August 13, 2018
“Shall we?”
“I’m not sure, I follow, Dad.”
“Well, let’s see. You sneak out the window at all hours of the night, I caught you smoking, your grades are deteriorating, and that hair cut is a goddamn disaster. Not to mention, your principal called me again. Another meeting. Something about you cutting someone. It’s time we talk.”
“I don’t know why you have to be so hard on me all the time. And that was an accident. It was more of a nick.”
“Fiskar, if I don’t stay on top of things, who will? Your sister, Elm, has outstanding grades. Outstanding!”
“I take out the trash, don’t I?”
“You take out the trash. Really, Fisk? That’s your defense? You know, sometimes, just sometimes, I just want you to try a little harder. That’s all.”
“You mean, you don’t want me to make you feel like a failing father, is what you mean.”
“It’s not like that, son. You know that.”
“Let’s ask Elm if she ever gets this much crap from you.”
“Watch it, Fisk.”
“I’m serious, Dad.”
“Elm! Come out here. Your brother and I would like a word with you.”
“Yes, Dad?”
“It appears we are going to have another family meeting.”
“Great. Here we go again. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Dad, somebody called for you last night. Left a message.”
“Well, spit it out, young lady.”
“He said, ‘Tell Slate this is his college buddy Chance’.”
“This always happens. Okay, I guess I should return his phone call first.”
∞
