Why Have You Changed?

Gaby Nunez
4/29/11
Period 3
AICE Essay

Mom: (Slowly pacing around her bedroom).
She used to be so sweet, like the taste of honey drizzled over candy. Since she turned fourteen it’s like an alien invaded her body ridding Stacy of her angelic nature. I just don’t know what to do anymore. If I punish her she still disobeys me; if I try to talk to her she brushes me off and gives me a scowl; if I try to win her over with gifts she tosses them aside claiming that they’re (in a mocking tone) ‘not her style’.

I don’t know what’s gotten into her! (Takes deep breath) I never taught her to be rude. ‘Please’ and ‘thank yous’ were always enforced. And her (makes air quote with fingers) ‘style’ looks as if she got her clothes out of a dumpster. Stacy always wore bright vibrant colors and looked so clean cut. Some people even claimed that she resembled Hilary Clinton, her hair always perfectly parted and her clothes wrinkle-free. Her favorite color use to be pink for Christ’s sake! I don’t know where she gets her dark make-up, or even the idea that her wardrobe has to consist of only dark colors. The neighbors use to love her; they used to ask her to babysit for them. Now they don’t let the children play with her because they are convinced that she’s worshipping the devil. (Stops pacing) That hurts a mom, it damages her pride.

(Speaking to herself in the mirror now).
She looks just like me, and when we argue it’s horrible. It’s like arguing with a mini-me, a smaller twin that can predict your every move before you make it.

Stacy would never question my authority, now it’s apart of her daily routine. The worst part is that she’s a good student, and she even does all her chores! (Voice raises) She’s a good kid!

(In a convincing tone) Maybe she just has a problem with authority? Yes. That’s it! She just doesn’t like listening to others. She’s a leader herself! (Discouraged) She never used to have a problem though. Stacy was always respectful and followed orders. She’s just changed so much…why have you changed Stacy? (Look directly in mirror).

Word Count: 367

Stacy: (Briskly walks into her bedroom and slams door).

(Screams) My mom never understands! Like, I get it. I mean I don’t listen to her sometimes but this woman always thinks that she knows best. I’m fourteen, not four and I don’t need mommy to go shopping for me. She doesn’t even know me!

(Throw herself on bed) Why does she even try punishing me? She knows I’ll sneak out later. She’s just so stupid.

(Gets off bed and moves to dresser with what looks like a mess of make-up). She keeps telling me (mocking tone) ‘you’ve changed Stacy. You use to be so polite and angelic.’ To hell with that! That’s not how a teenager should act. (Rubs dark blue eye shadow on her eyelids). Pfffft. An alien took over my body. Puh-lease. More like, I woke up and got smarter.

(Finishes applying make-up and goes to closet across the room).

(Mocking tone) ‘Oh Stacy I got you a new shirt in your favorite color- pink!’ My mom doesn’t know style. Hasn’t she heard that black is the new pink? (Picks out cut up jeans with holes everywhere from closet). In (stresses) –my- generation, teenagers don’t dress like the Brady Bunch. Pastels are so out, black is what’s in. Dressing proper? Pfffft. That’s for goody two-shoes.

My mom thinks I’ve changed- and sure maybe I have just a little. What mom doesn’t understand is that she’s changed too. She’s come up with new rules that don’t make sense. Call her every two seconds to tell her where I am? I can’t go to a boy’s house to hang out? What is that? She just doesn’t listen like she used to, or maybe she never listened, I was just fooled. She used to always support me and my beliefs, now she shoves her ideals onto my lap. Mom has always taught me to be independent, to think for myself and not care if someone disapproved. (Slowly pacing around the room). She’s turned into a hypocrite. Somewhere between my transition from childhood to adolescence she’s decided that it’s not okay for me to be unique. That being, or just looking, a little weird is wrong. (Stops in front of mirror).

If I could go back and have our mother and daughter heart-to-heart talks, I’d ask just one question: (looks into mirror) why have you changed?