Entry 4

Christmas dinner went about as well as expected, which is to say Mom got tipsy on Chardonnay and started telling the story about my third-grade talent show meltdown, Dad fell asleep before dessert, Rachel spent twenty minutes explaining why gift cards are "the only ethical present," and Chloe showed up two hours late with a guy named Brad who kept calling everyone "dude." I don't give this one until New Year before she's dropped him. But I did it. I brought the NDDs. I'd wrapped them in this nice silver paper-tried to make them look festive, not like I was handing out medical equipment. Mom opened hers first and did that thing where she smiles with just her mouth. "Oh, Melissa. How...thoughtful." She set it on the side table like it was a bomb. Dad shook his and guessed "toaster" before going back to his turkey coma. Rachel actually laughed. Like, out loud. "A white noise machine? This is your big Christmas gift?" Chloe at least said it was "aesthetic" before tossing it in her purse, which I choose to believe means she'll use it. I was explaining the subscription, how I added them to my student plan, how the app tracks sleep cycles, how the subliminals help focus you for studying or work, or whichever of the pre-sets you choose, when the doorbell rang again. Of course it was Danny. This time to, supposedly, drop off a dessert his mom had made, although to me it looked like store bought cookies. Personally I think it was just an excuse for him to come over and get into the house. It didn't make me less suspicious when he saw the box for the NDD and his face lit up. He started gushing about how great the device is (again) and how he'd love to help my parents set theirs up. I think Mom agreed more to shut him up than anything else. Chloe rolled her eyes so hard at his stuttered "thank you, thank you, you won't regret this..." as my mom practically shoved him out the door. The cookies, I'd like to note, went straight into the trash. Speaking of trash, I swear I saw him pull one of the NDD boxes from the trash. Maybe to check the serial number? I don't know, Danny's at best a weirdo and worst a pervert. I'm sleeping in my childhood bedroom tonight. I can see the side yard from here. The hydrangea bush is right outside. I locked the window. I know I'm probably being paranoid again. But, God, that kid gives me the creeps in a major way.