Free Old Wounds by N.K. Smith

thing?” I asked.
    “Yeah, it’s stupid, but tomorrow I could pick you up early for a little wake-n-bake and then we could go for a hike in the woods.” Jason licked his lips and leaned in close to me. “Ever do it in a forest?”
    Swampy wetlands, yes. Sandy beaches, yes. Forest, no. I smiled wickedly at him. “Don’t come over too early. It’s Saturday after all. And don’t think that it’s a date or anything.” Jason sighed and I shrugged. “Just felt like I needed to remind you.”
    “I won’t be over before Tom leaves.” At my silent question, he answered, “Your dad would flip if he knew I was banging his precious little girl. He hates me.”
    “You’re his best friend’s son.”
    “Who sells dope and corrupts the youth of Damascus.”
    I shrugged. “Socrates did the same thing, except for the dope-selling, and now he’s studied by everyone.” Jason gave me a quizzical look, obviously not knowing or caring about Socrates. “What does Jerry think of your dope-selling ways?”
    He sighed. “He doesn’t approve, but he doesn’t ask questions or make a big thing about it. He can’t work and I can’t make the kind of money we need by flipping burgers, so he realizes either I sell the shit or we don’t eat and he can’t go to the doctor or get his meds.” His eyes flicked to the clock on the dash. “I have to go. See you tomorrow.” As I found the door handle, he added, “Don’t bother wearing panties, unless you want them ripped off.”
    I bit back a laugh and exited the car without saying another word.
    I’d just gotten out a few ingredients for dinner when Tom came through the front door. “Hey, kid,” he said as he walked into the kitchen.
    “It’s your off day, where have you been?” I looked down at the fast-food bag in his hands. “You brought food?”
    “Yeah,” he said, his eyes nervously darting around the kitchen. “I forgot to tell you, but we have an appointment.” He held out the bag. “So here, I went out for food.”
    “What appointment?” I asked, frowning. “I typically stay away from fast food.”
    “I got you a salad, ‘cause I know you have to eat healthy and all that.” Again, he was nervous, and his voice told me that he was hiding something, but before I could ask, he said, “Come on, we have to go.”

    Tom was quiet and nervous during the entire car ride and he carefully avoided answering any question about where we were going. I didn’t like it. I hated surprises and I hated being trapped in a car without the slightest idea of where I was going to end up. I hadn’t been caught doing anything bad so far, so I didn’t think he was taking me to jail or a group home, but then we stopped at a large house.
    I turned to him, already feeling betrayed. “What’s this? Where are we?”
    “Calm down there, Sophie, it’s all a part of the agreement.”
    I breathed out angrily. “What agreement?”
    “The agreement with the people in Tampa. In order for you to avoid any kind of severe discipline, I had to take you.” I couldn’t help but hear an emphasis on the word “had.” “You have to go to therapy. This is Dr. Dalton’s place. He and Robin Wallace have set up—”
    “EXCUSE ME?” I yelled. “I don’t need therapy!”
    Tom sighed and shook his head. “You stole a car , Sophia. You didn’t think you could just get away with that did you?”
    The whole thing pissed me off, ruining my relatively good mood. The word “therapy” snapped the very thin thread within me. I’d been polite and nice so far, but it ended here.
    “Of course not, Tom .” I spat out his name, unimpressed by his parental authority. “But I thought moving to Podunk, Maryland with you was punishment enough.” He sighed again and turned away from me as if I was just going to let him be all cool and calm with this shit. “Don’t you think it’s torture enough to have to live in your shitty little house and pretend like you’re actually my father?”
    I