Wishing
Opening the front door as quietly as he possibly could, Tony slipped it ajar and entered his house. He stood a moment and listened intently, hoping that for once, his dad would be asleep and not notice the current time, or the fact that he was, once again, pretty late. Luck wasn't with him, though. Noting that the lights were off in both the kitchen and basement, he cut off the living room and entry lamps before he made his way upstairs.
His dad's light was on, and his bedroom door was wide open. Tony sighed in resignation, and reconciled himself to the inevitable. Something unpleasant would be coming his way in the very near future!
NCIS Special Agent Jethro Gibbs was propped against the headboard and pillows of his bed, and he was reading. Glancing up at the doorway, he greeted his son, studying him over the rim of his glasses. "Did you have a good time?"
Tony grasped the doorframe lightly, hoping he would get to slide by straight to his own room. "Hey, Dad- yes, we had a really good time and I know it's my bedtime..."
In response, Jethro shook his head and held out his hand, and Tony instantly changed his voice's tone from conversational to pleading. "Dad, please. Give me a pass on this one. I'm just a little bitty bit late, not that much- I mean I barely even missed curfew tonight."
Experienced in Tony's line of reasoning, the father ignored his son's attempt to bypass trouble and responded firmly, "Keys now, Tony, and for your information, you are close to an hour past your curfew."
Tony knew his dad wouldn't change his mind, so he pulled out his car keys from a front pocket of his khakis and handed them over, muttering, "Dad, really, I'm seventeen now. Can't you just make my curfew later? That's the whole problem- if you'd make it later I wouldn't always get into trouble by missing it."
Jethro nodded in disbelief and set the keys on his nightstand. He had to give the boy credit for trying to change the course of events. Tony kicked off his shoes and lay down on his stomach on his father's bed, sighing dramatically and puffing his lip into a pout.
"Ok, Son," he spoke resolutely, " you know that missing your curfew tonight means that there is no next weekend out for you, so get all of those plans cancelled. I have no intention of making your curfew later, so you need to learn how to make it home with plenty of time to spare instead. How does that sound for a brilliant plan and appropriate rejoinder?"
Tony frowned unhappily at that suggestion. "You're killing me, Dad. You know what's up for next weekend? That's the end of season football party, the celebration party for a great season with fantastic players and winning scores. Do you want me to be the only player on the whole team who doesn't go? Won't that make you feel bad knowing that your very own child has been left out of the tribute?"
Jethro couldn't help but smirk. "Nope, not in the least- in fact, with all this additional time you'll be spending at home the next few days, you can help more around the house. There are some advantages to your being grounded, and this means you will be working in the front yard each afternoon."
Tony groaned and rolled over on his back, but decided to give it one more try. "Ok, forget me, Dad, your only child and fine specimen of a son and the fact that it would be great to go to the party where I am one of the stars. Don't have second thoughts at all, or waste any guilt about that. However, why in the world would you want to break Kimberly Kirkland's heart by refusing to allow me to take her to that dance?"
"Kimberly Kirkland- how does she fit into the picture? I thought you were going out with Alexis Watts."
"Dad, that was tonight," Tony explained carefully. "Next week is Kimberly's week with my stunning self. Or at least it was supposed to be, but someone parental wants to deprive her of my sparkling companionship and devilish good looks." Tony rolled over and smiled at his dad.