Truth Aftermath
Chapter 11
Later that morning as Amanda was tidying up the family room, the phone rang, and she went to the kitchen counter to answer it. "Hello?"
It was the vice principal, Mrs. Dennis, who replied, "Hello, Amanda. It's Alma Dennis. How are you feeling?"
Amanda sighed as she sat on the stool near the kitchen counter, and responded, "Oh, I'm coming along, Mrs. Dennis. It's still slow going, though. How are you?"
Mrs. Dennis answered, "Well, I'd wish for more normal days at school, but we can't always get that...The reason I'm calling, Amanda, is that Phillip is in the nurse's office."
Amanda asked concernedly, "Is he alright? What happened?"
Mrs. Dennis hesitated, and then remarked, "Well, most kids his age are trying this, but with Phillip, I didn't forsee this-"
Amanda stated firmly, "Mrs. Dennis, please? What happened?"
Mrs. Dennis answered, "He was found behind the bleachers with some friends a half hour ago smoking-"
Amanda stunned, querying, "What?"
Mrs. Dennis replied, "Yes, and I'd say that by now, after his stomach issue, and discussing the matter with him, he's rethinking his behavior, and shouldn't be doing this again. I was calling the other parents to let them know of their own children's situation as well, but I wonder, since you aren't able to drive yet, if your mother could come pick him up?"
Looking at the time, Amanda commented firmly, "I'm sorry, but my mother isn't back yet. She went to the grocery, and may have had to do other errands, but look...Can you please keep him there? I'll call a cab to come get me and be there in a few minutes. Thank you for letting me know, Mrs. Dennis...Bye, bye."
Hanging up, she sighed frustratedly, thinking, What on earth? Where could he have picked up cigarettes? When did he start that nasty habit?
Next, she called for a cab, and being told one would come in 10 minutes, she thanked the dispatcher, and hanging up, went upstairs to check Phillip's things in the room he shared with Jamie. She hated the very idea of snooping, but she had a right to know if he was getting into trouble!
Checking his dresser drawers quickly, she found one pack under some shirts, and grabbing it, shook her head, continuing her search.
Not finding any more packs anywhere, she breathed a sigh of relief, and headed downstairs once more to grab her purse, putting the cigarette pack inside, and left her mother a note, before heading outside, just in time to meet the cab.
When Amanda arrived moments later at the school, she asked the cab driver to wait, and going into the school, headed for the nurse's office, and remarked to the school nurse, Carol, "Hi. I'm here to get my son, Phillip?"
Carol nodded and commented, "Right this way, Mrs. King..."
She took her to a room close by, and remarked, looking at Phillip, "Your mother's here, Phillip. Take care."
Phillip groaned at seeing his mother, and asked, "Who called you? Is Grandma here, too?"
Amanda answered calmly, " No. Your grandmother is still out shopping. Mrs. Dennis phoned me, and you knew she would...How are you? Are you still sick to your stomach?"
Phillip shook his head responding, "No, not really now. Got rid of most of it earlier. Can we just go?"
Amanda nodded, and handing him his jacket and books, remarked quietly, "Yes, I have a cab waiting. C'mon..."
As the cab left the school grounds, Phillip asked Amanda, "So, Mom? How much trouble am I in?"
Amanda stated firmly, "Oh, I think you're smart enough to know that answer, Young Man! We will discuss it when we get home..."
-SMK-
As Amanda and Phillip entered the house moments later, Dotty met them in the foyer answering worriedly, looking at the two," What happened? Was there trouble at school? Is Jamie alright? I saw your note, and-"
Amanda raised up a hand saying, " Jamie's fine, and still at school, but just a minute, Mother..."
Then looking at Phillip sternly, she commented with a gesture, " Alright...You go upstairs, take a shower, and bring your dirty clothes down, and put them in the laundry room. Then, you and I are going to have a long talk, Mister! Do you understand me? Go!"
Phillip winced, and swallowing hard, replied, "Yes, Mom..."
He headed up quickly, and Amanda, shaking her head, turned to head to the kitchen, with Dotty following, asking, "What in the world happened? Everything was fine when we left earlier-"
Amanda scoffed, answering, "Well, you and I were in California a bit too long, apparently, because I have missed some things! Joe never mentioned this habit starting, so I have to wonder how Phillip managed to hide it from him-"
Dotty shook her head confusedly, "Amanda! You're talking in riddles, Dear. What habit?"
Sighing, Amanda put her purse on the counter, and opening it, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and placed them on the counter!
Dotty, seeing the package, was shocked, and queried, "When did he-where could he have gotten those, anyway? Don't you have to be-"
Amanda nodded, commenting, "Eighteen, Mother, yes! "
Dotty sighed, then shrugging, responded offhandedly, "Well, all children push the limits with their parents and want to grow up quickly...Remember when you and Debbie Ann, only sixteen at the time, went with friends to that D.C. bar with fake I.D's, when your father and I were out of town one weekend?"
Amanda sighed deeply as she shook her head and replied, "Can we please not go down my particular road, and just concentrate on Phillip's problem at the moment?"
Dotty nodded, answering, as she headed for the stove, "I'll put on the tea, Sweetheart..."
Then Amanda, picking up the cigarette package, brought it over to the couch and put it on the coffee table in front of her, and sitting down, thought sadly, Cigarettes...ugh!
As Dotty was bringing over the tea and putting it down on the coffee table, she asked, "What are you going to say to him?"
Amanda sighed, remarking with a shrug, "Well, I'll find out where he got these, and go from there, I guess..."
Just then, Phillip came down with his dirty laundry, and passing by the couch on his way to the laundry room, suddenly noticed the cigarette package on the coffee table, and queried, "Hey! Where did those come from, Mom?"
Amanda answered firmly with a gesture, "I think you and I both know the answer to that! Now, put those clothes in the washer, and then sit down in here, because I want to know when this started, and where exactly you got these! Move it!"
Phillip shook his head as he went to put his clothes in the washer, thinking, Aww, man!
TBC
