He woke up to the sound of someone throwing up coming from Madison's room, he went and knocked on the door.
Ephram: You ok?
Madison: What does it sound like?
Ephram opened the door and saw her leaning over the trash can he had placed there the night before. He bent over behind her and held back her hair.
Madison: This is embarrassing
Ephram: (ignored her comment) I'll go get you some water
Madison: Ephram?
Ephram: Yeah?
Madison: thanks...for staying and everything
Ephram: I couldn't just leave you like that
He walked out of the room and grabbed her a water bottle, some paper towels and an aspirin. When he walked back in Madison was in the bathroom washing her face. He walked in and handed her the pill, she took the pill with the water he had given her.
Ephram: Well you had enough energy to get out of bed, that's a good sign
Madison: so how bad was I? Did I do anything stupid? (as she tied her hair back in a low pony-tail)
Ephram: (smiled) I can think of a few things, but nothing too bad
Madison: God, I feel like crap
Ephram: Don't say I didn't warn you
Madison walked back into her room and got back in bed. Ephram went and sat down next to her.
Madison: I can't believe you're seeing me like this, I look like crap
Ephram: You look beautiful
Madison: Ughhh Ephram, I'm so not in the mood
Ephram: I'm just being honest
Madison: (rubbed her eyes) uh huh
Ephram: Besides, you would do the same for me
Madison: Yeah well, that doesn't make me any more attractive at the moment
Ephram: So what do you wanna do today? I was thinking a nice drive on a windy road, and then maybe go to an amusement park...go on a couple roller coasters
Madison: Funny (sarcastically)
Ephram: (looked at his watch, it was 9am) Well, I'm officially dead
Madison: Call him
Ephram: He probably already has his mind made up about what happened, there's no point in trying to convince him otherwise
Madison: I'll talk to him, I mean you were just taking care of me
Ephram: Maybe when you're feeling better, but now you just need to stay here and sleep
Madison: yeah...(she half smiled)
Ephram: (kissed her forehead and then got up) I'll call you later, see how you're doing
Madison: K...I love you
Ephram: Love you too
He got back to the house and slowly opened the door.
Andy: Ephram? Is that you? (from the kitchen)
Ephram: In the flesh
Andy: Where the hell have you been?! (walking into the living room)
Ephram: Before you jump to any conclusions-
Andy: Oh it's way too late for that!
Ephram: I didn't have one drink, Madison just got pretty wasted, I made sure she got to bed and then slept on the couch just incase she needed anything, that's what happened!
Andy: And you expect me to believe that?
Ephram: You can ask Madison! (Andy was about to reach for the phone) wait! Don't call her, she's sleeping and the ringing would probably kill her
Andy: You know Ephram, I'm really tired of this! You didn't even call!
Ephram: I'm sorry, I kind of had more important things to worry about
Andy: How do I know you didn't have anything to drink? How do I know you weren't as "wasted" as she was?!
Ephram: Dad, look at me...do I look like someone who got wasted last night? Besides, I didn't want to risk going through what I did the last time I drank...and you were the one who bought the Champagne, you really can't be mad if I had a drink
Ephram started to go up the stairs.
Andy: We aren't finished here! I only got that Champagne cause I know you hate it!
Ephram: ok well I didn't drink anything...at all, unless you count water, so what now?
Andy: You're grounded!
Ephram: What?! (coming down the stairs) What for?!
Andy: For not thinking to call, you know better than that!
Ephram: I was taking care of Madison! I told you that!
Andy: You still could have found the time to make one little phone call!
Ephram: Yeah at like 3, when you were already asleep and would have yelled at me for waking you up!
Andy: You don't know that!
Ephram: You can't ground me for taking care of my girlfriend!
Andy: That's not what I'm grounding you for, I'm grounding you for not calling!
Ephram: Well maybe if you got me a cell phone-
Andy: This has nothing to do with me getting you a cell phone Ephram, and you know it!
Ephram: (sighed) You're right I should have called, I was stupid, I'll never do it again...
