I was in a rush the next morning before school. I was checking off things in my mind that I needed to get done that day. And, since
eating right is important, (I sure didn't want any blood sugar episodes) with everything that was going on right now, I made sure
to eat a healthy breakfast. Guthrie was exuberant because he didn't have to go to school that day. Seniors could have a 'skip day' if
they so chose, and of course he chose it. He'd told Kristin she could ride into school with me. I could tell from the way he was talking
that he was going to help Evan a majority of the day at the cabin.
I was finishing up and grabbing some fruit to take for snacks during the morning at school between classes, when Hannah
asked me if I could stop at the store on my way home. She started naming off several items that we needed.
"Get some money out of my purse, for everything," she told me.
I paused, from where I'd been choosing between an apple or a banana, to look at her.
I didn't really want to have to stop at the store after work at the vet clinic. I would have homework, and I needed to get
home to work with my new horse-
I guess Hannah could tell, by my hesitation, because she stopped listing things, and looked at me. "Or can you not stop
at the store for me?"
"I can," I said, still reluctant. "It's just-maybe-" I paused.
"You have a lot to do, right?" Hannah asked, correctly guessing my thoughts.
"Well, yeah," I said.
"We all have a lot to do," Adam said, speaking as he passed beside me on his way to the coffee pot. He began refilling his cup,
giving me a serious look. "Hannah needs you to get some things at the store. None of us are going into town today, so we can't do
it. You can manage to fit it into your schedule. Can't you?"
The way he said that last part, I could hear the censure in his tone. He could make me feel ashamed of myself with just that little
bit of words, and tone.
I felt my face get warm. I picked up an apple, and looked toward Hannah. "I'll get the stuff for you," I said, quietly.
"Thank you," Hannah said. She looked somewhat sympathetic. "Go upstairs and get my purse-"
"Here," Adam said, interrupting her. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, taking a ten dollar bill out and handing
it to me. "That enough, do you think?" he asked Hannah.
"I think it should be," she said.
"Well, here," Adam added, and pulled out a five dollar bill. He handed that off to me, as well. "Just to be sure."
I took the money, and tucked it into my front pocket of my jeans. After that, I put my apple and a granola bar into a small sack, heading
towards the living room.
"I'll be ready to go in a minute," Kristin told me.
I said okay, and went to gather up my backpack. I'd already put my homework in it. Adam came walking thru from the kitchen,
Guthrie behind him. Guthrie was devouring another biscuit, and dropping crumbs as he walked. I could see them falling.
"Let's talk before you and Kristin take off," Adam told me.
"Okay," I said, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.
"Let's go out on the porch," Adam said, and Guthrie and I exchanged glances, following Adam out. He pulled the wooden door
closed behind us, and went to lean against one of the porch columns.
"I've been thinkin' a lot about what happened Saturday night at the party you went to," Adam began.
I had the feeling then that he Adam was going to come down on Guthrie for fighting. He, well, none of the family, really, had
said too much about what had happened. I thought that they had all understood. Now, I wondered.
I could tell Guthrie was bothered, because his posture immediately changed. He stood up straighter, as if bracing himself.
"Even though Kenny's bound to have trouble from some people, it's still a damn shame about what happened," Adam began. "We all need
to be able to give and receive grace."
Well, that wasn't too bad. It was nice, actually. I felt a little better.
"I wish I could say that I think that's the end of it," Adam went on. "But, likely it's not."
"Those two boys started it all-" I began.
"I know they did," Adam said. "I understand how it was. You and Trent, Guth, didn't feel as though you had
much choice, right?"
"We didn't," Guthrie affirmed. I could tell he was still tensed up, waiting for Adam to start lecturing, or yelling.
"Right. What I'm thinking of, though, is when it comes up again. If it's at school, then I want you to let the teachers or
the principal take care of it. That's their job. And, if those boys are stupid enough to start somethin' at school, then they
can deal with what the school hands down to them," Adam said.
I shot a look at Guthrie. Adam was effectively saying, 'no fighting at school'. That's what he meant.
"What if it's not at school?" Guthrie asked, sounding tense. "What if it's out-like it was Saturday night? You're not
sayin' you want me to stand there while they tear Kenny apart, are you?"
