taintedtruffle: thanks! glad you liked it :)

Sarah: thanks too! sorry it took me so long to update /

MissDepp4eva: thanks! this update is kinda short, but i'm hoping that the whole shorter chapter-quicker update thing will work out :)


"I can't believe it!" Mom's not happy. "You've never been in a fight before, baby. Why now? What happened?"

"A kid got me mad."

"Which kid?"

"A kid."

I can hear Dad chuckle from the living room. He's watching an old rerun of The Simpsons, so I don't know if he's laughing at my response or Homer's drunken stupidity.

"Well, I can't see why anyone would want to hurt you, my little guy." She presses a frozen bag of peas up against my already-black eye. I don't see how the side dish will help my bruised cheekbone. "Did this kid do anything else to you that I should know about?"

Yeah, he knocked out my tooth. "No."

"He better not have."

"He didn't."

"Good."


"Mom, do I really need to—"

"Keep the peas on your face until I say so." With that, she grabs her purse, announces to Dad that she's going to pick up a pizza we ordered earlier, and leaves.

I'm sitting at the kitchen table, leaning on my elbow. These damn peas are so uncomfortable. I wonder how long it'll take kids at school to start shunning me. Or maybe they'll congratulate me. Or maybe nothing will change.

The TV snaps off suddenly, and I hear my dad drag himself up from the couch with a slight moan. He struts into the kitchen and looks me over. He nods slightly, in approval.

Did you stick it to him?

"Yeah. I think so."

You think so?

"I know so."

He laughs and ruffles my hair. Atta boy. Hey, let's go out.

"Right now?"

Yeah. Some father/son bonding time.

"What about Mom? And the pizza?"

He scoffs. I can show you a better time than a goddamn box of pizza. Now let's go.

We drive down the street for a few minutes, and right as we pass the grocery store, I can see Mom's car stopped at an intersection. I wonder if she can see us.

She won't know we're gone until she gets home, Dad tells me. Besides, I left her a note.

"A note?"

Telling her where we'd be. He turns in the driver's seat and grins at me. Seems like the most responsible thing to do, doesn't it?

"Yeah."

I thought so, too.

A few minutes later, I press my face up against the glass of the window and the words "Lou's Tavern" come into focus. They're bright neon green; they hurt my eyes. Before I know it, we're in a parking spot.

"Dad, I thought you said I wasn't allowed here."

Dad shrugs. Think of it as…bring your son to work day. Now come on, let's go, or we'll miss all the good shit.

As he leads me into the bar, I steal a quick glance back at our parking space. It's a handicapped spot.

"Uh, Dad, we're parked—"

Relax. Nobody's gonna need that spot tonight, anyway.

"Oh."

Oh is right. Now come on, you're in for one hell of a night.