Andy: That's not gonna work this time
Ephram: You can't ground me! It's spring break!
Andy: I'm sure you and your comic books will have plenty of fun
Ephram: Unbelievable! (he ran up the stairs and slammed the door behind him)
Ephram called Madison around 6, but nobody picked up, he decided to go downstairs and watch TV. When he got into the hallway her heard Madison's voice coming from downstairs.
Madison: -I just don't want to be the reason he got in trouble...it wasn't his fault
Andy: I know what you're trying to do Madison, but it's not gonna work, Ephram should have called and he knew it, it's that simple
Madison: But I was a mess, I mean thank god for him or I might have woken up in the middle of the street!
Andy: I understand that, but it is no excuse for not letting me know what was going on
Madison: But- (she stopped when she saw Ephram coming down the stairs)
Ephram: What's up?
Andy: Madison and I were just talking about last night...
Ephram: And...
Andy: And your punishment stands
Madison: I tried
Ephram: Just cause your girlfriend dumped you doesn't mean you can destroy everyone else's lives!
Madison: Ephram-
Ephram: You think just cause you aren't happy, nobody else can be!
Andy: That's not it Ephram! I'm trying to teach you a lesson here, it's called responsibility! You have responsibilities!
Ephram: Yeah, last night I had the responsibility to take care of Madison!
Madison leaned back, she had given up trying to get in the middle of their arguments.
Andy: You also had the responsibility to check in! I need to know that you're ok!
Ephram: Well I'm ok, so can you un-ground me now?
Andy: You know what I mean Ephram! I worry about you!
Ephram: Well you don't need to!
Andy: Yes I do! That's my job! That's what dads do!
Ephram: So I guess dads also abandon their kids for their jobs, and I guess dads forget about their daughter's plans and then lie about it, and I guess dads always do everything in their power to make their children miserable!
Andy: You know what Ephram?! I'm done talking about this! You're grounded and that's final!
Ephram: Fine...whatever
He walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. Madison walked in a couple seconds later.
Madison: That was intense
Ephram: I've seen worse
Madison: Well he said I had to leave soon, but I'll see you tomorrow...maybe Delia will let you watch a movie with us
Ephram: Delia's pretty selfish when it comes to you these days, so I wouldn't count on it
Madison: Well I guess I'll just have to sneak up to your room for a short make-out session while she's distracted
Ephram: As long as your breath is better than it was last night
Madison: (smiled) I'll brush my teeth just for you
Ephram: So, are you 100% yet?
Madison: Pretty much...my head is still ringing but it'll be over soon...I hope
Ephram: Yeah
Madison: I should go... I don't want to get you in any more trouble (she gave him a quick kiss and walked out the back door)
Ephram: Wait! (he ran after her and caught her in the back yard) your present, I never gave it to you...
Madison: I can wait...I mean you can give it to me tomorrow
Ephram: No, I have it now (he reached into his pocket) now before you laugh there's a story that goes with it...
He pulled out a cheap plastic bracelet with tacky red and blue beads.
Madison looked at him a little confused.
Ephram: (as he put it on her wrist) When I was 13, my mom took me to a Mets game, she got a box of Cracker Jacks, this was the prize that came with it...she tried to give it to me, but I told her that it was too girly and I was already a loser... I didn't need to give people something else to make fun of me for...then she told me that this was a lucky bracelet and that if I wore it my one true wish would come true...of course I didn't buy that, but then she told me that I should keep the bracelet and give it to the first person I ever fall in love with on some special occasion and that if I told them the story of how I got it, it would make her fall in love with me, or love me even more, I told her that with my luck I would probably never have anyone to give it to, but she told me that I would find someone, and she would be the luckiest girl in the world...so now I'm giving it to you, the first and only person I will ever love...
He looked up at Madison, who was now in tears.
Madison: Your mom was right...you know, I didn't think it was possible, but I love you even more...
Ephram wiped Madison's tears from her cheek and kissed her passionately.
