When Ryan's alarm clock went off early the next morning, he jumped. He
didn't remember setting it and certainly wouldn't have intentionally set it
that loud. He hit the button and sat on the edge of his bed.
Crap, Ryan thought, now I remember why I hate to drink. Whenever he was hung over, it made him wonder how his mother could do this on such a regular basis.
He got up and headed for the bathroom. A shower, he knew, would help Ryan clear his head, and he wanted to make sure he was ready early. He figured that maybe if he were ready early enough, just maybe Kirsten and Sandy wouldn't realize how wasted he was the night before. He knew they knew. There was no way they didn't realize he had been drinking. Well, Ryan thought as he stepped into the shower, at least I'm getting really good at this being grounded thing. He knew it was a given that he would be grounded, again.
When Ryan got to the kitchen, he expected to see Sandy and Kirsten waiting for him. He was surprised to see that no one was there, yet. And since no one was there, he was able to get out a couple of aspirin for his headache. Well at least this will help get through the day a little better, Ryan thought.
Ryan had just sat down on the bar stool with his coffee and Captain Crunch when Sandy and Kirsten walked in.
"Hey," Sandy said, a little too loud, "Look at you! How's it going? Anxious to get back to school?"
Ryan swallowed his cereal and said,
"Fine, yah, I guess. Um, you said to be ready early so I am."
Kirsten looked at him for a moment before she asked,
"And how are you feeling this morning? Do you need anything?"
Ryan just looked down at his cereal and answered,
"Um, no. I'm fine. This is good. Thanks."
He looked up to see Sandy and Kirsten exchange looks. He just sat there, waiting for them to say something. To start the lecture. But neither one of them said anything else. They both remained pretty quiet. And since Ryan wasn't about to say anything that might start them off, he quietly continued to eat his cereal and drink his coffee.
Sandy finished his coffee and asked,
"You ready? Meet with Dr. Kim, get it over with, and get back in school."
When Ryan just nodded, he continued,
"Just remember, you still have detention after school."
"Yah, I remember," Ryan answered. "Where's Seth?"
He was hoping that Seth was coming with them. He'd keep the conversation away from the day before. Now that he was officially dating Summer, all of Seth's conversations were about her, not just most of them. But this time, Ryan thought, he wouldn't mind the constant chatter. That way there would be no room for small talk, which would lead into yet another big talk.
But Kirsten told him,
"He's going with Summer, a little later. He doesn't need to be there this early."
The drive over to school also remained surprisingly relatively quiet. There still was no lecture about the day before. Ryan started to think that maybe he had done a better job acting straight then he first thought. Maybe they hadn't realized he had been drinking after all.
Despite the underlying headache, being back at school wasn't that bad, Ryan thought. Even his meeting with Dr. Kim went ok. She was almost civil to him when she reminded him that he still had to serve two weeks of detention but then the matter would be closed.
She dismissed him just before the first bell to go on to class. Ryan said goodbye to Sandy and Kirsten and headed out the door to class. He was a little worried when they didn't leave with him. They stayed behind in Dr. Kim's office with her. Neither one of them had said anything to him about what happened with Dr. Kim at the Disciplinary Committee meeting, so he didn't know how far they were going to pursue it.
By lunchtime Ryan was feeling even better. His headache was going away, and no one had said anything to him about what happened. It was old news to most of them by the time he got back to school. He only saw Marissa once, in history class, but he sat with Luke so they didn't talk.
At lunch he sat down at a table by himself. He didn't bother looking for Seth since Ryan knew he would be eating with Summer, who would be eating with Marissa so Ryan figured on eating alone. He was surprised when someone put their tray down next to his and even more surprised to look up and see Seth.
"Hey, man. Haven't seen you all day." Seth said as he sat down, "How's it going? How you feeling? How was Dr. Kim's office?"
"Fine," Ryan said, answering all three questions in one word. "Aren't you eating with Summer?" he asked.
Seth shook his head and said, "Nope. She's having lunch with Marissa. You know, girl talk. Can't I eat with you? You know and have boy talk?"
Ryan made a face at Seth and was about to tell him what he could do with his boy talk when Luke, Chip and Brad walked up and sat down. All three of them sitting at the same table as Ryan and Seth, that immediately made Seth very uptight.
