I just stared ahead, totally in awe with my hands shaking over the table. Finally dad spoke in a slow tone,

"I can understand how you're feeling Matt, but this is a really important conversation that we need to have".

I still sat in awe wondering when his emotion would turn to anger but he just continued to talk solemnly, almost like he was more disappointed than angry.

"Tomorrow you're not going anywhere all day because you're going spend the day at home and reflect in your bedroom. Then tomorrow night I'll send the kids out somewhere and you can explain this to me and your mother".

Finally I could slowly stutter out "O-ok" and that was it.

Dad picked up his menu and we ordered a few minutes later. Dinner was quick and without any conversation at all. I was terrified to say anything and besides my mind was racing. What dad had done was worse than any punishment he could throw out. I now had to be tortured for a whole day leading up to a completely miserable and embarrassing evening with my parents that could then lead to any number of possible punishments.

After we finished we got in the car and went to pick up Lucy and Jimmy. We pulled up to the theater but we couldn't see them standing around so dad, eyeing his watch furiously, told me to go find them. I got out and went into the lobby where I saw Lucy sitting bundled up with her jacket hood on. I went over and put my hand on her shoulder and said,

"Hey where's Jimmy at?"

She turned to face me and I could see she had been crying. At first I thought maybe Jimmy had broke it off with her remembering how painful that could be but I didn't want to jump to conclusions so I just leaned down and told her to go clean herself up and we could talk at home. I didn't want dad and mom to further her pain by making a big deal anyways.

After Lucy came out of the bathroom and we went out to the car. As soon as we got in the car dad asked where Jimmy was and I told him his parents had to pick him up early. He was to busy to really think this through and he just started to drive. When we got to the house he let us out explaining he had a meeting at the church he was late for and then when Lucy was out of earshot he told me to go right to my room and not to stay up. When we went inside Lucy told me she wanted to take a bath before we talked so I told her I would wait in my bedroom and she could give me a knock when she felt ready. On the way up the steps I ran into mom and happy going down to the living room. Dad obviously hadn't told her anything because she offered to make me some ice cream but I just told her I wanted to clock out early tonight so she said goodnight and went down to the living room. I had no idea what I was going to tell her tomorrow but I knew it would not be fun. I went to my room and just stared at the ceiling for a while not really knowing how much time was passing. Soon a knock came at my door; I knew it was Lucy so I yelled out, "Come on in Luce."

She came in and sat on the edge of the bed. I got up and hugged her and said, "It's ok Lucy, I'm sorry you had to do this tonight."

"It's not what you think, Matt…tonight Jimmy asked me a question and I have no idea how to answer it."

I looked at her not really sure what she meant so just asked her, "What's going on? What did he ask you?"

She looked up at me with her eyes so big with tears in then and said,

"Jimmy has to move to Texas with his dad because his parents are getting a divorce and he wants to have a long distance relationship. I don't know what to do because I really want to be with Jimmy but I just can't feel like it would be the same when we couldn't see or touch each other. And what about other boys at school, what if I find someone I might want to be with more. I don't know how to deal with all this right now."

This all hit me like a sack of bricks; I was not ready to deal with two crises now.