Madison: (wiping away more tears) Now it's even harder for me to leave
Ephram: Well you don't want to get me in any more trouble
Madison: (kissed him) I am the luckiest girl in the world (kissed him again)
Madison left and Ephram went back inside and up to his room.
Ephram: You ok?
Madison: What does it sound like?
Ephram opened the door and saw her leaning over the trash can he had placed there the night before. He bent over behind her and held back her hair.
Madison: This is embarrassing
Ephram: (ignored her comment) I'll go get you some water
Madison: Ephram?
Ephram: Yeah?
Madison: thanks...for staying and everything
Ephram: I couldn't just leave you like that
He walked out of the room and grabbed her a water bottle, some paper towels and an aspirin. When he walked back in Madison was in the bathroom washing her face. He walked in and handed her the pill, she took the pill with the water he had given her.
Ephram: Well you had enough energy to get out of bed, that's a good sign
Madison: so how bad was I? Did I do anything stupid? (as she tied her hair back in a low pony-tail)
Ephram: (smiled) I can think of a few things, but nothing too bad
Madison: God, I feel like crap
Ephram: Don't say I didn't warn you
Madison walked back into her room and got back in bed. Ephram went and sat down next to her.
Madison: I can't believe you're seeing me like this, I look like crap
Ephram: You look beautiful
Madison: Ughhh Ephram, I'm so not in the mood
Ephram: I'm just being honest
Madison: (rubbed her eyes) uh huh
Ephram: Besides, you would do the same for me
Madison: Yeah well, that doesn't make me any more attractive at the moment
Ephram: So what do you wanna do today? I was thinking a nice drive on a windy road, and then maybe go to an amusement park...go on a couple roller coasters
Madison: Funny (sarcastically)
Ephram: (looked at his watch, it was 9am) Well, I'm officially dead
Madison: Call him
Ephram: He probably already has his mind made up about what happened, there's no point in trying to convince him otherwise
Madison: I'll talk to him, I mean you were just taking care of me
Ephram: Maybe when you're feeling better, but now you just need to stay here and sleep
Madison: yeah...(she half smiled)
Ephram: (kissed her forehead and then got up) I'll call you later, see how you're doing
Madison: K...I love you
Ephram: Love you too
He got back to the house and slowly opened the door.
Andy: Ephram? Is that you? (from the kitchen)
Ephram: In the flesh
Andy: Where the hell have you been?! (walking into the living room)
Ephram: Before you jump to any conclusions-
Andy: Oh it's way too late for that!
Ephram: I didn't have one drink, Madison just got pretty wasted, I made sure she got to bed and then slept on the couch just incase she needed anything, that's what happened!
Andy: And you expect me to believe that?
Ephram: You can ask Madison! (Andy was about to reach for the phone) wait! Don't call her, she's sleeping and the ringing would probably kill her
Andy: You know Ephram, I'm really tired of this! You didn't even call!
Ephram: I'm sorry, I kind of had more important things to worry about
Andy: How do I know you didn't have anything to drink? How do I know you weren't as "wasted" as she was?!
Ephram: Dad, look at me...do I look like someone who got wasted last night? Besides, I didn't want to risk going through what I did the last time I drank...and you were the one who bought the Champagne, you really can't be mad if I had a drink
Ephram started to go up the stairs.
Andy: We aren't finished here! I only got that Champagne cause I know you hate it!
Ephram: ok well I didn't drink anything...at all, unless you count water, so what now?
Andy: You're grounded!
Ephram: What?! (coming down the stairs) What for?!
Andy: For not thinking to call, you know better than that!
Ephram: I was taking care of Madison! I told you that!
Andy: You still could have found the time to make one little phone call!
Ephram: Yeah at like 3, when you were already asleep and would have yelled at me for waking you up!
Andy: You don't know that!
Ephram: You can't ground me for taking care of my girlfriend!
Andy: That's not what I'm grounding you for, I'm grounding you for not calling!
