Title: sins of our fathers

Author: jenna ravenrose

Timeline: after film

Max walked up the rickety little metal staircase to their trailer. In the distance she could hear the neighbors arguing again. She ignored it for the everyday occurrence that it was. It only really got interesting when the cops were called anyways. Max was going through the piles of mail in her hands. Sorting it in her mind between bills and disconnect notices. When one envelope caught her eye. It wasn't a bill or a collection agency letter.

It was addressed to her, which caught her off guard. She opened it without thinking. She had seen this stationary before. Usually in the trash. Right before mom went out and bought something they couldn't afford.

Which wasn't much on her disability payments. Max opened the expensive looking paper and read.

Dear Maxine,

You do not know me, but you should. Perhaps your mother chose not to tell you of me, I do not know either way. She certainetly never mentioned you until I did. I'm sure by now you are thoroughly confused. So I will spell it out to you. I am your father Maxine. I haven't the time to explain all to you now but I want to know all about you. I would very much like to meet you. Enclosed is the usual amount I've been sending, I hope that it is sufficient for your needs.

Signed, your father

James Danvers

Max stopped reading and reread what she had just read twice. Then she opened flipped over the check and just about passed out. The usual amount? She reread, did that mean he had been sending them money all along. If so why were they living in this crappy trailer in Compton she shoved the letter back into the envelope and hid it in her pocket. This one would not end up in the trash.

She walked back to her room. Mom was passed out on the sofa. A leftover joint slowly burning out in the ashtray. Max walked right past her and set the bills on the table. "Max is that you" said mom "yeah mom, bills are on the table" said max she slid the door to her room closed and flopped down on her bed. Pulling out her homework from her bag. Max would cash the check tomorrow and put some of it to keeping the power on.

She may have attended the worst school in the state but at least she got good grades. Despite the metal detectors and the armed security guards she still like the school.

She finished her homework and pulled the letter from her pocket. Rereading it again for the fourth time. She reached over to her dresser and pulled her notebook that doubled as an address book. She wrote down his address off the envelope and his name and hid the letter. There was obviously something mom didn't want her to know about her dad. Something that of course fueled the fires of curiosity in her mind.

The next day she cashed the check at the check-cashing place. It took them a long time to verify it. Max assumed they thought she stole it. They paid out the cash and max handed them the electric bill and gave them the amount on the bill. She also paid the water bill while she was there and bought a stamped envelope. Went across the street bought breakfast. It consisted of a cola and jolt cola slushy and nachos. Then she went to school. Waded through the usual and found her friends. She told her friends Monica and shay shay about the letter not the money. Revealing that you had money was a sure way to get mugged in this hood.

"Seriously he's your dad?" said shay shay "then you should write to him" said Monica. "Yeah but what do I say, surprise it's a girl" said max. Her friends laughed, "you'll think of something" said her friends. Max went the whole day trying to come up with a response. She wasn't able to write it until study hall. When she got done she still felt like something was missing. So she asked her friends what they thought, "you could send him a picture" said Shay "yeah he want to know you, should at least know what u look like girl" said Monica. "Yeah your right, do you still have that pic of all of us at the beach party?" asked Max "yeah its right here" said shay pointing at the pic inside her locker. "Can I have it please?" said Max "sure girlfriend its for a good cause" she said and handed max the print. It was her and her friends at the beach Max was in the middle and she had sun block on her nose.

Max stuffed it into the envelope and sealed it. When she walked home that day she dropped it in a blue mailbox before going home. Less than two weeks later she got a response. He wanted her to visit him, unfortunately he lived in Massachusetts. No way could she afford a plane ticket and she didn't own a car. Even with the money she had stuffed under her mattress. So she wrote back and explained the problem. Sorry dude spent the money, just didn't sound like enough info. She bought another envelope on the way to school again and mailed this one after school again. A week later she got another response more cash and an offer to attend school in Massachusetts. She was floored how would she explain all this to mom?

That night she tried and had the biggest argument she had ever had with her mother. She had called the man evil and forbid her to talk to him. Max argued back about her accepting his money. She neglected to mention there was anything left. She ended the argument by stating she couldn't afford to go anyways so the point was mute.

Max intercepted the next letter again and took out the money. He promised to pay for everything if only she would come. Finally it was her friend Jesus who gave her the incentive to go. Stating that if she graduated from here the most she could hope for was fast food management or supermarket checker. Max wanted more than that, she wanted a future

So taking the money from under mattress and the money he had sent she bought a greyhound ticket. Picked up some cheap luggage at the thrift store. Wrapped her most prized possession. A guitar she bought last year, in clothes to protect it. She packed her bags and left mom a note and some of the money. Then got a ride from Jesus' brother to the greyhound depot.

She boarded the bus the whole time thinking someone's going to stop me. But no one did but that didn't stop her from feeling nervous all the way to Texas. She transferred busses in Texas after spending the night in the depot. She watched them load the luggage while she waited. The guitar was too big to be carried on and she was worried they would lose it. Or it would get damaged. Even with her father supposededly going to pay for everything she still felt nervous about it.

She had never been well off in her life. Most of the time they were scraping to make ends meet. Which made her kind of on the thrifty side. She had even learned to play pool in order to supplement their money.

This school sounded good but she had her doubts about fitting in there. Then there was her father. What if he didn't like her or he thought she was weird. Would she share what she could do with him or not mention it? What was the rest of the family like? Why weren't he and mom talking to each other?

She had a million questions and only that old man knew the answers. Little did she know that while she waited for her connecting bus. Her father was giving his life to save her brother. Leaving some one else to answer her questions.

She got on the bus first thing in the morning. It took her another full day to reach the town of Ipswich. It was a small depot and Max got off the bus to claim her stuff.

