Free CONVICTION (INTERFERENCE) by Kimberly Schwartzmiller

meals…unless I cook them.”
    “Doesn’t your father cook for you?”
    “No. I cook for him, sometimes. But, he’s not a big eater.”
    “Why did your father lose his job?” my father asked.
    “Daddy?”
    “It was just a question.”
    “He was let go…for drinking on the job. He’s an alcoholic.”
    My mother dropped the serving spoon in the vegetable bowl. “You lost your mother when you were six and your father’s an alcoholic? No wonder you went off the deep-end. Who wouldn’t?”
    “Just what did you do to get sent to juvenile hall for two years?” my father asked.
    “Daddy, I told you…drop it.”
    “I stole a couple bottles of Jack Daniels and then got drunk and stole a car…”
    “Well, you were lucky you only got two years.”
    “He turned himself in. Now, can we drop it?” I asked, not wanting him to have to tell the rest of the story, even though I knew he would.
    “Is that why you don’t drive? You don’t have your license back, yet?”
    “I have my license back, but I don’t have a car. I borrow my Dad’s car sometimes, but I usually just prefer to walk. I’m saving as much as I can for school. But, with my father out of work, most of the money goes to our bills. Gas is a luxury.”
    My father’s face finally softened. “So, you’re the man of the house? You take care of your father, even though he should be taking care of you?”
    “I’m nineteen. He raised me…for a while. I guess it’s my turn to raise him.”
    “So, what is it you want to study in school?”
    “Veterinary medicine.”
    I was shocked. “I didn’t know that. That’s great.”
    “A vet, huh? Expensive and a lot of years of schooling,” my father said.
    “I know, that’s why I’m trying to save as much as I can.”
    “You have to have good grades to get into a vet program,” my father continued.
    “Yes, I know. I um, I’ve taken quite a few online courses…core classes, and I’ve managed to keep my grades up. It’s going to take a while, but I’ll do it.”
    “You have to have more than just good grades…you need connections…”
    “Daddy, why are you harassing him?”
    “Calm down, Pumpkin. I’m not harassing him. I was going to say I know the dean at UCLA and I was going to offer to put in a good word for him.”
    I was shocked. “That’s so nice…”
    “Yes, that’s very nice, thank you. But, I want to do it on my own. I appreciate it, really. But, when I get my degree, I want it to be…mine, ya know?”
    “Ye s, I do know. I struggled to get into UCLA, worked my butt off for it. No one handed me anything and when I was done…I was proud. Well, I’m going to bed. I’m tired and we have mass early in the morning.”
    “Would it be okay if Rebecca and I spent the day together tomorrow? I thought we’d go to the zoo.”
    “I suppose it would be okay…after church.”
    “Of course.”
    “Sunday mass starts at nine am. You’re welcome to join us for church. We usually have breakfast after church, and then you’re free to go. Unless you have some objection?”
    “No, none whatsoever. Thank you.”
    “Goodnight,” my father said and headed upstairs. “Oh, one more thing, you’re allocated to the downstairs only. Got it?”
    Shane smiled and said, “Got it!”
    My mother and I sat there staring at each other, speechless.
    “Who was that?” I asked my mother, wondering what my father was up to.
    “I told you he’d come around. It was just sooner than I expected. Well, these dishes aren’t going to do themselves.”
    “Rebecca and I can do them. You’ve done enough. I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful meal.”
    “Oh, you two go watch television or something. I’ll take care of the dishes.”
    “Please, let me,” he said while standing up and gathering plates and glasses.
    “Yeah mom, you go to bed. We’ll do these.”
    “You’re sure? You and your sister usually argue…”
    “She’s not here, thankfully, and I won’t mind doing them with