Mr Lachance to the Rescue
Gordie was halfway to Chris's house when a familiar car drew up to the sidewalk next to him and an even more familiar face loomed out the window.
"Gordon."
"Yes Dad?" Gordie said not even turning to look at him.
"Gordon, get in the car."
"Dad I have to go do something." Gordie protested but in reply his dad simply killed the engine, vaulted from the car and came to stand directly in front of his son.
"We're going home now," Mr Lachance, said and there was something a little like loathing in his voice. "You're worrying your mother."
"Really?" Gordie asked and tried in vain to duck around his father.
"Gordon" Mr Lachance said warningly. "It's a school night and this is ridiculous, you can't keep running off like this."
"Denny wouldn't have done this huh dad?" Gordie asked bitterly, stopping and crossing his arms resignedly across his chest.
Mr Lachance scowled. "Get in the goddamn car Gordon" he said in a low voice.
"Get in the goddamn car," Gordie parroted. "That's poetry Dad, sincerely."
Mr Lachance looked furious; you could practically taste his fury. "Get in the car Gordon, you've got ten seconds."
"Then what?" Gordie asked. "What you going to do Dad?"
"Ten," his dad said clearly.
"You going to hit me Dad? You going to hit me?" Gordie's voice rose and seemed to echo in the empty street. It was getting late, he was tired both physically and mentally but he had reached the wall. He had reached his breaking point with his parents; he no longer cared what they did or what they thought. I will not drown he thought and stubbornly refused to move from the path.
"Nine."
Gordie didn't move, he fixed his dad with a cold look.
"Eight."
Mr Lachance glared back at his son and Gordie knew he wanted to hit him. Fortunately despite his faults Mr Lachance wasn't the violent type. Seconds seemed like minutes, minutes like hours and they were still standing on the path facing each other.
"Three." Mr Lachance mopped his brow, it was October but it was still warm in Castle Rock and the stress was making him sweat. "Two."
Mr Lachance stared hard at his son. "Don't make me do this son, get in the car."
Gordie called his bluff. "What are you going to do Dad?"
Mr Lachance was almost smiling. "Your Aunt May down in Arizona says she'd be happy to have you for a few months if not longer."
"You would send me away?" Gordie asked and there was shock mixed in with his defiance. Arizona? He could not leave Castle Rock, everything was here, Chris was here and Chris needed him.
"Yes," Mr Lachance said with conviction. "Get in the car Gordon."
Gordie couldn't think clearly, his mind was filled with different conflicting thoughts and he realised he was scared; he believed his father, if he didn't get in the car then he would be on the way to Arizona within a week. This was no bluff or if it was, it was some damn good bluffing.
Reluctantly, and feeling his failure with every step, Gordie got into the car. His father smiled somewhat smugly and climbed in. The ride home was silent. Gordie brooded in the front seat, everything was a mess and no matter which way he turned he just made it worse. He felt failure and guilt creeping in all around him. Turning away from his dad, Gordie sent a silent prayer up that tomorrow would be better and that Chris would be safe. It wasn't too much to ask, was it?
