The Family

"Mom, Dad, you're embarrassing me!" I cried out as they both began to cry over my graduation. That is my 8th grade graduation, not any typical, important high school stuff.
"Stop it! All my friends will see you. I don't need two cry-babies who physically look like adults hysterically crying in front of me."
"But I can't, dear. This is too much! You're getting older and soon you'll get married." I rolled my eyes. There was her speech again.
Dad continued to hover over me with a camera in his hand and wouldn't stop flashing the camera in my face. He was crying too and it made the whole scene even more humiliating. "This is not happening", I muttered.
By now, people around us were staring as if they hadn't seen the most absurd family in the WHOLE world. I chose to focus my gaze on the ground. I hoped nobody could see my face. It was turning redder and redder. If only I didn't have such tacky parents.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see my friends approaching me. They were giggling and watched curiously as my parents were fussing over me. I didn't dare to meet their gazes for my reputation now went from an A to an F.
"Mom, stop your crying. You're making this a lot worse!"
She dried her eyes. "Deary, now this is your graduation. This should be a special day for you."
"Special day? Mom, this isn't a special day, this is the most humiliating and most embarrassing day of my life. Besides, this is only 8th grade graduation."
I turned away from her and stormed towards my friends. Grabbing them both by the collars, I pulled them away from my parents.
"Don't say a thing. It isn't funny", I muttered harshly when we got farther away.
Bertha, who was my friend from 5th grade tried hard not to stifle a laugh.
"Of course, Lee. We didn't think it was funny at all, right Ashley?" She sharply nudged my other friend, who let out a snort. I glared at both of them. It was obvious they were lying.
"Whatever, let's get out of here. It's getting stuffy." We exited out the doors and joined in with some other social groups. This was exactly how my life was, just as tacky and embarrassing.
After the graduation, Mom and I decided to go shopping at the mall. I had just arrived at the foot of the stairs when I spotted Mom dressed in a fancy silk dress. It was like she was going to Luciena or something.
"Mom, I just said we're going to the mall, not a fancy dancy restaurant."
"I know, dear, but this suits me. Did you know that others will see us and likely judge our appearance? I need to be in the "in crowd"."
She was trying to use "hip" words but her effort was failing. I shrugged and went in the car. Delicately, she placed her hands on the steering wheel and drove off.
By the time we arrived at the mall, Mom was wiping off a tiny speck of dirt on the mirror. I rolled my eyes. She was way too possessive.
"Mom, let's go."
"Just a minute dear. I just need to wipe off this smudge."
"It's only a small speck. Now let's go."
"Now just hold on a second, dear. A smudge can turn into a smear and a smear can make the whole car dirty. Oh my, I think I got some on my dress. I'm afraid we're going to have to go back home so I can change."
Turning quickly around, I glared hard on her.
"Mom, WE ARE NOT TURNING BACK!" My voice was rising bit by bit.
"Yes we do, dear. My dress can not afford to be smudged. Now get back in the car."
Pouting my lips, I continued to stay where I was.
"No! We are going in the direction of the entrance where the mall is."
"Dear, I think not! We are going back."
By now, a crowd of people were staring at our yelling match. A flurry of loud words were hitting back and forth.
"Now, Lee. I say orders and you obey them! Don't you dare talk back to me. Do you know that I can still spank the skin off your butt if you don't get back in the car this instant?"
My face went bright red as a couple of boys giggled at her comment. She took it way too far. Storming over to the car, I opened the door wide, got in, and slammed in shut.
Mom went to the other side and smiled victorious. In the end, she would always win the match.
"Now, that wasn't that bad, dear. All you had to do was get back in the car. Now that I think of it, why don't we go eat somewhere. Luciena maybe?"
I slouched down my seat and grumbled.