CHAPTER 14
Martin came home from work needing to talk to Scott. Susan was in the kitchen preparing dinner. He asked her where the kids were and she said that they have gone out because they weren't there when she got home from shopping. 45 minutes later dinner was ready and they waited and waited. There was no sign of Scott and Shelby so they decided to go ahead and eat without them. It was pretty quite around the dinner table without the extra presence. Susan asked Martin if he had calmed down from earlier in the day and he said that he still needed to talk to Scott about things. Susan didn't understand why Martin could get so bent out of shape over something in the past. She had considered both Scott and Shelby survivors of an unfortunate lifestyle and they both found different but wrong ways of dealing with what was forced upon them. Martin of course didn't see it that way. He always worried about what other people would think if they found out about Scott and Shelby's past. He was destined to get his son away from that kind of life.
After dinner they both sat around watching TV and killing time until the kids came home. Martin looked at his watch and became annoyed. "It's 8:00. Where the hell are they?"
"Maybe we should start calling some of Scott's friends and see if they are hanging out with them. I'll go get the phone directory." Susan went upstairs to go to her bedroom. As she was walking by Scott's room she just happened to have looked in and noticed the closet door wide open and it was empty. She ran downstairs and threw open the closet that she had stored all the wedding gifts in.
Martin looked at her in surprise wondering why she was rushing around all of a sudden. He saw her throw open the closet door and put her hand over her mouth. "What? What's wrong Susan?" She turned slowly to her husband and said, "They're gone."
Martin stood up from where he was sitting. "What do you mean they are gone?"
"All there're things are gone from the closet and Scott's closet is empty upstairs."
Martin exploded and started pacing the floor. "Shit. Damn him. Where the hell could they possibly go? They don't have any money. It's her. It has to be that girl forcing him into all this. Scott was a very level headed and reasonable person until he met up with her. Only God knows what she is filling his head with. Don't you see Susan? You keep sticking up for her and now look what she has done to our son. She has totally screwed up his life. I just don't know what to do now. Its not like I can call the police and turn them in as runaways."
"Listen Martin. I know that you are upset but don't take this whole thing out on Shelby. I'm sure that your son is not totally innocent here. You have to remember that it's Shelby that's in foreign territory here. Scott knows the streets around here and Shelby doesn't have any connections here. My guess is that it was Scott that set this in motion."
"Yes but Scott never used to be so disobedient. He used to actually respect my decisions and now he never listens to anything that I have to say anymore."
"Martin, Scott is growing up. He's not a little boy who thinks that his father walks on water anymore. You've made some mistakes and he has realized that you are human also. The problem is that you are the one who needs to realize that your son is not perfect either. He has tried so hard to be the perfect son that you always demanded of him but he can't. He is only human too and until you can love him for who he is right now and accept his past mistakes than you two will never get along."
Martin plopped down into the chair as if he were exhausted. "I just wanted him to have a better life than me. Is that so wrong?"
"No that is not wrong. I think that most loving parents want the same thing for their children but when things don't work out like you want, than you still need to be their to pick up the pieces."
"Well I very well can't do anything now if we don't even know where he is."
"I think when things calm down than he will contact us."
"Yeah, probably when he runs out of money. I guess the only thing I can do now is wait it out. Let's get ready for bed and we'll see what happens in the morning."
Shelby and Scott had to sleep on the floor because they didn't have a bed yet. They did manage to bring some bathroom supplies so that they could take showers before school. Shelby drove Scott to school and then went over to her school. When Scott arrived at school several of the kids called him "Jailbird" and kept walking. He thought, great I wonder how that got out. The coach came up to him.
"Scott I'm glad to see that you are out of the slammer. When did you get back?"
"Yesterday morning and how does everyone know that I was in jail?"
"All it takes is one person with a big mouth. It seems your father contacted Jeremy's father who is a lawyer for some legal advice and Jeremy blabbed. Hey, if you got home yesterday than why weren't you at practice yesterday afternoon? We've got another big game this Friday and don't forget that Friday is senior recognition night so I need you to fill out the escort form. By the way, what happened to your lip? Your wife slug you?"
