A/N: I know Chapter 4 was a little out there, but I needed to put in some
controversy to explain something tragic that happens later on. I probably
lost almost all of my readers because of Albert's girlfriend, but his
behavior will eventually be explained in a long, boring, complicated
manner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 4 11:46pm
"Wow," Violet though aloud, looking down at her journal. "That's a lot for only four days. I doubt the Poes would like me to use what happened yesterday in my report, though."
Albert's punishment decided today: 3 weeks without having visitors or going out at night.
Overheard Poes talking about Albert and the way his life was going.
Mrs. P- Dear, I think Albert's sudden choice of company he wishes to keep might have something to do with what we found a few weeks ago.
Mr. P- Those cuts on his arm? He just dropped his razor while shaving. We've all done it before. It was a harmless mishap, nothing to pester the boy about.
Mrs. P- I'm not so sure about that. Remember that call from the school? Albert's been falling asleep in class, passing in homework late; he never had those habits before. I'm worried.
Mr. P- Grade twelve's a hard year on everyone. Albert's no exception. Just because the boy's tired more often these days and has a new girlfriend doesn't mean he's doing drugs or anything! My son would not do that! Besides, he probably cut himself because he was so tired that wasn't thinking clearly enough.
Mrs. P- No kids are perfect, ours is no exception! I think we should get him some counseling. I know a health nurse who's really good at talking to teenagers. Do you know why?
Mr. P- How would I know? Why?
Mrs. P- Because she gets on their level. She listens without getting angry. She doesn't expect the world from them. If we had done that, my boy probably wouldn't be in this mess.
Mr. P- That's all well and good, but he is not in a mess. I'm not paying some woman to come talk to my son and try to convince us that he is doing something wrong or illegal or God knows what. I know my own son. He's not like that. He's a good student, star athlete, involved with the community; that's just not the profile of a troubled teen.
Mrs. P- For your information, her services are free. She has an office in Albert's school. But we'll have to convince him to go on his own. We can't force him.
Mr. P- Will you ever stop and just listen to me!? Albert, my first born son who bares my name, is not doing anything besides being the kid we wanted and told him to be. There is no problem with him. There is no problem with our parenting techniques. The problem is you, trying to convince yourself that he is a 'normal teenager', as you put it, the kind who does bad things and hates their parents. My son is above that mumbo jumbo. Now if you've excuse me, I have to go for a drive to calm myself.
*Mr. Poe exits*
Later that night, Albert and Edgar talked about Albert's new girlfriend and attitude.
Edgar- Did you really meet her in a club?
Albert- *sarcastically* No, I paid her to say that to piss off Mom and Dad so they'd ground me for three weeks.
Edgar- Three weeks? You must be mad about that.
Albert- No shit, Sherlock!
Edgar- God you're snappy lately! What crawled up your ass and died?
Albert- Nothing you'd know or care about.
*Albert starts rubbing his left arm absentmindedly. Edgar pulls up his sleeve while he's distracted. Albert's arm covered from shoulder to wrist with little red cuts and marks.*
Edgar- *surprised, worried* Mom was right about you! Why would you do that to yourself?
Albert- Screw off Edgar! It's none of yours or hers or anyone else's business! I wish people would just leave me alone! I know what I'm doing!
Edgar- Obviously you don't! What happened to you, Al? You were always the smart one, the one who thought things through. I've always done things without caring or thinking about the consequences, but you're different. You're better then that. Or at least you were.
*Edgar looks sternly at Albert for a few seconds, then exits to his bedroom*
Albert- I guess you're gonna piss at me, too?
Violet- I won't. It's not my place to piss.
Albert- *smiling* You know, I've always liked you Violet. We think in the same basic way, no? A whole bunch of little gears go off inside you're head and think of all possibilities that could draw a specific conclusion. Except with me, it's backwards. I think of all conclusions for a specific possibility. Only I never comprehended one variable, the most important one, I think.
Violet- I don't understand.
Albert- That variable was addiction.
*Albert exits*
~~~~~~End of Chapter 4~~~~~~
Did that make any sense at all? It did to me, but I know what happens next so that's probably why. Sorry these chapters are so short guys. I'll try to make the next few important ones longer. If you're reading this, thank heavens you weren't scared off by Albert's girlfriend's profession. I kinda like the way this is going, but I'm the author, so review and give me a non- biased opinion. Thanks ya'll!