"Hey, Chino, Cohen. What's up?" Brad asked as he sat to eat. Well, at least he acknowledged me without hitting me, Seth thought, but he still was not sure if that were a good thing or not.
However, Chip just ignored Seth. He turned to Ryan and asked,
"Yo, Chino, how you doing?"
Before Ryan could answer, Luke laughed,
"Yah, man, I can't believe you made it. I thought for sure you'd be too hung over to make it back today."
Ryan shrugged,
"Had no choice. Besides, I wasn't that wasted."
The three just snickered and gave a round of "yah, rights" before Luke continued,
"So, what'd your folks say? You busted again like Cohen said you'd be?"
Ryan just shrugged again. He was feeling pretty good as he told them,
"Nah. They didn't even notice. I told you I wasn't that wasted!"
Seth, who had originally planned on staying out of this conversation just started to laugh,
"Are you kidding?" he said, "Dude, you walked into a door and two chairs. You used the words suck, ass and crap, not only in front of Mom, but TO Mom. You called Dr. Kim, Dr. Stick-up-her-ass, crack-her-face-if-she- smiled Kim and you think they didn't notice? Ry, they may be old, but they aren't stupid!"
Everyone but Ryan laughed. He suddenly wasn't feeling too good.
"But they didn't say anything," Ryan said, "I was with them all morning, and they didn't say a word."
"Not yet," Seth said, "But believe me, they will. No doubt. Oh, and let me take this opportunity to say thanks! For yesterday, because I got yelled at first."
Ryan asked, "You? Why would they yell at you?"
"Not they, Mom. Because I knew when I called you that you were drunk, and I didn't say anything. So, if I got yelled at for just knowing you were drunk..."
Seth didn't have to finish the sentence. Seth knew Mom wanted him grounded, and figured that's what Dad would do. He also knew Ryan understood as well. He was surprised to see that even Chip understood.
"I guess this means no re-match this weekend." Chip said.
Ryan signed, "I guess not." "But, hey," he added, "at least now you'll have more time to practice your Ratball!"
"Ratball?" Seth asked as the other four, Ryan included, started to laugh. It was obviously an inside joke that Seth wasn't a part of. When and how did Ryan become one of these guys? Seth thought. He didn't like it, not at all. These guys were the same guys who had tormented him his whole life and who had enjoyed pummeling Ryan just a few months earlier. Now they were eating lunch with them, and Seth was watching them joke and fool around with Ryan. Ryan, his friend, his brother. He was still thinking about it, feeling sorry for himself when he heard Brad say,
"Maybe we could go after school. You know, before your folks get home from work, and you get busted."
Before Seth could open his mouth and say anything, Ryan said,
"Can't. I still have detention for the next two weeks."
That answer apparently wasn't good enough to deter Brad,
"So, blow it off," he told Ryan, "If you're already going to get busted for yesterday, what difference does it make?"
God, I really don't like these guys, Seth thought.
"I don't think that's such a good idea," Seth said, "I mean, Ryan, how much more trouble do you want?"
Ryan looked at Seth,
"Why, how much trouble am I in?" Ryan had hoped for some more information from Seth, to know what he was in for when Sandy and Kirsten got home that night.
Unfortunately, Seth just shrugged,
"Don't really know. I do know that I was planning on not being home when you got home after detention, and if you decide to skip detention, please let me know so I can plan on staying out a lot longer."
Luke felt kind of bad for Ryan. He figured he was partly to blame for getting Ryan trashed, but he was also annoyed at Cohen for not having Ryan's back with their parents.
"I swear, Cohen," Luke said, "You can be such a little girl."
Oh, so we're back to calling me names, Seth thought, but told Luke and his bullies,
"Maybe so, but one who has to live with him," he said, pointing to Ryan, "and believe me, it isn't always easy, especially lately."
"Seth," Ryan told him, "Don't worry. I'm not blowing off detention. I still have two weeks to get through, and believe me, I'm not looking to get into any more trouble."
With that settled, they all quietly eat lunch for a while before Ryan asked,
"I mean, how mad could they really be? We just had a couple of beers. I didn't commit any major crime, didn't get into a fight or in any kind of trouble. It really wasn't that big a deal."
Seth wasn't sure if Ryan was trying to convince himself or the rest of them, but told him,
"Yah, ok, Ryan. Go with that, and see how long it is before Dad lets you out this time."