"Yeah, something like that. Listen coach I've got to go to class. Don't worry I'll be at practice today."
Scott went to math class and sat down. His teacher called role and looked up when Scott had responded to his name. "Well Scott. I hear you had a very busy weekend?" The whole class started laughing.
Scott was beginning to get a little disturbed that everything he did in life someone had to make a comment about. "Could you just teach us some math and not worry about my escapades?"
Someone in the class yelled out, "But Scott we find your adventures so intriguing. Due tell we want to hear it all." Scott was the center of attention now as the whole class turned to stare at him.
Scott felt like he was put on display and he didn't like it one bit. It brought back memories of the first time Peter made him talk in-group. Scott didn't know if he should just get up and walk out of class or what he should do. The intercom speaker informing the teacher that he was requested to go to the office saved Scott. Scott let out a sigh of relief as he stood up to go. As he walked out of the room he heard a student say, "Maybe the police are looking for him again." Scott just turned and told the guy to shut up.
Scott went into the office to see what they wanted and standing over in the corner of the room was his father. Scott just cursed under his breath and turned to leave.
"Don't leave Scott. I just want to talk to you."
"Dad you never want to just talk. All you want to do is lecture and tell me how screwed up my life is."
"Come on Scott. I worry about you. I need to know that you are ok. I was scared when you didn't come home last night. I'm glad to see that at least school still means something to you. Are you going to tell me where you are staying?"
"I'm fine dad. Shelby and I are both fine you don't need to worry about us."
"What are you doing for money? I know that you can't survive without it and you can't get into your savings account until you are 18 so who is helping you?"
"Like I said dad, don't worry about it. I've taken care of everything. We don't need your help anymore."
"Who's helping you Scott?"
"I've got to get back to class dad." Scott turned to leave but Martin grabbed his arm.
"If you won't tell me than I bet Shelby well."
"No. You leave her alone. You never did like her so just leave her the hell alone."
Martin let go of Scott's arm and started walking away. Scott ran after him. "Dad don't you walk away from me." Martin secretly smiled because the tables have now turned the other way. His plan had worked. He finally found Scott's weakness. Martin turned. "Are you ready to talk now?"
Scott put his head down because he knew that he was defeated. "Grandfather gave me 5% share of the company for a wedding present."
"Scott I'm not stupid. I know for a fact that you couldn't possible get your hands on that until you turn 18 so that doesn't explain how your are getting money now and where you are staying."
Scott hesitated to say anything until Martin claimed that he would go harass Shelby. "Just stop making the threats dad. It was grandfather. He bought us a condo over at Chalet Woods. He's paying for everything and giving us an income until I finish school."
Martin never turned so red in all his life. His blood pressure must have soared sky high. "Are you insane? Do you realize what you have done? He doesn't give anything away for free or by the goodness of his own heart because he doesn't have one. He now owns you. You no longer have control over your own life. I want you to get out now before it is to late. Scott you have been blinded by the money and wealth and you haven't seen the whole picture. I've seen him destroy so many people's lives to get what he wants. You are just a pawn in his game of chance. He will use you and blackmail you until you scream for mercy. The only problem is, he doesn't believe in fighting fair. He will rip out your heart to stay in control. If I have to take you and put you in hiding I will. I will not let him get control over you. I will not stand by and let you grow up to be a heartless bastard who will destroy his family for the sake of pleasing him."
Scott just looked at his father and furrowed his brows. "Shit dad you've got a lot of hot air. I'm going to class." He turned and walked away. Martin knew that he was about to have a show down with his father to save Scott's future.
When Scott got home from football practice there was a federal express package waiting for him. Inside was a check in his name for two thousand dollars and a note telling him to go open a checking account in Shelby and his name. There was also a visa card with a note telling him to go buy whatever he needed to furnish the new condo. Scott looked over at Shelby, held up the card and said, "Do you want to go on a shopping spree?"
Shelby grabbed the card out of his hand and answered, "What every girl wants to hear. The first thing we get is a king size bed."
"Can we get a mirror for our ceiling?"