-KittyWillow xoxo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 4 11:46pm
"Wow," Violet though aloud, looking down at her journal. "That's a lot for only four days. I doubt the Poes would like me to use what happened yesterday in my report, though."
Albert's punishment decided today: 3 weeks without having visitors or going out at night.
Overheard Poes talking about Albert and the way his life was going.
Mrs. P- Dear, I think Albert's sudden choice of company he wishes to keep might have something to do with what we found a few weeks ago.
Mr. P- Those cuts on his arm? He just dropped his razor while shaving. We've all done it before. It was a harmless mishap, nothing to pester the boy about.
Mrs. P- I'm not so sure about that. Remember that call from the school? Albert's been falling asleep in class, passing in homework late; he never had those habits before. I'm worried.
Mr. P- Grade twelve's a hard year on everyone. Albert's no exception. Just because the boy's tired more often these days and has a new girlfriend doesn't mean he's doing drugs or anything! My son would not do that! Besides, he probably cut himself because he was so tired that wasn't thinking clearly enough.
Mrs. P- No kids are perfect, ours is no exception! I think we should get him some counseling. I know a health nurse who's really good at talking to teenagers. Do you know why?
Mr. P- How would I know? Why?
Mrs. P- Because she gets on their level. She listens without getting angry. She doesn't expect the world from them. If we had done that, my boy probably wouldn't be in this mess.
Mr. P- That's all well and good, but he is not in a mess. I'm not paying some woman to come talk to my son and try to convince us that he is doing something wrong or illegal or God knows what. I know my own son. He's not like that. He's a good student, star athlete, involved with the community; that's just not the profile of a troubled teen.
Mrs. P- For your information, her services are free. She has an office in Albert's school. But we'll have to convince him to go on his own. We can't force him.
Mr. P- Will you ever stop and just listen to me!? Albert, my first born son who bares my name, is not doing anything besides being the kid we wanted and told him to be. There is no problem with him. There is no problem with our parenting techniques. The problem is you, trying to convince yourself that he is a 'normal teenager', as you put it, the kind who does bad things and hates their parents. My son is above that mumbo jumbo. Now if you've excuse me, I have to go for a drive to calm myself.
*Mr. Poe exits*
Later that night, Albert and Edgar talked about Albert's new girlfriend and attitude.
Edgar- Did you really meet her in a club?
Albert- *sarcastically* No, I paid her to say that to piss off Mom and Dad so they'd ground me for three weeks.
Edgar- Three weeks? You must be mad about that.
Albert- No shit, Sherlock!
Edgar- God you're snappy lately! What crawled up your ass and died?
Albert- Nothing you'd know or care about.
*Albert starts rubbing his left arm absentmindedly. Edgar pulls up his sleeve while he's distracted. Albert's arm covered from shoulder to wrist with little red cuts and marks.*
Edgar- *surprised, worried* Mom was right about you! Why would you do that to yourself?
Albert- Screw off Edgar! It's none of yours or hers or anyone else's business! I wish people would just leave me alone! I know what I'm doing!
Edgar- Obviously you don't! What happened to you, Al? You were always the smart one, the one who thought things through. I've always done things without caring or thinking about the consequences, but you're different. You're better then that. Or at least you were.
*Edgar looks sternly at Albert for a few seconds, then exits to his bedroom*
Albert- I guess you're gonna piss at me, too?
Violet- I won't. It's not my place to piss.
Albert- *smiling* You know, I've always liked you Violet. We think in the same basic way, no? A whole bunch of little gears go off inside you're head and think of all possibilities that could draw a specific conclusion. Except with me, it's backwards. I think of all conclusions for a specific possibility. Only I never comprehended one variable, the most important one, I think.
Violet- I don't understand.
Albert- That variable was addiction.
*Albert exits*
~~~~~~End of Chapter 4~~~~~~
Did that make any sense at all? It did to me, but I know what happens next so that's probably why. Sorry these chapters are so short guys. I'll try to make the next few important ones longer. If you're reading this, thank heavens you weren't scared off by Albert's girlfriend's profession. I kinda like the way this is going, but I'm the author, so review and give me a non- biased opinion. Thanks ya'll!
-KittyWillow xoxo