Ryan thought about what Seth said at lunch for the rest of the day. He was feeling better about everything up until that point. He knew that it was a big deal to Sandy and Kirsten if he drank. Kirsten made him aware of that the first night in Newport, when she caught him with a 7&7. That meant it was going to be a really big deal when he got home that night. He should have known.
Yet another difference between living with the Cohens in Newport and the Atwood's in Chino, Ryan thought.
Back in Chino, it wasn't a big deal for him to get completely wasted. No one cared. The only time anyone cared was when Ryan would drink Dawn's booze. Then she cared, or one of her boyfriends cared, and then they would care a little too much and way too harshly.
But as Ryan continued to think about it, he realized that despite the lecture he knew was coming and despite how incredibly boring it was to be grounded; he knew that it was still better to be with the Cohens in Newport.
At exactly 5:00pm, and not a second before, Ryan was dismissed from detention. The campus was pretty empty by then, and Ryan figured on a relatively nice walk home. He liked the walk. It helped him clear his head.
Ryan got home by 5:30, and wasn't really happy to see Sandy's car already in the driveway. Crap, Ryan thought, he's usually not home before 6. I know that he's waiting for me, again. As Ryan walked into the kitchen, there was Sandy sitting at the table, and he was, obviously, waiting for Ryan.
Trying to make a quick exit through the kitchen and out to the pool house, Ryan said,
"Hey, I'm home."
"Yah, hi," Sandy said as he stood up, "How was school?"
Ryan gave his standard one word response that he had been using all day,
"Fine," he said as he tried to inch closer to the door.
"And detention?" Sandy asked, walking closer to the door to block Ryan's obvious quick exit.
"The same," Ryan said. Keep it short; keep it short, he kept thinking.
Then as Sandy stood between Ryan and the door, he looked at him and asked,
"So, how's your hangover?"
Ryan took two steps back. This was it, and he wasn't going to get out of it now. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to try,
"Hangover? What hangover? I'm not hung over."
Sandy put his arm on Ryan's shoulder and said,
"Yah. Ok. Sure. Sit down, Ryan," as he gently nudged Ryan over towards the bar stools.
Christ, here we go, again, Ryan thought as he sat down on the same familiar bar stool, and waited yet again. First the lecture, and then the punishment. He was getting pretty used to it all now.
When Sandy was sure that Ryan was not going anywhere, he folded his arms in front of him, leaned back against the counter and asked,
"Would you like to explain now about yesterday with Luke?"
Ryan tried to sound innocent and nonchalant,
"Explain what?"
"RYAN!" Sandy said, in a voice that Ryan knew meant he was serious, very serious. Ryan knew that it was time to start explaining and just get it over with.
"I thought I told you last night. We took Luke's father's boat out to the bay and hung out there for a while. Then we went over to the batting cages where we met up with Chip and Brad and then we got something to eat and then I came home."
"And the alcohol?" Sandy asked.
Ryan signed,
"Beer. Luke had it, on his father's boat. He said he thought I could use, you know, a couple, to unwind."
"How many was a couple?" Sandy wanted the whole story.
Ryan thought for a second and then said,
"Um, I'm not really sure."
"Ryan!" Sandy warned again.
"No, really," Ryan explained, "I kind of, um, lost count. We were hanging out, talking and drinking. I hadn't planned on drinking that much. It just kind of happened."
"That's a lame excuse and you know it," Sandy told him, "Drinking too much doesn't just happen. You decided to drink that much. That choice was yours."
Ryan just nodded. He was talking to a lawyer, so he knew. He knew he had nothing to say in his own defense.
Sandy continued,
"We won't even go into the fact that you are only 16 years old. And the last time I checked, that was not the legal drinking age. Which makes what you did illegal."
Illegal? Ryan hadn't thought about that.
"Ok. I'm sorry," Ryan told him, "I know it was stupid, but we went out, had a good time and had too much to drink. It really wasn't something I had planned on. It really did just happen. I thought maybe a couple of beers would help me unwind, relax. It has been pretty stressful around here lately, to say the least. So when Luke offered to hang out with some beers, it sounded like a good idea."
Sandy thought for a minute, and then he asked Ryan,
"Ok. Then let me ask you this. How often do you think you need to drink to unwind and relax? How much alcohol do you need when you're faced with a stressful situation?"
