#64: Dawn's Family Feud
In Chapter 2 Dawn baby-sits for the Barrett kids, and it turns out Mrs. Barrett is in a relationship with a man named Franklin DeWitt, and things are heating up. Franklin has met the kids and is ingratiating himself with them, and Mrs. Barrett seems really happy. Dawn reminisces about how Mrs. Barrett used to be a hot mess but now she’s got her shit together and things really seem to be looking up. When Franklin called Mrs. Barrett “Natalie” in this chapter, something in my brain snapped and envisioned an entire BSC novel (for adults) from Mrs. Barrett’s point of view. Natalie Barrett has just gone through a tough divorce and has three rambunctious kids to deal with. She’s trying to get a job, get acclimated to her new life, and keep up with her children. She is in just-keep-swimming mode until her son goes missing one day and she realizes she’s been relying way too much on her thirteen-year-old baby-sitter for support. She resolves to get it together - cue a self-improvement and taking-responsibility montage - and eventually meets a kind man who seems to like her children. Is this Natalie Barrett’s happily-ever-after? Maybe… but first she and Franklin have to get their kids to get along. (Also, real talk: should I write this novel?)
Anyway, Dawn is excited because her brother Jeff is coming to stay in Stoneybrook for a week. Everyone’s all excited before Jeff gets there - though Richard is a little nervous because he’ll have to entertain Jeff while the girls are at school and Sharon’s at work - but after their first night (which is great) things go downhill. Jeff’s friends seem to have changed and are no longer into the same things he is (he likes soccer; they like baseball). Plus Jeff doesn’t like Richard’s strict rules, like making his bed and doing the dishes. (Must be nice to have ol’ Mrs. Bruen around in California…) Dawn defends everything Jeff does, but Mary Anne is critical because Jeff hurts Richard’s feelings by not wanting to spend time with him. This pits Dawn and Mary Anne against each other, and their family is supposed to take a weekend trip to Boston together. Dun dun dun…
“I’m in love. (With a humpback whale.)” - Dawn, page 100
Okay, so I usually don’t side with Dawn, but in this instance, Mary Anne is being a real asshole. I mean, Jeff’s only in town for a week; she can probably just let a few things go. The trip to Boston is okay; despite them not getting along well, they manage to have a decent time along the Freedom Trail and at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market.
On their second day, they split up - Mary Anne and Richard visit museums and Dawn, Sharon, and Jeff go whale-watching, which Dawn is into. (Apparently Dawn also has a sweatshirt that says “The Earth: Save It or Leave It,” which is pretty badass.) Halfway through this trip, I changed teams - Jeff is actually the one being a little asshole. He keeps complaining about things and keeping the group split in two, so they’re never all together and nobody gets to do everything they want to do. (I get it, he’s nine and going through a rough time I guess? and I should have more empathy. But he’s being annoying!)
Eventually the gang makes it back to Stoneybrook in one piece, where they have to pose for a family portrait that Sharon had scheduled. Everything finally comes to a head when they see how gnarly they look in the portrait - miserable, grumpy, fighting - and they all make up and apologize. And then it’s time for Jeff to go back to California. (Bout time.)
I got excited about the prospect of a BSC/”The O.C.” crossover, but then I realized it’s a reference to the Al Jolson song. Oh well, a girl can dream…
