1. Persona non grata
2. How little do you know me after all these years?
3. A question of perspective
4. The people who weren't allowed to attend the ceremony in the temple
5. You can't choose your family

• (character chart)

1. Young Women's
2. Youth Conference
3. Saturday's Warrior
4. Brigham Young University
• Gratuitous Love Scene
5. Polygamist
6. Temple Wedding
7. Orem High
8. Bordeaux Mission
9. Exmo Conference

"Sorry," he said, looking appropriately penitent. "I guess I should probably learn to tone down that bad attitude a little bit."

"Damn straight," I said, smiling at him.

Then, watching Mom and Richard chatting with Grandma and Grandpa, I began to wonder if maybe there wasn't something to Rex's idea. It was starting to look like now Mom was buying a bottle of herbal tonic or two from Grandma.

I could see Dad a little farther away, viewing his parents suspiciously, and I caught myself plotting whether maybe I could come up with a new way of screwing up that would get Dad and his parents to gang up against me, patching everything up among them in the process. Going through the temple together the other day appeared not to have done the trick. I even briefly contemplated making a big stink about God not existing in order to inspire all of the competing forces of Jesus to make friends with each other again. Then I figured that since Mom and Dad had reached some sort of equilibrium in going their separate ways, it was better not to take chances by rocking the boat.

That Rex could always be counted on to provide food for thought, even if it led to mental indigestion sometimes. To think this was the person I was considering marriage with! Still, if one thing was certain, it was that there would never be a dull moment.

When Matt got back with the three boys, we went out to the parking lot to meet him. Rex walked up to the driver's side as Matt was getting out.

"Thanks for doing this, Matt," he said.

"No problem," said Matt. He gave a bit of a smile, but I got the impression that Rex was perhaps still not his favorite person in the universe.

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Jared jumped out of the other side of the car, and ran around to hug his big brother.

"I'm so glad Mom let me come here," he said, letting go. "I was so worried that you would leave before I could see you again."

"I didn't want that either," said Rex, "but we've both learned that you defy Mom at your own risk."

"It's been terrible at home," said Jared. "Dad's been snapping at everyone and Mom has been all sad, but neither one will talk about it. And yesterday Jill and Joy set off in the morning to hang out with friends and didn't come back till late. Then they left like that again today, straight from church. I think they're just avoiding Mom and Dad, but they took their car, so I was stuck!"

"I'm sorry," said Rex. "You can have your car back now. Actually it would be a big help to us if you could drop us off at the bus stop when it's time for us to go."

"Oh, I can drive you all the way to the airport!" said Jared.

"That would take you more than an hour each way. I'd hate to have you waste your time and gas for no reason like that -- it's no problem for us to take the bus," said Rex.

Jared gave Rex a sort of sad-puppy look as if to say he didn't want to say goodbye so quickly.

"C'mere, you," said Rex, grabbing Jared and giving him a friendly noogie. Jared laughed as he pulled away. "I can't believe I made it through this entire uber-Mormon weekend and not one single person has zinged me with one of those annoying 'brother-of-Jared' cracks!" said Rex, laughing.

"Oh, I almost forgot," said Jared, reaching into this backpack. "Mom told me to give you this." He handed Rex a paper sack.

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