Sunrise

    “Why can't I?” asked Jodi angrily, hands on cocked hips. Her face was twisted
into a mutinous glare, an expression that was typical for her otherwise pretty
face. Her grey eyes, so like her father's, were blazing with anger and rebellion.
    'Everyone else is doing it' does not cut it with me. Give me one good reason fo
r letting you get a tattoo. Then I might think about it” Sarah sighed inwardly. She
was so tired of these spats that were becoming commonplace in the Forester
household. Ever since Doug, her now ex-husband, had left them, Jodi was getting
more and more out of hand.
    A tattoo one day, eyebrow piercing the next. What was a mother to do? Sarah had contemplated murder for one millisecond, but had ousted that for a stern
talking to then a grounding.
    Jodi was 15 going on 30 and much too young for all the things she wanted to put
into her body. Sputtering for a moment, Jodi tried to think of something her mother would fall for. Nothing came to mind.
    “Ugghh! You don't know anything!” She turned on her heel and stomped out,
making sure to slam the first door she came to, which happened to be her
bedroom.
    Sarah let out a long breath, not aware until then that she had been holding it.
Running a hand through her short dark hair, she tried to think of something that
would soothe her daughter. Hadn't she told her just last week that she couldn't
get a tattoo? Jodi was as persistent as her father, not backing down until she got
what she wanted. An admirable trait, if used right, but right now it was just plain
infuriating.
    “All right, game time,” she muttered to herself. She squared her shoulders,
getting ready for another round. As she marched down the hall toward Jodi's
bedroom, she thought of all they had been through the last few years. It was a
wonder she hadn't gotten a tattoo already, without talking to her.
    She stopped and sighed. Maybe she should talk to Jodi. Something they hadn't
done civilly in a while. Starting toward Jodi's bedroom again, she rapped softly on
the door.
    Hearing no answer, she opened the door.
    “What?” Jodi asked, face mutinous still.
    “I want to talk.”
    “Really,” she said sarcastically, “she wants to talk, how amazing.”
    “Honey, I just want whats best for you.”
    “Ya ya, I know.”
    “Did you also know that all that crap is bad for you?”
    “All what crap?”
    “Tattoos, piercings, junk food..... You know, I had a piercing when I was your age." Jodi's eyes widened in shock. "Yep, amazing. Your grandmother had a conniption fit."
    “No kidding. I bet she blew the roof.”
    Sarah chuckled. “Ya, just about.”


    Sarah and Jodi talked for hours on end, no topic was off limits. When the sun
came up, they stopped and watched.
    “You know mom, I learned a lot tonight.”
    “Good.” was all Sarah replied. It was all she had left to say.