At first Ryan was confused by what Sandy was asking, but then it suddenly dawned on him,
"Oh, come on, Sandy. What are you getting at? That I'm an alcoholic? What, like my mother?"
Ryan couldn't believe what Sandy was saying, what he was implying, and Ryan was getting mad, really really mad.
But Sandy stopped him before he could explode.
"Just calm down, Ryan. No, that is NOT what I am saying," he told Ryan. But after a pause, he told him,
"But that's what you're saying. That you needed the alcohol, because you were stressed, and that you needed it to unwind. Either you believe that, or you're handing me a line of bull. Which is it?"
Ryan started to answer, "Sandy...." but couldn't continue. He didn't know what to say.
"Come on, Ryan. I asked you a question. Which is it?" Sandy wanted Ryan's answer, his honest answer. But when Ryan still didn't respond, Sandy demanded,
"ANSWER ME!"
Ryan shot back,
"It was a line of bull, alright. I didn't need it. I don't need it. I've never needed it. Most times I don't even like it. But yesterday just happened. And I know it was wrong, and I know it was illegal and I know you're mad, and I know I'm in trouble. And I'm sorry. But come on, Sandy, you never drank when you were my age?"
"That's not the point," Sandy answered, "We're not talking about me. We're talking about you."
But Sandy was satisfied with the answer Ryan gave him. It was the answer he had hoped for. He'd rather his son hand him a line of crap to get out of being punished then truly believe he needed alcohol to solve his problems.
Sandy continued,
"Kirsten and I are concerned about you, and what you're doing now. We want you to understand that there is never an acceptable excuse for getting drunk, and we will not tolerate it. We do not want it to happen again, and if for any reason, it does happen again, I can promise you that you will find yourself in more trouble then you will know what to do with. Is that understood?"
Ryan nodded his head and said,
"Yah. I understand. I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again."
With that said, Ryan got up to head out to the pool house. Sandy didn't say a word about being grounded this time, and he wanted to get out of there was quickly as possible before the subject came up.
But Sandy stopped him,
"Wait, Ryan. There's still something else we need to talk about."
Now what, Ryan thought as he sat back down. Now what did I do?
This time, though, Sandy seemed a lot more hesitant as he spoke,
"Yah. Listen," he started, "I've been making some calls, and I think I may have found someone for you. To talk to."
"Talk to?" Ryan asked, "You mean like a shrink?"
"A therapist," Sandy corrected. "But yes," he continued, "Her name is Dr. Colefield, and she specializes in helping kids like you."
"Kids like me?" Ryan repeated. What kids like me, he thought.
Trying to find the right words, Sandy explained,
"I mean foster kids. Who need help. Adjusting."
"Adjusting?" Ryan repeated Sandy again.
Yes, adjusting." Sandy told him, "to their new homes. New parents. New families. Adjusting to their new lives. I talked to her this afternoon. She seems really nice. I think you'll like her."
Ryan just shrugged,
"Yah, sure. Fine, what-ever."
And either Sandy didn't hear Ryan or didn't believe him as he continued to explain to Ryan,
"Ryan. We think this is for the best, for you. Help you work out what you need to work out. I hope you know that Kirsten and I and Seth are still here for you and always will be. But Dr. Colefield. She's a professional, someone impartial who isn't so emotionally involved.."
Ryan interrupted him before he could continue,
"Sandy. I said it was fine. I told you I would go. I'll go. Just tell me when and where."
"Oh, ok." Was the only response Sandy had. Ryan was agreeing? This was a little too easy, he thought.
Well," Sandy told him, "your appointment is for tomorrow at 4:30."
"But I still have detention till 5." Ryan reminded him.
"I've already worked it out with the school." Sandy said, "You will have detention until 4. I will pick you up then."
"Ok. Fine. I still have some homework to catch up on. So can I... Are we done?" Ryan asked as he gestured towards the door.
Sandy nodded,
"Yah, sure. Go ahead. I'll call you when dinner's ready." It wasn't often that Sandy was left speechless. This time, however, he truly was.
As Ryan walked out the door and headed for the pool house, he remembered what Luke had said.....