Mercifully her guitar made it in one piece and so did her other bags.

She stood there waiting for an hour, no one showed up so she called a cab from a pay phone. The cab took her to the school.

As soon as she saw it she wanted to turn around and go home. No way would she fit in here. These people were Ivy League, she was trailer trash. The cab pulled up and she hesitated on getting out. "Miss the meters running are you getting out?' said the cab driver. She swallowed and opened the door. If she could make it in some of the worst neighborhoods in L.A. She refused to be intimidated by this place.

The cab driver opened the trunk and pulled out her bags. Asked her if she needed help, she said no and paid the fare. She flung the strap to the guitar over her shoulder and picked up her bags. Walking into the building. She walked down the nearly deserted halls and into the office. She set her bags by a chair and approached the counter.

"Yes can I help you?" said the woman. The woman looked like a librarian. Complete with thick glasses. "Yes my father enrolled me here" said Max. "And your name miss" said the woman. She was eyeing Max's jeans with holes in the knees and the tank top that said Harley Davidson. The hoody with paint on the arms. "Max, Maxine Rhyde" she said, "Ah, I see, the new transfer student," said the woman. She sat down at a desk and typed up something. "We received the fax from your old school this morning" said the woman. She was frowning at the screen. Max tried very hard to keep the grin off her face. What's the matter lady never heard of east Compton high? "Your tuition includes room and board," said the woman. She said it like she didn't deserve to be there." Your in dorm room 107, the girls dorms are the first two floors, girls are not allowed on the upper floors those are the boys dorms" said the woman. She had this look on her face like she expected max to be caught doing just that. "Thank you, the keys" said Max

The woman handed her a key and had her sign a paper. Then she gave her, the schedule. "You buy your uniform in town," said the woman. Max grabbed a welcome brochure off the counter. The woman frowned at her when max politely declined the offer of a student guide. She stuffed her schedule in her pocket and headed for the dorms. Following the small map on the brochure. She took note of the uniform requirements and groaned. Eew yuck I have to dress like a preppy. She walked up the stairs and set her bags down in front of her door. Pulled out her keys and opened the door.

The room was huge and it had its own restroom. No shower but there was ones down the hall. She set her bags inside the door and pulled the strap off over her head.

Setting the guitar down on the floor next to her bags. She wandered around the room she had a dresser, a nice one not one that was held together with duct tape. A desk of her own complete with light. And a bed with a headboard, not mattresses set on the floor.

She had just flopped down on the empty bed when the door opened.

In walked a blond she was kissing on a boy with equally blond hair. Max didn't say anything until they tripped on her bags. "Sorry about that would you like me to come back later?" said Max. She was grinning at the embarrassed blond. "Oh shit you must be my new roommate?" said the girl. "Yep that would be me," said Max with a sarcastic grin.

Max sat up and grabbed her bag pulling it away from the blond. The boy was grinning at Max, he had a devilish look to him that Max wasn't sure if she liked or not. "Oh, I'm Jenny, Jenny Neals," said the girl. Max grinned at least she wouldn't get teased about her name. The boy was nuzzling Jenny's neck. Jenny looked embarrassed "Reid stop" she said

Reid raised his head and stuck out his hand. His arm was still around Jenny "Reid, Reid Garwin" said the boy "Max" she said back. "Just Max?" he questioned. "Max Rhyde" she answered. Jenny kissed him "stop teasing Reid, she just got here let her unpack" said Jenny she was shooing Reid out the door. She got him to the door and promised to catch him later tonight before she closed the door on him.

Jenny turned back towards her new roommate. She looked entirely too happy and it made Max nervous "so you too huh" said Jenny "me too?" said Max. Thoroughly lost by her question "a name people make fun of, cause it sounds you know?" said Jenny "oh, yeah" said Max. 'So I take it that was the boyfriend?" said Max. "Yeah isn't he dreamy?" said Jenny. Max declined to answer that, the boy looked like trouble to her. She shrugged instead.

"So jenny where do you go for the uniform thing?" said Max she wanted to get off the boyfriend subject. "Oh that's easy we go to a place in town, they sell all kinds of uniforms, why?" said Jenny. Max frowned ok her roommate wasn't the brightest peg in the box.

"Because I need one," said Max. "Oh yeah" said the girl. Max wondered how she was ever going to stay sane. "So where is this store?" said Max "in town" said Jenny. Max smacked herself in the head. "How do I find it?' said Max. "Oh you want to go there?' said Jenny. Max wanted to scream "yes" she said. "Ok I'll give you a ride," said Jenny. Max hadn't expected that. "Cool" said Max. Jenny walked past her and sat down at her desk. And started to flip open her laptop."Ah were you planning on doing that today?' said Max

"Oh yeah you need those huh?" said Jenny. Jenny grabbed her keys and her purse. Max followed her out the door. She was wondering if she would remain sane from this school year.

Jenny turned out to own a jaguar, which she drove like she stole it. Max thought she would get sick from her driving. Just when she thought she was either going to hurl or die, they were there. Max had never been so glad to get out of a car. Jenny got out behind her and hit the alarm button. Max walked into the shop. "Can I help you?" said a snooty store clerk. "Yeah I'm going to Spencer's, I need a uniform" said Max. The woman looked surprised for a second. Then jenny came up behind her. "Yeah she's my new roommate," said jenny. "Oh how nice" said the woman in a drab tone. "Size" said the woman.

"12" max supplied. "Bra size?" said the woman "36 c" said Max embarrassed to be answering such a question. The woman came back a few minutes later carrying a stack of clothing. Five skirts, five white shirts three blazers three ugly sweater things, and knee high socks. Max wanted to hurl, what were they thinking?