Mischa Mentol was the apple of her parents eyes and had been since she was born. She was an only child. Her mother had such a hard time giving birth to her that the doctor had recommended she have no more children. Since her father was a doctor they had plenty of money. She always had tons of toys to play with when she was little when she got bigger she always had nice clothes and play money.
She got all Bs at school, was top of her karate class, and had a wonderful boyfriend. Of course she wasn't really a little angel like she pretended. If one of her parents were to search her room they would find evidence of a very different girl. If they found the pot, condoms, vodka, and cigarettes hidden in her sock drawer they would worried for her. Even though Mischa was only sixteen she was on a path to self destruction.
Every night when her parents would go to sleep she would slip out of her bedroom window, take the car, and go see her boyfriend New York. She had been doing it steady for two weeks. She really didn't think her parents knew what she was doing. Her mother didn't have a clue but her father knew alright.
Hannibal had known since night one. At first he didn't want to jump on her right away. All kids do dumb things. All kids sneak out once in a while. He checked on her every morning to make sure she was alright. He worried about her every night when she was gone. He hadn't talked to because he knew that confronting her wasn't going to stop her from sneaking out. He could bolt the window closed but Mischa would find a way out. He knew her. She was smart and determined.
He couldn't go any longer without finding out where she was going. Two weeks was long enough for her to have her fun. He wouldn't tell Clarice about it unless he had to. She worried so much about her. She always had.
Hannibal glanced at his wife, who was sleeping next to him, before slipping out of the bed. He tipped toed down the hallway and into their kitchen. He put on some coffee before heading into Mischa's bedroom. He hated the idea of going through her things but he had to have an idea of what she was doing before he talked to her.
He opened up the draw to her beside table and looked around inside. There was one some scrap pieces of paper. Her father closed it before moving to her dresser. He went through each drawer carefully pushing the clothes aside. When he got to the bottom drawer he hit the jackpot.
"Mischa," he whispered as he gathered up the pot, condoms, bottles of vodka, and the pack of cigarettes.
Hannibal walked into the kitchen and sat the things on the kitchen table. He got this cup off coffee and sat down. He put the coffee down and picked up the pot. The pot was the one thing he could accept. It wasn't bad for you unless you got carried away. If she had just asked he would have allowed her to have some.
The condoms really made him angry. His baby girl was having sex. Clarice and him had given her 'the talk' when she was thirteen. She had been so embarrassed and it didn't look like she had taken any of it in. Sex hadn't been mentioned again. He knew he hadn't talked to her enough.
He blamed himself for the smoking. He had smoked most of her life and had only quit last year. She had seen him do it her whole life so she was just imitating him. He never drank and she had no business drinking.
The hours passed without him realizing. He was thinking so deeply about his daughter. He hadn't' meant to go so wrong with her. He had always been there for her or at least he thought he had. Clarice didn't work so she was always there for her daughter.
Hannibal jumped up from the table when he heard the car pull in. He waited a few minutes before walking to her room. He could hear her moving around inside. He knocked on the door.
"Yes?" came her voice.
"I want to see you in the kitchen now," Hannibal ordered.
He walked back into the kitchen and leaned against the counter drinking his third cup of coffee. She walked into the room a minute later. She felt like running back into her room when she saw her things on the kitchen table.
"Sit and explain," he said pointing at the table. "The condoms first."
"The condoms," she whispered sitting down. "You know I have a boyfriend."
"How long have you been having sex?" Hannibal asked.
"Two month," Mischa said not looking at him. "I hadn't done anything until two months ago. I always use protection."
"Why did you come to me about this?" he asked. "I could have given you birth control. It would have been so much safer."
"I don't like talking to you or mom about my personal business," the young girl explained. "You would have yelled at me."
"I would not have," Hannibal said. "I'm not yelling now and I'm very angry."
"I don't see why you care," Mischa said getting up from the chair. "It's my life. I'll do what I want."
"That is where you are wrong young lady," her father said pointing a finger at her. "You will not do what you want behind my back."
Mischa let out a small scream and ran back to her room.
"You're ground until further notice young lady!" Hannibal yelled at her retreating back.
Hannibal sighed rubbing his forehead with his free hand. He loved Mischa more than anything but she needed a serious wake up call.