Therapy - every Newport parent's answer to a problem. And obviously, Kirsten and Sandy were Newport parents. They said they wanted to be his Newport parents, which meant Ryan was going to therapy.
Crap, Ryan thought, now I remember why I hate to drink. Whenever he was hung over, it made him wonder how his mother could do this on such a regular basis.
He got up and headed for the bathroom. A shower, he knew, would help Ryan clear his head, and he wanted to make sure he was ready early. He figured that maybe if he were ready early enough, just maybe Kirsten and Sandy wouldn't realize how wasted he was the night before. He knew they knew. There was no way they didn't realize he had been drinking. Well, Ryan thought as he stepped into the shower, at least I'm getting really good at this being grounded thing. He knew it was a given that he would be grounded, again.
When Ryan got to the kitchen, he expected to see Sandy and Kirsten waiting for him. He was surprised to see that no one was there, yet. And since no one was there, he was able to get out a couple of aspirin for his headache. Well at least this will help get through the day a little better, Ryan thought.
Ryan had just sat down on the bar stool with his coffee and Captain Crunch when Sandy and Kirsten walked in.
"Hey," Sandy said, a little too loud, "Look at you! How's it going? Anxious to get back to school?"
Ryan swallowed his cereal and said,
"Fine, yah, I guess. Um, you said to be ready early so I am."
Kirsten looked at him for a moment before she asked,
"And how are you feeling this morning? Do you need anything?"
Ryan just looked down at his cereal and answered,
"Um, no. I'm fine. This is good. Thanks."
He looked up to see Sandy and Kirsten exchange looks. He just sat there, waiting for them to say something. To start the lecture. But neither one of them said anything else. They both remained pretty quiet. And since Ryan wasn't about to say anything that might start them off, he quietly continued to eat his cereal and drink his coffee.
Sandy finished his coffee and asked,
"You ready? Meet with Dr. Kim, get it over with, and get back in school."
When Ryan just nodded, he continued,
"Just remember, you still have detention after school."
"Yah, I remember," Ryan answered. "Where's Seth?"
He was hoping that Seth was coming with them. He'd keep the conversation away from the day before. Now that he was officially dating Summer, all of Seth's conversations were about her, not just most of them. But this time, Ryan thought, he wouldn't mind the constant chatter. That way there would be no room for small talk, which would lead into yet another big talk.
But Kirsten told him,
"He's going with Summer, a little later. He doesn't need to be there this early."
The drive over to school also remained surprisingly relatively quiet. There still was no lecture about the day before. Ryan started to think that maybe he had done a better job acting straight then he first thought. Maybe they hadn't realized he had been drinking after all.
Despite the underlying headache, being back at school wasn't that bad, Ryan thought. Even his meeting with Dr. Kim went ok. She was almost civil to him when she reminded him that he still had to serve two weeks of detention but then the matter would be closed.
She dismissed him just before the first bell to go on to class. Ryan said goodbye to Sandy and Kirsten and headed out the door to class. He was a little worried when they didn't leave with him. They stayed behind in Dr. Kim's office with her. Neither one of them had said anything to him about what happened with Dr. Kim at the Disciplinary Committee meeting, so he didn't know how far they were going to pursue it.
By lunchtime Ryan was feeling even better. His headache was going away, and no one had said anything to him about what happened. It was old news to most of them by the time he got back to school. He only saw Marissa once, in history class, but he sat with Luke so they didn't talk.
At lunch he sat down at a table by himself. He didn't bother looking for Seth since Ryan knew he would be eating with Summer, who would be eating with Marissa so Ryan figured on eating alone. He was surprised when someone put their tray down next to his and even more surprised to look up and see Seth.
"Hey, man. Haven't seen you all day." Seth said as he sat down, "How's it going? How you feeling? How was Dr. Kim's office?"
"Fine," Ryan said, answering all three questions in one word. "Aren't you eating with Summer?" he asked.
Seth shook his head and said, "Nope. She's having lunch with Marissa. You know, girl talk. Can't I eat with you? You know and have boy talk?"
Ryan made a face at Seth and was about to tell him what he could do with his boy talk when Luke, Chip and Brad walked up and sat down. All three of them sitting at the same table as Ryan and Seth, that immediately made Seth very uptight.
"Hey, Chino, Cohen. What's up?" Brad asked as he sat to eat. Well, at least he acknowledged me without hitting me, Seth thought, but he still was not sure if that were a good thing or not.
