My parents were going to Lansing, IL to visit my aunt and her uncle.
Mom wanted to help Aunt Louise with the new baby. I was sixteen and felt that I was old enough to stay home alone, but mom and dad didn’t agree. They wanted me to go to Lansing, IL with them. I don’t think it was so much wanting me to go, but they were demanding I go to Lansing, IL, with them. There wasn’t anything there for me to see. It was my Christmas vacation, and I wanted to spend the holidays with my friends. Mom and dad were hearing none of it, and I was soon in the car heading to Lansing, MI. It was too cold to go to the beach. It seemed the favorite thing to do there was sit inside and listen to the furnace running. I had no intention of spending my time listening to a furnace. Instead of staying inside, I headed into town. I met the nicest boy when I was walking in the mall. He was telling me how they were having a winter festival down by the school. He told me when and where to meet him and his friends. I couldn’t wait to tell my mom about Matt. When I got home, Matt was in the driveway. I didn’t know that Matt was Uncle Bob’s nephew. Matt started to laugh, and I was laughing with him. A horrible trip was turning around. My parents were going to listen to the furnace run while I went to the festival with Matt.