Chapter Two: Confrontation
Craig appeared outside, and found Joey sitting in his spiffy red car. He smiled as Craig hopped down the stairs and into the passenger side of the vehicle.
"Hey Craig. How does it feel to escape for the afternoon?" Joey asked, attempting to make the situation seem more lighthearted than it really was. Craig looked at the older man dryly, causing him to chuckle. "Yeah, I know. It'll be over soon, though. Then you can go home, call Chloe. Whatever you like, okay?"
Craig finally nodded, watching as the scenery passed by. The buildings were gradually growing taller, the trees fewer and further between. When they finally reached their destination an hour later, Craig could feel the butterflies flapping outrageously in his stomach.
Joey parked on the street, fed the meter, and motioned Craig into the nearby building. Together they climbed the steep staircase to the third floor. The elderly receptionist greeted them warmly, and told them to go right to conference room four. Walking down the narrow hallway Craig was sure his heartbeat was loudly audible.
They finally arrived at the room, Joey pushed open the door and they entered together. Their caseworker sat at the table, flanked on the left side by Albert Manning. A shiver ran down Craig's spine as the man he called his father smiled at him. As he sat at the table, his father's smile widened.
"Thank you for coming down Mr. Jeremiah, Craig. It's very important that we include all involved parties in this process." The woman began, and Joey nodded in acceptance of her gratitude. She opened up the case file that was near her elbow. Reading down the page quickly, she nodded. "Mr. Manning, I see here you've passed the anger management courses with flying colors. I have excellent instructor recommendations here, they're all very glowing."
'Completed courses? Already? With GLOWING recommendations?' Craig thought, panic rising in his throat. As if to punctuate Craig's fear his father smiled again.
"My son means so much to me, I'd do anything to bring him home. Craig, I just love you so much." He spoke, voice thick with emotion. The caseworker nodded. Apparently he had her convinced. Craig tuned out much of what came after. The fear he felt regarding his father roared like the ocean in his ears, making it nearly impossible for him to concentrate.
Before he knew it they were leaving the room. Albert was shaking hands with the woman while Joey looked on with distrust. His father smiled a final, bone-chilling smile before Craig could get away.
"Hope I'll see you soon Craig."
Craig appeared outside, and found Joey sitting in his spiffy red car. He smiled as Craig hopped down the stairs and into the passenger side of the vehicle.
"Hey Craig. How does it feel to escape for the afternoon?" Joey asked, attempting to make the situation seem more lighthearted than it really was. Craig looked at the older man dryly, causing him to chuckle. "Yeah, I know. It'll be over soon, though. Then you can go home, call Chloe. Whatever you like, okay?"
Craig finally nodded, watching as the scenery passed by. The buildings were gradually growing taller, the trees fewer and further between. When they finally reached their destination an hour later, Craig could feel the butterflies flapping outrageously in his stomach.
Joey parked on the street, fed the meter, and motioned Craig into the nearby building. Together they climbed the steep staircase to the third floor. The elderly receptionist greeted them warmly, and told them to go right to conference room four. Walking down the narrow hallway Craig was sure his heartbeat was loudly audible.
They finally arrived at the room, Joey pushed open the door and they entered together. Their caseworker sat at the table, flanked on the left side by Albert Manning. A shiver ran down Craig's spine as the man he called his father smiled at him. As he sat at the table, his father's smile widened.
"Thank you for coming down Mr. Jeremiah, Craig. It's very important that we include all involved parties in this process." The woman began, and Joey nodded in acceptance of her gratitude. She opened up the case file that was near her elbow. Reading down the page quickly, she nodded. "Mr. Manning, I see here you've passed the anger management courses with flying colors. I have excellent instructor recommendations here, they're all very glowing."
'Completed courses? Already? With GLOWING recommendations?' Craig thought, panic rising in his throat. As if to punctuate Craig's fear his father smiled again.
"My son means so much to me, I'd do anything to bring him home. Craig, I just love you so much." He spoke, voice thick with emotion. The caseworker nodded. Apparently he had her convinced. Craig tuned out much of what came after. The fear he felt regarding his father roared like the ocean in his ears, making it nearly impossible for him to concentrate.
Before he knew it they were leaving the room. Albert was shaking hands with the woman while Joey looked on with distrust. His father smiled a final, bone-chilling smile before Craig could get away.
"Hope I'll see you soon Craig."
