Snapshot Contest (The Truth)

Wow.

That is only way I can think to describe how I feel right now. I am completely stunned. I really don't know what to say. Maybe, I should start at the beginning. The beginning of today, that is.

We're having a family reunion today. That's why we're all dressed up. That's why I'm all dressed up. I feel a fool wearing this getup.

Mom's been fussing all day worrying about everyone showing up on time. About my keeping my mouth shut on "inappropriate subjects." All I ever said was eating meat is barbaric. What's wrong with that? Anyway, Mom's been fussing about. She's even worried about the guy my sister, Ann, is supposed to bring. Ann been real mysterious about him. You see, sweet, sweet, Ann just doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to men. Punks with earrings connected to nose rings. Skinheads. Married men. Mom even thought it was scandalous that she was involved with a college student five years her junior.

Oh, well. Maybe, this guy's married and she doesn't want us to know. Maybe, he's KGB. It would be just like Ann to find something to put Mom in a panic.

But, it turns out, he wasn't a spy. He was cute though -- for an older guy. Salt and pepper hair, green eyes. Looked like he'd been working out most of his life. And he was married. Widowed, actually. And, he was also someone Mom didn't want to see -- EVER.

It seems over the last year since the last family do my sister has been researching the family tree as a special gift for the whole family. This guy my sis brought. He's my uncle Kenneth on my dad's side. Here's the kicker. Uncle Kenny is not Ann's uncle but her dad. Our mom? Uncle Ken? No wonder Mom is livid.

Well, leave it to dear sweet Ann to find a way to upset the family. At least it wasn't me this time.

Wait a minute. Uncle Kenneth? What Uncle Kenneth? Dad's been dead for five years now. Uncle Al, Dad's brother, was at his funeral. Uncle Tom, my aunt's husband, was there. Where was Uncle Ken? And, who is Uncle Ken? He's never been mentioned before. I didn't even know he existed.

As soon as I was able to break away from Mom's need to have me constantly at her elbow I took Ann out to the gazebo and find out what in the world is going on. While we were alone, she told me all she knew. It turns out that when Dad was off giving lectures at various colleges about the dangers of drinking too much alcohol. He may, actually, have saved a few lives that year. College kids can be such hard heads.

Anyway, Dad was gone for so long and for some reason wouldn't talk to Mom all that much. I guess Mom was lonely. She and my dad's brother, Kenneth, decided to go out to the movies and then to a club for drinks. They had been friends before Mom and Dad got married. In fact, Uncle Ken introduced them. But, back to what I was saying, Ken and Mom went out as friends. They talked all night about their mutual problems. They drank all night while commiserating with each other. Then, they stopped talking and drinking and nine months later, boom, here comes big sis Ann.

Of course, Dad found out. Dad and Ken stopped speaking to each other. Mom and Ken stopped speaking to each other. And, Dad raised Ann as his own. No wonder it took so long for them to have me. Fourteen years is a huge age difference between siblings.

This is big, especially for this quiet little dull family. I wonder what in the world is going to happen at the next reunion. Got to survive this one first. I just hope we don't have anymore unknown relatives popping up. I think Mom would have a major heart attack if that happened.

(670 words)