Free Family Ties by Debi V. Smith Page B

say anything .”
    “You allowed Arissa to take you to the office. They called us asking questions,” she says in rabid hysterics. “It’s bad enough we have to put up with the Jerichos.” The heel of her hand presses her temple and her eyes close.
    “You’re grounded for the rest of the week,” Father says, leaving with Mother behind him.
    I wait a few minutes and then pound the side of my fist on my desk at the unfairness of it all. All I did was go to the office before class until I got myself together and I get grounded for it. Life was simpler without friends, but I wouldn’t trade the two of them for that life again.

 
    CHAPTER NINETEEN
    The next day, the doorbell announces a visitor in the middle of doing the dinner dishes. No one comes to the house except for Arissa and she would call first.
    “You what ?” my father shouts.
    I turn off the water and strain to listen.
    “Please, sir. I would like to take your daughter out on a date,” Jason states.
    My heart leaps into my throat and lodges there, threatening to cut off my air supply. I force a deep breath to clear the airway. No, J. What are you doing? It won’t work!
    “Didn’t she already tell you we said no?” Father asks.
    “Yes, sir. But, if you would just listen for a minute, I’ll tell you what my plans for the date are.”
    “Why would I want to do that?”
    “Because you are a fair and honorable man.”
    No, he’s not!
    “You don’t even know me,” Father says.
    “You’re right, sir—“
    “Quit calling me sir!”
    “I’m sorry, sir, but my parents taught me to be respectful of adults.” 
    I set the sponge down and tiptoe to the corner, peeking around at the front door. Father stands with his feet planted slightly apart and his arms crossed over his chest.
    “You have one minute,” he says, glancing at his watch.
    “I would like to take Sara to the football game Friday and then out for pizza. My parents will be with us and she’ll be home by midnight.”
    A long uncomfortable silence hangs in the air.
    “She’s grounded for the rest of the week.”
    “I know, sir. But it was my fault she left class before it started. I pressured her to tell me why and it upset her. She felt like the only thing she could do was leave.” 
    “She’s still grounded.”
    “May I take her to the football game next weekend?”
    “We’ll see about that, young man,” he answers, then shuts the door in Jason’s face.
    I scramble back to the sink and wipe down the counter. Large fingers tangle themselves in my hair and wrench my head back. My hands cover Father’s on instinct, struggling to pull my head up without tearing my hair out.
    “What kind of game are you playing?”
    “I’m not playing any game,” I answer, closing my eyes and bracing myself for his next move.
    He yanks my head harder. “Don’t lie to me.”
    I let out a scream.
    His face is less than an inch from mine. “I want to know what you are up to.”
    “Nothing!” I cry out.
    “Lies!” He jerks my head again.
    “I’m not lying!”
    “Then why was that boy here tonight? Did you think we would give in to someone else?”
    “No! I didn’t have anything to do with that. I didn’t know he was coming. I’m not lying. Why would I? What would I get from it?” 
    “Nothing. You’d never get anything. You’ll never get anything if your friends run interference for you.”
    I’ll never get anything regardless.
    His grip tightens and I wince. Pain shoots from each shaft of hair he pulls, but if I scream any more than I already have, he’ll make sure to double the pain.
    I know retribution, in his interpretation of the word, is coming, but I don’t know what it is.
    He shoves my head forward, submerging my face in the dishwater. I release his hand and grip the counter for purchase, fighting against his strength to bring my head up. My toes scrape over the mat underneath us, searching for a foothold. My lungs constrict without oxygen and I exhale what little