She punched him. "Shut up Scott. You don't have to see it to know it's there. You just have to touch it."
"Speaking of touching . . ."
She grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him out the door. "No. No more touching until we have a bed." She shoved him down the stairs and out towards the car.
"Oh you're no fun," he pouted.
"I'll show you how much fun I can be when we bring home a bed."
They spent from the time they got started until all the stores were closed. Shelby never knew that someone could spend so much money in a four- hour period. They shopped so much that they even forgot about eating. It wasn't until Shelby started getting real dizzy that they realized that they forgot to eat. They stopped to eat on the way home. Because of the time of night that it was, everything that they bought could not be delivered until the next day. Shelby volunteered to stay home from school so she could be there for all the deliveries.
On the way home Shelby started complaining about sleeping on the hard floor again and how it was killing her back. Scott turned to her and said, "I can solve that problem." He pulled into the nearest Holiday Inn and went to register for a room. He hotel manager wouldn't rent a room to him because of his age. Scott told him that he was married and had means to pay for the room. The manager agreed to rent the room upon proof of a valid marriage license. Scott had to go back to the condo and dig out the paperwork in order to get the room. While they were there Scott and Shelby went ahead and packed an overnight bag. They went back to the hotel and had a good night's sleep. Because of Scott's quick thinking regarding the bed situation, Shelby made sure that she pleased him well.
The next morning they checked out of the hotel and went back to the condo. Scott took the car to school and Shelby waited around for the delivery people and the phone people to show up. When Scott had come home from football practice he was amazed at how much work Shelby had done. She actually had the place looking like a home. Scott helped her hang some curtains then they went out to the grocery store. Shelby made their first dinner at there new home. They were really enjoying their independence and it helped them bond together because they had to depend on each other without parents interfering.
Friday had come and it was the special night where the senior athletes were being recognized. All the seniors were to be individually announced and escorted out on the football field at half time by their parents. All the seniors were all lined up on the side of the field waiting for their name to be called. Martin and Susan were sitting in the stands not knowing that it was senior night. Susan looked over at Martin and said, "Do you think that we should be down there with Scott? He never told us about this. I don't want him walking out on the field all alone."
"Maybe we should go down there." They started to get up from the stands but the ceremony had just started and it was too late for them to interrupt. The announcer kept going through names and then he came to the last names that started with a B.
"Now presenting senior Steve Barnes escorted by his father Allan Barnes and mother Kim Barnes. Next we have senior Scott Barringer escorted by. . .
Not his mother or his father but by his newly wedded wife, Shelby Merrick Barringer. Congratulations on the newly weds." The kids in the stands cheered loudly to express their best wishes. After the couples walk across the field, they would usually shake hands with their fathers and get a hug from their mothers. When Scott and Shelby got to the end of the field they started kissing and didn't seem to care that several hundred people were watching them. The first kiss was a short little peck on the lips but then Scott pulled Shelby back in for a more intense kiss that didn't seem like it was going to end.
The announcer, "Our next senior is . . .Hey Scott and Shelby. You two brake it up. Someone wanna go pry them two apart? Scott go to the locker room and take a cold shower." The crowd in the stands started hooping and hollering. People were laughing and their little display of affection actually brought life back into the stadium.
One of the parents that was sitting behind Martin slapped him on the back and said, "Oh to be young and in love again. Isn't it great to see your kid so happy again? It's been a long time since I've seen a smile on his face like that."
Martin sat down and actually thought about what was just said to him. Why is it that everyone else seemed to notice the joy in Scott except for himself. Martin looked down at his son and noticed the way that Shelby and Scott looked and touched each other. Why was he being so blind? Scott was actually happy again and it was Shelby that was putting the smile on his face. Martin looked over to Susan and said, "I can't brake them up. She is the only thing that is keeping Scott glued together."
Susan gave him a kiss and a hug. "It's taking you this long to notice that? What do you think that I've been trying to tell you all his time? If you want the love of your son than you need to accept what he loves." They enjoyed the rest of the evening cheering for the victory that Scott's team accomplished. Martin set a goal again, that he would try to see things through Scott's eyes.
