Happy Frickin Birthday

I am an emotional wreck right now.

My friend, Erin, celebrated her birthday yesterday with a sleepover (her real birthday is today). She invited several friends over to her house to eat cake and have fun and swim, then left the invite open ended for a sleepover. I wasn't able to make the festivities, so I opted to spend the night. Surprisingly I remembered all of the girls in the group and they welcomed me rather warmly, despite the fact we haven't see each other in over a year (and we're only acquaintances). They are a beautiful group and I wish I could've hung out with them more often.

At about 4PM today, Liz steals Cathy's seat on the couch. Cathy and Erin start torturing her to get her to give up the seat (stuff like singing really high pitched, hitting buzzers, turning up the volume on the TV, spraying Liz with water, etc.). Melissa, Mary, and I decide to leave the room and not get involved (i.e. neutral Switzerland style) while the torture continues.

Then all of the sudden Liz, Cathy, and Erin start screaming at each other and make their way towards our side of the house. The three of us realize that this has become way more than a seat on the couch - there's some deeper issues coming out here. Doors get slammed, Liz runs off, Erin chases her down. Melissa finally gets Mary and me out of the house to the backyard to escape the screaming fight. I call my mom so she can get me the heck away from this madness.

Liz has left and Erin and Cathy meet us outside. Then Liz's older sister Patty shows up. The first words out her mouth to Cathy? "How can you call yourself a Christian?"

Oh. God. Help.

The ish has just hit the fan and Mary, Melissa, and I are stuck between the inaccessible gate from the back to the front yard and the door back inside since the fight between Erin -stepping in to defend Cathy- and Patty is happening in front of it. Erin kicks Patty out and that's the end of that. Supposedly Liz is breaking off her friendship with Erin and Cathy, and Patty seems to be in favor of that idea.

I'm pretty much at a loss for words. I've been trying to pray but all I'm getting out is "Lord, please." Maybe more to come/update.

*Names have been changed.