The Days of Our Lives.

With a Marbaro dangling from her lips, my grandmother says, "...Now the way to solve that problem is to have no important business... That way they have no business of yours to be concern with."

I stopped my rocking chair with my foot. "Huh?"

"Nevermind, Mandie. Just shake it off and move on. That's what your Ma's trying to say." My mother laughs and takes a drag of her Virginia Slim.

My grandmother nods her head in agreement.

I cross my arms and shove the rocking chair back into motion. "Easy for you to say, he's not your dad."

My cousin, Megan lights her a cigarette and pulls up a chair on the porch where we were all sitting.

I come from a family of smokers. On occasion I might take a drag. But for the most part I can't stand the things... At least they've always smoked outside.

But the porch is where we have some of our longest conversations and biggest arguments.

Every house I've ever lived in with my mother has always had one... And the only one that didn't, she converted the garage into her own personal smoking lounge.

"So what exactly did he say?" Megan looks at me.

She was referring to the conversation I had with my father earlier over the phone. He had called three times before I had decided to finally answer.

"He demanded to know why I deleted Marcia [my stepmother] from my Facebook." I grinned a little.

My cousin chuckled. "You did what?!"

I laugh. "I deleted her. She sent me a couple of rude messages so I just deleted her."

"How did you explain that one to your dad?"

"I just explained I had gotten some messages. And figured I'd solve the problem."

All three of them laughed.

"I just don't see why a grown woman's going to get upset about something like that after all they've done to you and then have your dad call just to ask for an explaination." My mother shook her head and put her cigarette out in the ash tray.

"Well whatever. He could tell by my tone I wasn't interested in the conversation. It didn't last long."

"If they don't care to be involved in your life, why do they care if you deleted her on Facebook?" Megan asked.

"Dad said that was the only way they knew I was alive. I told 'em they would survive."

My cousin took a drag. "Harsh. What he say to that?"

I sighed and picked at the peeling white paint on the arm of my chair. "I don't think he knew how to respond. But like I said, wasn't much said. We said bye after that."

"Why don't you talk to your Nannie about all this?" My mother lit another cigarette. She was referring to my father's mother.

I couldn't help laughing. "Why? So she can put him over her lap and spank him? He's a grown man."

My mother smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "You never know with your Nannie..."

"I hate all this drama. I just don't see the point in putting in the effort. He's made up his own mind." I flicked a chip of paint across the porch with my finger.

Megan chuckled. "...Like sand through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives."

My mother interjected. "No, more like the Young and the Restless."

I narrowed my eyes. "It's gonna be General Hospital if you two don't shut up."

We all cracked up.