Martin came home from work needing to talk to Scott. Susan was in the kitchen preparing dinner. He asked her where the kids were and she said that they have gone out because they weren't there when she got home from shopping. 45 minutes later dinner was ready and they waited and waited. There was no sign of Scott and Shelby so they decided to go ahead and eat without them. It was pretty quite around the dinner table without the extra presence. Susan asked Martin if he had calmed down from earlier in the day and he said that he still needed to talk to Scott about things. Susan didn't understand why Martin could get so bent out of shape over something in the past. She had considered both Scott and Shelby survivors of an unfortunate lifestyle and they both found different but wrong ways of dealing with what was forced upon them. Martin of course didn't see it that way. He always worried about what other people would think if they found out about Scott and Shelby's past. He was destined to get his son away from that kind of life.
After dinner they both sat around watching TV and killing time until the kids came home. Martin looked at his watch and became annoyed. "It's 8:00. Where the hell are they?"
"Maybe we should start calling some of Scott's friends and see if they are hanging out with them. I'll go get the phone directory." Susan went upstairs to go to her bedroom. As she was walking by Scott's room she just happened to have looked in and noticed the closet door wide open and it was empty. She ran downstairs and threw open the closet that she had stored all the wedding gifts in.
Martin looked at her in surprise wondering why she was rushing around all of a sudden. He saw her throw open the closet door and put her hand over her mouth. "What? What's wrong Susan?" She turned slowly to her husband and said, "They're gone."
Martin stood up from where he was sitting. "What do you mean they are gone?"
"All there're things are gone from the closet and Scott's closet is empty upstairs."
Martin exploded and started pacing the floor. "Shit. Damn him. Where the hell could they possibly go? They don't have any money. It's her. It has to be that girl forcing him into all this. Scott was a very level headed and reasonable person until he met up with her. Only God knows what she is filling his head with. Don't you see Susan? You keep sticking up for her and now look what she has done to our son. She has totally screwed up his life. I just don't know what to do now. Its not like I can call the police and turn them in as runaways."
"Listen Martin. I know that you are upset but don't take this whole thing out on Shelby. I'm sure that your son is not totally innocent here. You have to remember that it's Shelby that's in foreign territory here. Scott knows the streets around here and Shelby doesn't have any connections here. My guess is that it was Scott that set this in motion."
"Yes but Scott never used to be so disobedient. He used to actually respect my decisions and now he never listens to anything that I have to say anymore."
"Martin, Scott is growing up. He's not a little boy who thinks that his father walks on water anymore. You've made some mistakes and he has realized that you are human also. The problem is that you are the one who needs to realize that your son is not perfect either. He has tried so hard to be the perfect son that you always demanded of him but he can't. He is only human too and until you can love him for who he is right now and accept his past mistakes than you two will never get along."
Martin plopped down into the chair as if he were exhausted. "I just wanted him to have a better life than me. Is that so wrong?"
"No that is not wrong. I think that most loving parents want the same thing for their children but when things don't work out like you want, than you still need to be their to pick up the pieces."
"Well I very well can't do anything now if we don't even know where he is."
"I think when things calm down than he will contact us."
"Yeah, probably when he runs out of money. I guess the only thing I can do now is wait it out. Let's get ready for bed and we'll see what happens in the morning."
Shelby and Scott had to sleep on the floor because they didn't have a bed yet. They did manage to bring some bathroom supplies so that they could take showers before school. Shelby drove Scott to school and then went over to her school. When Scott arrived at school several of the kids called him "Jailbird" and kept walking. He thought, great I wonder how that got out. The coach came up to him.
"Scott I'm glad to see that you are out of the slammer. When did you get back?"
"Yesterday morning and how does everyone know that I was in jail?"
"All it takes is one person with a big mouth. It seems your father contacted Jeremy's father who is a lawyer for some legal advice and Jeremy blabbed. Hey, if you got home yesterday than why weren't you at practice yesterday afternoon? We've got another big game this Friday and don't forget that Friday is senior recognition night so I need you to fill out the escort form. By the way, what happened to your lip? Your wife slug you?"
