Wanted: Big Brother

Sarah and I just got home from a short shopping trip. I needed to return a book to the library, and I wanted to stop at Michael's and get a TINY calligraphy pen, because all the ones I have are too big for writing as small as I want, and we stopped at Target so I could show Sarah a really cute shirt I saw there the other day.

I returned the book to the library, but unfortunately, the library was closed, so I couldn't get the book Mom asked for. And the other consequence of the closed library meant that the two guys sitting in front of the very deserted library made me somewhat terrified to go drop my book in the drop box.

Then we went to Target and Michael's (they're right next to each other) and as I parked the car, I noticed that the gas tank was practically almost completely empty. Not only was the needle in the red, and the warning light lit up, but our car has an electronic screen that announces how many miles are left to an empty tank, for example "20 miles" or "145 miles" and that screen was showing "---". I quickly determined that a gas station would be our next stop.

We went into Michael's, and they didn't have exactly what I was looking for, so I got 2 pens that looked cool just to make myself feel better. And because I had a coupon. So really, I saved money. (Just kidding.)

Then we went over to Target, but I couldn't find the shirt (I saw it at a different Target, and apparently this one didn't carry it.)

So we left to get gas. I made it to the gas station, quite stressed out that I would run out of gas and be stuck on the side of the road.... wishing for a big brother the whole time so he could be the one driving, and so there'd be someone to walk to the gas station with us two girls when the car stopped. But I DID make it, and had to go inside to pay, because I don't have a credit card.

I paid, went back out, pumped my gas, and just as I was getting ready to get in the car, one of the station clerks came out and handed me two cards, front to front, and asked if I'd ever thought about being an escort. I had no idea what an escort was, so I honestly said 'no', and took the cards. I got in the car and looked at them, and immediately realized what I'd just been "invited" to be. The sleazy picture and terms on the card left no doubt. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but I decided to do neither until I got home.

But anyway, all that to say that I really want a big brother now. One of my friends has a great older brother, and she's so protected. I've never been so envious.

Joel's bigger than me now, and I plan on making him into something of an older brother. I just doubt I'll be able to talk him into going shopping with his sisters.

Disgusted, appalled, terrified and humiliated,

~Lizzie