you,” she stated. “He’s in there talking to your dad now.”
“Wayne? He couldn’t stop him even if he wanted to. Who are you? How do you know my brother?”
Before she could answer, Mom pushed the door open. “What are you two doing in here?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Kay, I’ve moved your things to the bedroom next to ours. I’m going to have to ask you to wait there while we take care of this matter with Morgan.”
Mom turned her gaze to me. “Your dad’s in the kitchen waiting for you.”
My mind whirled, and my legs shook as I walked slowly out of the room, down the hall, into the kitchen. I waited by the cabinet edge until Dad acknowledged me.
He remained seated at the table with my brother rather than leading the way to where I’d surely receive my punishment, a room on the opposite end of the house from Kay. The room. Instead, he pointed to a chair and ordered me to sit.
“You know what you deserve for your behavior tonight, and I’ve never been a man to go back on my word. But your brother asked us to consider Kay’s presence in our home. He also feels it’s important for you to continue your education. Your mother and I disagree, but frankly, I’m tired of putting up with you. Let me make one thing clear.” He leaned forward and stuck his finger in my face. “You better hear and understand what I’m saying.”
Mom walked by, drawing my attention. Dad’s hand caught me unaware. The impact snapped my head to the side. “Look at me,” he demanded. “If you’re determined, we can’t keep you from wallowing with trash, but we can stop you from ever setting foot in this home again. Tomorrow morning, first thing, I want you out of this house. For good. Do you understand?”
Was my mind working properly? Did I hear him correctly? I swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”
“Don’t plan on coming back here until you’ve made up your mind who’s more important—your family or Chuck Mathews. You keep hanging around that no good boy and you’re dead as far as we’re concerned. The choice is yours.”
Mom chimed in, “We’ve helped you all we intend to. If you decide to go back to Midway, or drop out of college and get a job, it doesn’t matter to us. Your father and I are through providing. We’re not going to help you in any form or fashion—not anymore.”
Yeah, right! Did they really think they’d helped me these last two months?
“You can thank your brother for saving your hide.”
How? I’d never known anyone, other than Mom, capable of changing Frank Selby’s mind. I searched Wayne’s eyes for answers. His blank expression gave no clues.
“Thank you.” My voice trembled.
Dad snapped his fingers and pointed toward the door. “Don’t let me see or hear from you again tonight, or I’ll forget we have company. Now get out of my sight.”
I stood and drudged my way to my old bedroom, tears running down my face. I shoved a fist in my mouth to muffle the anguished sobs I couldn’t hold. Thank you, God, for protecting me tonight. I repeated the prayer several more times. I’d witness a miracle. God had used an unknown girl and my brother as His instruments.
Even after my body began to relax, my mind wouldn’t. I knew my parents well enough to know this sudden change of heart wouldn’t last. I wanted to leave but couldn’t. Not before morning, or they’d see my action as an act of defiance. But I had to come up with a plan.
Around midnight, I opened the bedroom door. No lights, no noise. The closest phone hung on the kitchen wall. We’d always said Mom could hear a spider walk across the floor, so making my phone call without getting caught would be difficult. In the dark, I counted each hole on the rotary phone, and I dialed Janet’s number. Carefully placing a finger in what I hoped was the correct slot, I moved it clockwise and slowly took it back to its original spot. When her phone began ringing, I slipped into the utility room and closed the door
“Wayne? He couldn’t stop him even if he wanted to. Who are you? How do you know my brother?”
Before she could answer, Mom pushed the door open. “What are you two doing in here?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Kay, I’ve moved your things to the bedroom next to ours. I’m going to have to ask you to wait there while we take care of this matter with Morgan.”
Mom turned her gaze to me. “Your dad’s in the kitchen waiting for you.”
My mind whirled, and my legs shook as I walked slowly out of the room, down the hall, into the kitchen. I waited by the cabinet edge until Dad acknowledged me.
He remained seated at the table with my brother rather than leading the way to where I’d surely receive my punishment, a room on the opposite end of the house from Kay. The room. Instead, he pointed to a chair and ordered me to sit.
“You know what you deserve for your behavior tonight, and I’ve never been a man to go back on my word. But your brother asked us to consider Kay’s presence in our home. He also feels it’s important for you to continue your education. Your mother and I disagree, but frankly, I’m tired of putting up with you. Let me make one thing clear.” He leaned forward and stuck his finger in my face. “You better hear and understand what I’m saying.”
Mom walked by, drawing my attention. Dad’s hand caught me unaware. The impact snapped my head to the side. “Look at me,” he demanded. “If you’re determined, we can’t keep you from wallowing with trash, but we can stop you from ever setting foot in this home again. Tomorrow morning, first thing, I want you out of this house. For good. Do you understand?”
Was my mind working properly? Did I hear him correctly? I swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”
“Don’t plan on coming back here until you’ve made up your mind who’s more important—your family or Chuck Mathews. You keep hanging around that no good boy and you’re dead as far as we’re concerned. The choice is yours.”
Mom chimed in, “We’ve helped you all we intend to. If you decide to go back to Midway, or drop out of college and get a job, it doesn’t matter to us. Your father and I are through providing. We’re not going to help you in any form or fashion—not anymore.”
Yeah, right! Did they really think they’d helped me these last two months?
“You can thank your brother for saving your hide.”
How? I’d never known anyone, other than Mom, capable of changing Frank Selby’s mind. I searched Wayne’s eyes for answers. His blank expression gave no clues.
“Thank you.” My voice trembled.
Dad snapped his fingers and pointed toward the door. “Don’t let me see or hear from you again tonight, or I’ll forget we have company. Now get out of my sight.”
I stood and drudged my way to my old bedroom, tears running down my face. I shoved a fist in my mouth to muffle the anguished sobs I couldn’t hold. Thank you, God, for protecting me tonight. I repeated the prayer several more times. I’d witness a miracle. God had used an unknown girl and my brother as His instruments.
Even after my body began to relax, my mind wouldn’t. I knew my parents well enough to know this sudden change of heart wouldn’t last. I wanted to leave but couldn’t. Not before morning, or they’d see my action as an act of defiance. But I had to come up with a plan.
Around midnight, I opened the bedroom door. No lights, no noise. The closest phone hung on the kitchen wall. We’d always said Mom could hear a spider walk across the floor, so making my phone call without getting caught would be difficult. In the dark, I counted each hole on the rotary phone, and I dialed Janet’s number. Carefully placing a finger in what I hoped was the correct slot, I moved it clockwise and slowly took it back to its original spot. When her phone began ringing, I slipped into the utility room and closed the door
Similar Books