"Yeah, something like that. Listen coach I've got to go to class. Don't worry I'll be at practice today."
Scott went to math class and sat down. His teacher called role and looked up when Scott had responded to his name. "Well Scott. I hear you had a very busy weekend?" The whole class started laughing.
Scott was beginning to get a little disturbed that everything he did in life someone had to make a comment about. "Could you just teach us some math and not worry about my escapades?"
Someone in the class yelled out, "But Scott we find your adventures so intriguing. Due tell we want to hear it all." Scott was the center of attention now as the whole class turned to stare at him.
Scott felt like he was put on display and he didn't like it one bit. It brought back memories of the first time Peter made him talk in-group. Scott didn't know if he should just get up and walk out of class or what he should do. The intercom speaker informing the teacher that he was requested to go to the office saved Scott. Scott let out a sigh of relief as he stood up to go. As he walked out of the room he heard a student say, "Maybe the police are looking for him again." Scott just turned and told the guy to shut up.
Scott went into the office to see what they wanted and standing over in the corner of the room was his father. Scott just cursed under his breath and turned to leave.
"Don't leave Scott. I just want to talk to you."
"Dad you never want to just talk. All you want to do is lecture and tell me how screwed up my life is."
"Come on Scott. I worry about you. I need to know that you are ok. I was scared when you didn't come home last night. I'm glad to see that at least school still means something to you. Are you going to tell me where you are staying?"
"I'm fine dad. Shelby and I are both fine you don't need to worry about us."
"What are you doing for money? I know that you can't survive without it and you can't get into your savings account until you are 18 so who is helping you?"
"Like I said dad, don't worry about it. I've taken care of everything. We don't need your help anymore."
"Who's helping you Scott?"
"I've got to get back to class dad." Scott turned to leave but Martin grabbed his arm.
"If you won't tell me than I bet Shelby well."
"No. You leave her alone. You never did like her so just leave her the hell alone."
Martin let go of Scott's arm and started walking away. Scott ran after him. "Dad don't you walk away from me." Martin secretly smiled because the tables have now turned the other way. His plan had worked. He finally found Scott's weakness. Martin turned. "Are you ready to talk now?"
Scott put his head down because he knew that he was defeated. "Grandfather gave me 5% share of the company for a wedding present."
"Scott I'm not stupid. I know for a fact that you couldn't possible get your hands on that until you turn 18 so that doesn't explain how your are getting money now and where you are staying."
Scott hesitated to say anything until Martin claimed that he would go harass Shelby. "Just stop making the threats dad. It was grandfather. He bought us a condo over at Chalet Woods. He's paying for everything and giving us an income until I finish school."
Martin never turned so red in all his life. His blood pressure must have soared sky high. "Are you insane? Do you realize what you have done? He doesn't give anything away for free or by the goodness of his own heart because he doesn't have one. He now owns you. You no longer have control over your own life. I want you to get out now before it is to late. Scott you have been blinded by the money and wealth and you haven't seen the whole picture. I've seen him destroy so many people's lives to get what he wants. You are just a pawn in his game of chance. He will use you and blackmail you until you scream for mercy. The only problem is, he doesn't believe in fighting fair. He will rip out your heart to stay in control. If I have to take you and put you in hiding I will. I will not let him get control over you. I will not stand by and let you grow up to be a heartless bastard who will destroy his family for the sake of pleasing him."
Scott just looked at his father and furrowed his brows. "Shit dad you've got a lot of hot air. I'm going to class." He turned and walked away. Martin knew that he was about to have a show down with his father to save Scott's future.
When Scott got home from football practice there was a federal express package waiting for him. Inside was a check in his name for two thousand dollars and a note telling him to go open a checking account in Shelby and his name. There was also a visa card with a note telling him to go buy whatever he needed to furnish the new condo. Scott looked over at Shelby, held up the card and said, "Do you want to go on a shopping spree?"
Shelby grabbed the card out of his hand and answered, "What every girl wants to hear. The first thing we get is a king size bed."
"Can we get a mirror for our ceiling?"