"No. I'm not saying that," Adam said. "I'm saying that if there's any way to avoid trouble, not get into a fight, then that's
what I'm asking you to do."
Guthrie looked still tense, but after a moment or so, he gave a brief nod. "I won't go lookin' for trouble."
"Okay," Adam said. He looked at me, then. I'd actually been wondering why he wanted me out there for this
'talk'. It's not as though I'd been actively involved in punching anyone Saturday night.
"The thing with you, sugar," he began, "Is I'm concerned about if you're out somewhere with Kenny, and it's just
the two of you. Not Guthrie. Not Trent. Just you two. And, some of these characters decide to start somethin' with Kenny, then. It
puts you in a bad spot. I don't like the thought of that. Not at all."
I wondered at that. Was he changing his mind about letting me go out with Kenny? Just last night he'd said it was
alright-
"I just flat-out don't want you in that situation," Adam went on. "Brian and Crane feel the same."
"So, what does that mean, exactly?" I asked.
"For awhile, have Kenny hang around here. If you go out, to the movies or whatever, then go with other people. Guthrie and Kristin,
Trent and Lori, Ford and his girl, whoever it may be. Just not alone. We don't want you hurt."
"There were other people at the party," I pointed out. "That didn't stop it from happening."
As soon as I'd said the words, I wanted to take them back. Adam frowned at me.
"That's true," he said, dryly. "Keep talkin', Harlie. You'll convince me that you shouldn't be goin' out with him at all."
I felt my face get all hot again. The second time this morning that he'd managed to nail me with his words, and it wasn't
even 7:30 yet.
"Yeah, Har, stop talkin'," Guthrie said, and I knew he was more serious than he was joking.
Adam gave me another hard look, and then he said, "So, are we agreed on this? Guthrie?"
"Yeah. Agreed," Guthrie said.
"How about you?" Adam asked me. "Can you abide by what I'm saying to you?"
My face was still feeling all hot. "Yes. I will," I told him.
"Alright," Adam said, pushing himself off the porch column.
"You ready?" Guthrie asked me. "I'll tell Kristin to hurry up."
"Uh huh," I said.
Guthrie went inside then, letting the screen door slam. That left Adam and I there on the porch, alone.
"Busy weekend," he said, and I could tell he was done with his lecture mode.
"It sure was," I agreed.
Kristin came bursting out the door then. We said goodbye to Adam, and began walking towards my truck.
"Have a good day," Adam said, just like he did every single morning.
7
On the ride into school, I asked Kristin if she was spending the night again with us.
"I'll see what Mom says when you take me over there to get my backpack and stuff," Kristin said. "If she says Frank won't be
around, then I might stay there tonight." She hesitated, looking worried. "I'm sorry-to be so wishy-washy and all-I just never
know what's happening at my house lately-"
"It's alright," I said. "You know everybody wants you to stay at our house."
"I feel that," Kristin said. "And it means so much, I can't even say how much."
She looked as though she was going to cry, or nearly anyway.
"You're an honorary McFadden," I said.
Kristin smiled, still looking a little emotional. "I wish I'd been born into a family like yours. Instead of this mess that I ended up
with."
"We're sure not perfect," I said.
"Maybe not. But, at least you all love and look out for each other," Kristin said.
"What about talking to Crane last night?" I asked, as we were nearly to the trailer park. "How did that go?"
"Oh, wow," Kristin said, and it was as though a light passed over her face. "Crane's incredible. I mean, when he's talking
to me, I feel as though he really cares, you know?"
"He does care," I said.
"You're so lucky, Harlie," Kristin said. A comment which she has made to me many times before.
I parked in front of the mobile home, beside Kristin's mom's car.
"She didn't go to work, it looks like," Kristin said, with a sigh. "That's not a good sign."
She opened her door, and said, "I'll be right back," and prepared to get out.
I told her okay, and watched as she went up the few steps of the porch, and into the trailer house.
7
The statement from Adam about how "we all need to be able to give and receive grace", is a quote from Robinangel, and I think it's
beautiful. She said she didn't mind if I used it. Thanks, Robinangel!