However, Chip just ignored Seth. He turned to Ryan and asked,
"Yo, Chino, how you doing?"
Before Ryan could answer, Luke laughed,
"Yah, man, I can't believe you made it. I thought for sure you'd be too hung over to make it back today."
Ryan shrugged,
"Had no choice. Besides, I wasn't that wasted."
The three just snickered and gave a round of "yah, rights" before Luke continued,
"So, what'd your folks say? You busted again like Cohen said you'd be?"
Ryan just shrugged again. He was feeling pretty good as he told them,
"Nah. They didn't even notice. I told you I wasn't that wasted!"
Seth, who had originally planned on staying out of this conversation just started to laugh,
"Are you kidding?" he said, "Dude, you walked into a door and two chairs. You used the words suck, ass and crap, not only in front of Mom, but TO Mom. You called Dr. Kim, Dr. Stick-up-her-ass, crack-her-face-if-she- smiled Kim and you think they didn't notice? Ry, they may be old, but they aren't stupid!"
Everyone but Ryan laughed. He suddenly wasn't feeling too good.
"But they didn't say anything," Ryan said, "I was with them all morning, and they didn't say a word."
"Not yet," Seth said, "But believe me, they will. No doubt. Oh, and let me take this opportunity to say thanks! For yesterday, because I got yelled at first."
Ryan asked, "You? Why would they yell at you?"
"Not they, Mom. Because I knew when I called you that you were drunk, and I didn't say anything. So, if I got yelled at for just knowing you were drunk..."
Seth didn't have to finish the sentence. Seth knew Mom wanted him grounded, and figured that's what Dad would do. He also knew Ryan understood as well. He was surprised to see that even Chip understood.
"I guess this means no re-match this weekend." Chip said.
Ryan signed, "I guess not." "But, hey," he added, "at least now you'll have more time to practice your Ratball!"
"Ratball?" Seth asked as the other four, Ryan included, started to laugh. It was obviously an inside joke that Seth wasn't a part of. When and how did Ryan become one of these guys? Seth thought. He didn't like it, not at all. These guys were the same guys who had tormented him his whole life and who had enjoyed pummeling Ryan just a few months earlier. Now they were eating lunch with them, and Seth was watching them joke and fool around with Ryan. Ryan, his friend, his brother. He was still thinking about it, feeling sorry for himself when he heard Brad say,
"Maybe we could go after school. You know, before your folks get home from work, and you get busted."
Before Seth could open his mouth and say anything, Ryan said,
"Can't. I still have detention for the next two weeks."
That answer apparently wasn't good enough to deter Brad,
"So, blow it off," he told Ryan, "If you're already going to get busted for yesterday, what difference does it make?"
God, I really don't like these guys, Seth thought.
"I don't think that's such a good idea," Seth said, "I mean, Ryan, how much more trouble do you want?"
Ryan looked at Seth,
"Why, how much trouble am I in?" Ryan had hoped for some more information from Seth, to know what he was in for when Sandy and Kirsten got home that night.
Unfortunately, Seth just shrugged,
"Don't really know. I do know that I was planning on not being home when you got home after detention, and if you decide to skip detention, please let me know so I can plan on staying out a lot longer."
Luke felt kind of bad for Ryan. He figured he was partly to blame for getting Ryan trashed, but he was also annoyed at Cohen for not having Ryan's back with their parents.
"I swear, Cohen," Luke said, "You can be such a little girl."
Oh, so we're back to calling me names, Seth thought, but told Luke and his bullies,
"Maybe so, but one who has to live with him," he said, pointing to Ryan, "and believe me, it isn't always easy, especially lately."
"Seth," Ryan told him, "Don't worry. I'm not blowing off detention. I still have two weeks to get through, and believe me, I'm not looking to get into any more trouble."
With that settled, they all quietly eat lunch for a while before Ryan asked,
"I mean, how mad could they really be? We just had a couple of beers. I didn't commit any major crime, didn't get into a fight or in any kind of trouble. It really wasn't that big a deal."
Seth wasn't sure if Ryan was trying to convince himself or the rest of them, but told him,
"Yah, ok, Ryan. Go with that, and see how long it is before Dad lets you out this time."
