrie as Brynn entered the living to see Amy begin tossing items in various piles.

“I’m doing what YOU should have been doing hours ago. Obviously, this stuff means nothing to you, so what do you care what I do with it.”

“Get your hands off my stuff. I will take care of it, you control freak!” Carrie ordered.

Amy spun around to look at Carrie. “Oh, you’ll take care of it. Just like you take care of your children. And where are they today? Oh, that’s right, their fathers have them. You were too unfit.”

Both Brynn and Carrie gasped. Amy stared at Carrie, daring her to continue. Brynn stepped in. “Amy that was a little uncalled for.”

“No, Brynn, it was called for. She’s so judgmental and critical. She cares for no one but herself. I never understood how Mom thought you were the moon and stars. Her Care Bear, yuck! You never could do anyway wrong in her eyes. Even after you got caught in high school drinking in the principal’s office. At least, I now know where she got it.”

“What do you mean?” Brynn asked slowly as she was afraid of the answer.

“Mom. Hello! She was such a snob.”

“No, she wasn’t” echoed Brynn and Carrie together.

“Yes, she was. She would be nice and friendly to people’s faces but the minute their back was turned, she would criticize everything from their choice in clothing to their career. The sky was the limit to her judgment. Dad kept his distance. She didn’t care when I was having problems getting pregnant. She didn’t care when Brynn lost her job and had to struggle to find a place to live. She only reluctantly let you move back home after Dad pleaded with her. Oh, Brynn, don’t look at me like that. You know it’s true. Aaron always said there was something fake about Mom.” Amy choked on the tears that began to pool.

“Well, you want to know something. Mom didn’t like that you married Aaron. She thought that you married down when you picked him” Carrie spat down with a look of satisfaction, thinking she just delivered a blow. Brynn was shocked at Amy’s whispered reply.

“I know”