Back in the day...

I used to have a childhood friend who belonged to a very toxic and dysfunctional family.   During my tween and teen years, they treated my family and me very poorly.    For instance, they would often make plans with me and then let us down with bizarre excuses. 

For example, there was a time when my friend invited me to go on a camping trip to celebrate her birthday.  Part of the problem is that my friend and I lived on opposites of the city.  My mom did not feel like wanting to drive me all the way there.   So she contacted her mom and they agreed that they would pick me up during mid-afternoon.   When my mom came home around that time to see me off,  her mom never showed up.   

So when I called over there, I first got the answering machine and then heard her mom pick up.  When I asked where she was,  she told me that she could not come to get me because she could only drive a very short distance.    When I asked why, she said, "It's my tiredness."    

When I put her on the phone with my mom, she told her that she was waiting for her son to get off the bus from preschool.    She also told her that she would probably get me later and would call before she left. 

Then later, when the phone rang later that afternoon, it was my friend asking if either one of my parents would be willing to take me to their house.    When I explained to her what her mom had told me friend,  her mom again said in the background that she was tired.  

Additionally, her story didn't add up because she had no problem driving to the campsite, which was two hours away.