"Cody, what is this?! You got a 'B' on your report card?!"
"I'm sorry, sir."
He slapped my face. "This better not happen again. Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. And before I forget, I want you to invite your friend over for dinner tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
"Now go to your room."
"Yes, sir."
_________________________________________________________________
"Hey, Jackson."
"Hey, Mel. Uh, my father wants me to invite you to dinner tonight. You wanna come?"
"Sure. I'd love to."
_________________________________________________________________
"Cody, how much longer are you gonna be?"
"I'm done, sir." I took the pizza out of the oven and set it onto the counter.
"Finally."
I set the table.
After a while, the doorbell rang.
"Cody, get the door."
"Yes, sir." I answered the door.
"Hey, Jackson."
"Hey, Mel."
She stepped inside. "Wow! It smells good in here."
"It's the pizza I made," my father said.
I looked at him.
"It tastes great, doesn't it, Cody?"
"Yeah. Amazing."
"Well let's eat." My father rubbed his hands together, taking a seat.
I pulled out a chair for Melissa.
"Thanks, Jackson."
"Your welcome." I took a seat next to her.
We all sat, eating pizza.
"Wow! Mr. Jackson, this pizza is delicious!"
I smiled, happy she liked it.
"Thank you, Melissa." My father looked at me. "What are you smiling about, Cody?"
I quickly stopped. "Uh, nothing, sir."
Melissa looked at me strangely.
_______________________________________________________________________
I was quiet most of the time, while my father chatted with Melissa.
"Cody's told me a lot about you."
"He has?" Melissa looked at me.
No.
My father nodded. "He told me you were nice, smart…and beautiful." He whispered the last part.
She giggled.
I looked down at the slice of pizza on my plate.
My father stared at me. "Isn't that right, Cody?"
I glanced up. "Uh, yes, sir."
Melissa blushed. "Thank you, Jackson. You don't look so bad, yourself."
I looked at my plate again.
My father sternly cleared his throat.
"Thank you, Mel," I said.
Melissa stared at me. "Jackson, are you alright?"
"Uh…no. I'm not. May I be excused?" I asked my father.
"Sure."
I stood up and walked into my bedroom, shutting the door behind me.
I plopped down onto the mattress.
After a moment, Melissa stepped inside. "Jackson, I'm sorry if you didn't want me to come. I'll leave if-"
"No, Mel. It's okay."
"Then what's wrong?"
"I'm just not feeling too good."
"I'm sorry. Do you want me get you some medicine or something?"
"No. I'm fine."
"If you're fine, then why don't you come back out here and finish your food?"
I sighed. Hesitantly, I pushed myself off the mattress and followed Melissa into the kitchen.
"Glad to see you're joining us again, Cody," my father said.
I took a seat, finishing my pizza.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Cody, that's not how you treat a guest!" My father slapped me.
"Sorry, sir."
Melissa had just stepped out the door when my father started yelling at me.
"You're grounded for a month."
"But, sir-"
"Two months."
There wasn't a whole lot of differences for when I'm grounded and when I'm not. But, when I am grounded, I don't get dinner.
I sighed. "Yes, sir."
"Clean up the kitchen. Then go to your room."
"Yes, sir."
_______________________________________________________________________
I sat by the window in my bedroom, looking out at the moon and stars.
They were so free, just floating in the sky, nothing holding them back.
I gripped the cold bars tightly, knuckles white.
Unexpectedly, I slammed my fist into them.
"S***!" I held my bleeding fist.
All of a sudden, the door burst open.
My father stumbled inside. "Cody, shut up and go to bed!"
"Yes, sir." I walked toward the mattress.
"You weren't planning another escape, were you?"
"No, sir."
"Good. Now go to sleep."
"Yes, sir."
