Chapter 28
"ABSOLUTY NOT! I FORBID THAT HE COMES HERE!"
"It's my birthday, I can invite anyone I want. Did I complain when Karen came over for your birthday?"
Rick thought for a minute, "I think you did."
Lillia came up the stairs, "What is all the shouting about at this hour?"
"I want to invite Kai to my birthday party."
Rick crossed his arms, "I don't want that troublemaker in this house."
Lillia sighed, "Rick, you had Karen over for your birthday, and Popuri didn't complain about it. So you can be kind and not complain about who Popuri invites."
"But I don't trust him."
"Rick, despite your being eighteen, I still run this house. Popuri is now sixteen, and it's best that a girl's sixteenth birthday is sweet not sour."
"But..."
"Rick, if you continue to complain, you will need to start sleeping in either the chicken coop or the windmill."
Rick widened his eyes, "You would kick me out?"
"Yes, you need to learn to be nice to girls. I've noticed that Karen hasn't been spending much time with you lately."
Rick headed over to the north facing window.
Popuri chimed in, "I think it's because of that weed hater next door."
Lillia raised an eyebrow, "Who?"
"Jack. He hates weeds."
"Are you forgetting that Jack helped you out by stopping Pon from running away?"
Popuri blushed, "Oh..yeah, he did help me."
"Now don't talk badly about people. Would you want them to talk badly about you?"
Popuri shuffled her feet, "No mom."
Lillia smiled, "Now, after breakfast go and invite Kai."
"Ok, mom."
Popuri left the room and headed downstairs.
Rick was still standing at the window.
"Rick, sweetie, what's wrong?"
"Mom, does Karen hate me?"
"I don't know. Are you upset that she might like Jack?"
"I, I don't know. She and I have been friends for a long time."
"Sweetie, I think Karen wanted to be more then friends with you lately."
"What do you mean?"
Lillia sighed, "I think she was hoping to be your wife."
A surprised look crossed Rick's face, "Oh, I didn't think of that. Do you think that there is enough time for me to win Karen back?"
"Sweetie, people are not prizes. But to get her to like you more, there might be enough time. But if she does choose Jack over you, what would you do?"
"I, I guess I would be happy. I hope that I could still be friends with them. If they would let me."
"They might, sweetie. Come down to breakfast when you feel ready."
Lillia left and went back downstairs.
Rick felt a tear fall from his eye.
*Karen, I though we loved each other.*