She punched him. "Shut up Scott. You don't have to see it to know it's there. You just have to touch it."
"Speaking of touching . . ."
She grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him out the door. "No. No more touching until we have a bed." She shoved him down the stairs and out towards the car.
"Oh you're no fun," he pouted.
"I'll show you how much fun I can be when we bring home a bed."
They spent from the time they got started until all the stores were closed. Shelby never knew that someone could spend so much money in a four- hour period. They shopped so much that they even forgot about eating. It wasn't until Shelby started getting real dizzy that they realized that they forgot to eat. They stopped to eat on the way home. Because of the time of night that it was, everything that they bought could not be delivered until the next day. Shelby volunteered to stay home from school so she could be there for all the deliveries.
On the way home Shelby started complaining about sleeping on the hard floor again and how it was killing her back. Scott turned to her and said, "I can solve that problem." He pulled into the nearest Holiday Inn and went to register for a room. He hotel manager wouldn't rent a room to him because of his age. Scott told him that he was married and had means to pay for the room. The manager agreed to rent the room upon proof of a valid marriage license. Scott had to go back to the condo and dig out the paperwork in order to get the room. While they were there Scott and Shelby went ahead and packed an overnight bag. They went back to the hotel and had a good night's sleep. Because of Scott's quick thinking regarding the bed situation, Shelby made sure that she pleased him well.
The next morning they checked out of the hotel and went back to the condo. Scott took the car to school and Shelby waited around for the delivery people and the phone people to show up. When Scott had come home from football practice he was amazed at how much work Shelby had done. She actually had the place looking like a home. Scott helped her hang some curtains then they went out to the grocery store. Shelby made their first dinner at there new home. They were really enjoying their independence and it helped them bond together because they had to depend on each other without parents interfering.
Friday had come and it was the special night where the senior athletes were being recognized. All the seniors were to be individually announced and escorted out on the football field at half time by their parents. All the seniors were all lined up on the side of the field waiting for their name to be called. Martin and Susan were sitting in the stands not knowing that it was senior night. Susan looked over at Martin and said, "Do you think that we should be down there with Scott? He never told us about this. I don't want him walking out on the field all alone."
"Maybe we should go down there." They started to get up from the stands but the ceremony had just started and it was too late for them to interrupt. The announcer kept going through names and then he came to the last names that started with a B.
"Now presenting senior Steve Barnes escorted by his father Allan Barnes and mother Kim Barnes. Next we have senior Scott Barringer escorted by. . .
Not his mother or his father but by his newly wedded wife, Shelby Merrick Barringer. Congratulations on the newly weds." The kids in the stands cheered loudly to express their best wishes. After the couples walk across the field, they would usually shake hands with their fathers and get a hug from their mothers. When Scott and Shelby got to the end of the field they started kissing and didn't seem to care that several hundred people were watching them. The first kiss was a short little peck on the lips but then Scott pulled Shelby back in for a more intense kiss that didn't seem like it was going to end.
The announcer, "Our next senior is . . .Hey Scott and Shelby. You two brake it up. Someone wanna go pry them two apart? Scott go to the locker room and take a cold shower." The crowd in the stands started hooping and hollering. People were laughing and their little display of affection actually brought life back into the stadium.
One of the parents that was sitting behind Martin slapped him on the back and said, "Oh to be young and in love again. Isn't it great to see your kid so happy again? It's been a long time since I've seen a smile on his face like that."
Martin sat down and actually thought about what was just said to him. Why is it that everyone else seemed to notice the joy in Scott except for himself. Martin looked down at his son and noticed the way that Shelby and Scott looked and touched each other. Why was he being so blind? Scott was actually happy again and it was Shelby that was putting the smile on his face. Martin looked over to Susan and said, "I can't brake them up. She is the only thing that is keeping Scott glued together."
Susan gave him a kiss and a hug. "It's taking you this long to notice that? What do you think that I've been trying to tell you all his time? If you want the love of your son than you need to accept what he loves." They enjoyed the rest of the evening cheering for the victory that Scott's team accomplished. Martin set a goal again, that he would try to see things through Scott's eyes.