Ryan thought about what Seth said at lunch for the rest of the day. He was feeling better about everything up until that point. He knew that it was a big deal to Sandy and Kirsten if he drank. Kirsten made him aware of that the first night in Newport, when she caught him with a 7&7. That meant it was going to be a really big deal when he got home that night. He should have known.
Yet another difference between living with the Cohens in Newport and the Atwood's in Chino, Ryan thought.
Back in Chino, it wasn't a big deal for him to get completely wasted. No one cared. The only time anyone cared was when Ryan would drink Dawn's booze. Then she cared, or one of her boyfriends cared, and then they would care a little too much and way too harshly.
But as Ryan continued to think about it, he realized that despite the lecture he knew was coming and despite how incredibly boring it was to be grounded; he knew that it was still better to be with the Cohens in Newport.
At exactly 5:00pm, and not a second before, Ryan was dismissed from detention. The campus was pretty empty by then, and Ryan figured on a relatively nice walk home. He liked the walk. It helped him clear his head.
Ryan got home by 5:30, and wasn't really happy to see Sandy's car already in the driveway. Crap, Ryan thought, he's usually not home before 6. I know that he's waiting for me, again. As Ryan walked into the kitchen, there was Sandy sitting at the table, and he was, obviously, waiting for Ryan.
Trying to make a quick exit through the kitchen and out to the pool house, Ryan said,
"Hey, I'm home."
"Yah, hi," Sandy said as he stood up, "How was school?"
Ryan gave his standard one word response that he had been using all day,
"Fine," he said as he tried to inch closer to the door.
"And detention?" Sandy asked, walking closer to the door to block Ryan's obvious quick exit.
"The same," Ryan said. Keep it short; keep it short, he kept thinking.
Then as Sandy stood between Ryan and the door, he looked at him and asked,
"So, how's your hangover?"
Ryan took two steps back. This was it, and he wasn't going to get out of it now. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to try,
"Hangover? What hangover? I'm not hung over."
Sandy put his arm on Ryan's shoulder and said,
"Yah. Ok. Sure. Sit down, Ryan," as he gently nudged Ryan over towards the bar stools.
Christ, here we go, again, Ryan thought as he sat down on the same familiar bar stool, and waited yet again. First the lecture, and then the punishment. He was getting pretty used to it all now.
When Sandy was sure that Ryan was not going anywhere, he folded his arms in front of him, leaned back against the counter and asked,
"Would you like to explain now about yesterday with Luke?"
Ryan tried to sound innocent and nonchalant,
"Explain what?"
"RYAN!" Sandy said, in a voice that Ryan knew meant he was serious, very serious. Ryan knew that it was time to start explaining and just get it over with.
"I thought I told you last night. We took Luke's father's boat out to the bay and hung out there for a while. Then we went over to the batting cages where we met up with Chip and Brad and then we got something to eat and then I came home."
"And the alcohol?" Sandy asked.
Ryan signed,
"Beer. Luke had it, on his father's boat. He said he thought I could use, you know, a couple, to unwind."
"How many was a couple?" Sandy wanted the whole story.
Ryan thought for a second and then said,
"Um, I'm not really sure."
"Ryan!" Sandy warned again.
"No, really," Ryan explained, "I kind of, um, lost count. We were hanging out, talking and drinking. I hadn't planned on drinking that much. It just kind of happened."
"That's a lame excuse and you know it," Sandy told him, "Drinking too much doesn't just happen. You decided to drink that much. That choice was yours."
Ryan just nodded. He was talking to a lawyer, so he knew. He knew he had nothing to say in his own defense.
Sandy continued,
"We won't even go into the fact that you are only 16 years old. And the last time I checked, that was not the legal drinking age. Which makes what you did illegal."
Illegal? Ryan hadn't thought about that.
"Ok. I'm sorry," Ryan told him, "I know it was stupid, but we went out, had a good time and had too much to drink. It really wasn't something I had planned on. It really did just happen. I thought maybe a couple of beers would help me unwind, relax. It has been pretty stressful around here lately, to say the least. So when Luke offered to hang out with some beers, it sounded like a good idea."
Sandy thought for a minute, and then he asked Ryan,
"Ok. Then let me ask you this. How often do you think you need to drink to unwind and relax? How much alcohol do you need when you're faced with a stressful situation?"
