Just so you know, my parents and Lillian still have this opinion of the Murrays. Mine has changed since I met Xander, and my aunt tends to agree with me, even if my parents aren't in full favor of it.
I asked Aunt Ellie to tell me about the Murrays and how we began disliking them. This is the information that I gleaned.
The Murray family consists of Mr. & Mrs. Murray; Mikey Murray - the oldest, and the same age as Lillian - 32 years old; Mark Murray - the second, and as hateful as Mikey for his actions against Lillian; Matt Murray - the third - he is currently getting his PhD in doctoring; (at this point, Mr. & Mrs. Murray apparently ran out of satisfactory "M" names) Xander - the fourth - he is my age and most certainly the best looking of them all; and finally, Zack Murray - the fifth. He is several years younger than Xander and in his sophomore year of college.
How the Carsons began hating the Murrays:
It all started when my sister Lillian was in 4th grade. She and Mikey Murray were in the same class at school. (Mikey is "that Murray boy" referenced in Post #1) They were the two top competitors in the school spelling bee and in their math class. Every day they competed to see who could score higher. It wasn't just them who were rivals. Both of our whole families got riled up when one lost or won over the other. This continued all the way until they were seniors in high school. (I was in 1st grade when Lillian was a senior, and so I do not remember this; it was told to me over and over and over again) When it was the end of the last semester, it was time for Lillian and Mikey to take their final exams. It was the pride of the Carson family when Lillian scored a whole 10 points higher than Mikey in English and in math, and Lillian ended up being the top student in her class with Mikey being second. The Murray family was so infuriated at this 10 point injustice and 2nd in the class that they took action. They put the creepiest Halloween decorations they could find in our yard and in Lillian's locker, and they scared her very badly on her way home from school (she still lived with us at that time). My family was enraged at this course of action, and we vowed to never associate with the Murrays again. (Well, about that --- like I said, I was in first grade and I just didn't completely understand it, so therefore I didn't vow anything.) Once the Murrays saw the way we felt, they found that they had the same reaction of hate and anger. Anytime our families saw each other in the streets, we would turn up our noses and walk on the other side of the street.
Now, as I have finished my senior year of high school, the anger has faded slightly, but only slightly. Personally, I never really "got" what my family was so mad about, but as it was my family I had to do it too. Since I have met Xander, that feeling has completely faded away, and I am not against the Murrays at all.
As you are probably curious, I should probably mention Phillip Parks as well.
All of my information on Phillip Parks is from personal experience... unfortunately...
Who is Phillip Parks:
The Parks family have been our neighbors ever since I can remember. Phillip is an only child, and he is rather spoiled. He and I went to school together, grew up together, graduated together, and he has annoyed me for as long as I have known him. He is always hanging around me, and asking me to go places with him. Once, when I was in 2nd grade, he asked me to kiss him. Seriously?! The nerve of that kid!! Ugh. My parents would like him to marry me (because they think I have been in the house for too long), but I would be disgusted and horrified if he asked me. Phillip is also from a high strung family. They are of European royal ancestry. Somehow that makes them better than everyone else? The Parks are rich. Probably the richest in the area, and they all are either very handsome or pretty. In case you didn't get it before - I do not like Phillip Parks.