At first Ryan was confused by what Sandy was asking, but then it suddenly dawned on him,
"Oh, come on, Sandy. What are you getting at? That I'm an alcoholic? What, like my mother?"
Ryan couldn't believe what Sandy was saying, what he was implying, and Ryan was getting mad, really really mad.
But Sandy stopped him before he could explode.
"Just calm down, Ryan. No, that is NOT what I am saying," he told Ryan. But after a pause, he told him,
"But that's what you're saying. That you needed the alcohol, because you were stressed, and that you needed it to unwind. Either you believe that, or you're handing me a line of bull. Which is it?"
Ryan started to answer, "Sandy...." but couldn't continue. He didn't know what to say.
"Come on, Ryan. I asked you a question. Which is it?" Sandy wanted Ryan's answer, his honest answer. But when Ryan still didn't respond, Sandy demanded,
"ANSWER ME!"
Ryan shot back,
"It was a line of bull, alright. I didn't need it. I don't need it. I've never needed it. Most times I don't even like it. But yesterday just happened. And I know it was wrong, and I know it was illegal and I know you're mad, and I know I'm in trouble. And I'm sorry. But come on, Sandy, you never drank when you were my age?"
"That's not the point," Sandy answered, "We're not talking about me. We're talking about you."
But Sandy was satisfied with the answer Ryan gave him. It was the answer he had hoped for. He'd rather his son hand him a line of crap to get out of being punished then truly believe he needed alcohol to solve his problems.
Sandy continued,
"Kirsten and I are concerned about you, and what you're doing now. We want you to understand that there is never an acceptable excuse for getting drunk, and we will not tolerate it. We do not want it to happen again, and if for any reason, it does happen again, I can promise you that you will find yourself in more trouble then you will know what to do with. Is that understood?"
Ryan nodded his head and said,
"Yah. I understand. I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again."
With that said, Ryan got up to head out to the pool house. Sandy didn't say a word about being grounded this time, and he wanted to get out of there was quickly as possible before the subject came up.
But Sandy stopped him,
"Wait, Ryan. There's still something else we need to talk about."
Now what, Ryan thought as he sat back down. Now what did I do?
This time, though, Sandy seemed a lot more hesitant as he spoke,
"Yah. Listen," he started, "I've been making some calls, and I think I may have found someone for you. To talk to."
"Talk to?" Ryan asked, "You mean like a shrink?"
"A therapist," Sandy corrected. "But yes," he continued, "Her name is Dr. Colefield, and she specializes in helping kids like you."
"Kids like me?" Ryan repeated. What kids like me, he thought.
Trying to find the right words, Sandy explained,
"I mean foster kids. Who need help. Adjusting."
"Adjusting?" Ryan repeated Sandy again.
Yes, adjusting." Sandy told him, "to their new homes. New parents. New families. Adjusting to their new lives. I talked to her this afternoon. She seems really nice. I think you'll like her."
Ryan just shrugged,
"Yah, sure. Fine, what-ever."
And either Sandy didn't hear Ryan or didn't believe him as he continued to explain to Ryan,
"Ryan. We think this is for the best, for you. Help you work out what you need to work out. I hope you know that Kirsten and I and Seth are still here for you and always will be. But Dr. Colefield. She's a professional, someone impartial who isn't so emotionally involved.."
Ryan interrupted him before he could continue,
"Sandy. I said it was fine. I told you I would go. I'll go. Just tell me when and where."
"Oh, ok." Was the only response Sandy had. Ryan was agreeing? This was a little too easy, he thought.
Well," Sandy told him, "your appointment is for tomorrow at 4:30."
"But I still have detention till 5." Ryan reminded him.
"I've already worked it out with the school." Sandy said, "You will have detention until 4. I will pick you up then."
"Ok. Fine. I still have some homework to catch up on. So can I... Are we done?" Ryan asked as he gestured towards the door.
Sandy nodded,
"Yah, sure. Go ahead. I'll call you when dinner's ready." It wasn't often that Sandy was left speechless. This time, however, he truly was.
As Ryan walked out the door and headed for the pool house, he remembered what Luke had said.....
Therapy - every Newport parent's answer to a problem. And obviously, Kirsten and Sandy were Newport parents. They said they wanted to be his Newport parents, which meant Ryan was going to therapy.