Ephram: Well maybe if you got me a cell phone-
Andy: This has nothing to do with me getting you a cell phone Ephram, and you know it!
Ephram: (sighed) You're right I should have called, I was stupid, I'll never do it again...
Andy: That's not gonna work this time
Ephram: You can't ground me! It's spring break!
Andy: I'm sure you and your comic books will have plenty of fun
Ephram: Unbelievable! (he ran up the stairs and slammed the door behind him)
Ephram called Madison around 6, but nobody picked up, he decided to go downstairs and watch TV. When he got into the hallway her heard Madison's voice coming from downstairs.
Madison: -I just don't want to be the reason he got in trouble...it wasn't his fault
Andy: I know what you're trying to do Madison, but it's not gonna work, Ephram should have called and he knew it, it's that simple
Madison: But I was a mess, I mean thank god for him or I might have woken up in the middle of the street!
Andy: I understand that, but it is no excuse for not letting me know what was going on
Madison: But- (she stopped when she saw Ephram coming down the stairs)
Ephram: What's up?
Andy: Madison and I were just talking about last night...
Ephram: And...
Andy: And your punishment stands
Madison: I tried
Ephram: Just cause your girlfriend dumped you doesn't mean you can destroy everyone else's lives!
Madison: Ephram-
Ephram: You think just cause you aren't happy, nobody else can be!
Andy: That's not it Ephram! I'm trying to teach you a lesson here, it's called responsibility! You have responsibilities!
Ephram: Yeah, last night I had the responsibility to take care of Madison!
Madison leaned back, she had given up trying to get in the middle of their arguments.
Andy: You also had the responsibility to check in! I need to know that you're ok!
Ephram: Well I'm ok, so can you un-ground me now?
Andy: You know what I mean Ephram! I worry about you!
Ephram: Well you don't need to!
Andy: Yes I do! That's my job! That's what dads do!
Ephram: So I guess dads also abandon their kids for their jobs, and I guess dads forget about their daughter's plans and then lie about it, and I guess dads always do everything in their power to make their children miserable!
Andy: You know what Ephram?! I'm done talking about this! You're grounded and that's final!
Ephram: Fine...whatever
He walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. Madison walked in a couple seconds later.
Madison: That was intense
Ephram: I've seen worse
Madison: Well he said I had to leave soon, but I'll see you tomorrow...maybe Delia will let you watch a movie with us
Ephram: Delia's pretty selfish when it comes to you these days, so I wouldn't count on it
Madison: Well I guess I'll just have to sneak up to your room for a short make-out session while she's distracted
Ephram: As long as your breath is better than it was last night
Madison: (smiled) I'll brush my teeth just for you
Ephram: So, are you 100% yet?
Madison: Pretty much...my head is still ringing but it'll be over soon...I hope
Ephram: Yeah
Madison: I should go... I don't want to get you in any more trouble (she gave him a quick kiss and walked out the back door)
Ephram: Wait! (he ran after her and caught her in the back yard) your present, I never gave it to you...
Madison: I can wait...I mean you can give it to me tomorrow
Ephram: No, I have it now (he reached into his pocket) now before you laugh there's a story that goes with it...
He pulled out a cheap plastic bracelet with tacky red and blue beads.
Madison looked at him a little confused.
Ephram: (as he put it on her wrist) When I was 13, my mom took me to a Mets game, she got a box of Cracker Jacks, this was the prize that came with it...she tried to give it to me, but I told her that it was too girly and I was already a loser... I didn't need to give people something else to make fun of me for...then she told me that this was a lucky bracelet and that if I wore it my one true wish would come true...of course I didn't buy that, but then she told me that I should keep the bracelet and give it to the first person I ever fall in love with on some special occasion and that if I told them the story of how I got it, it would make her fall in love with me, or love me even more, I told her that with my luck I would probably never have anyone to give it to, but she told me that I would find someone, and she would be the luckiest girl in the world...so now I'm giving it to you, the first and only person I will ever love...
He looked up at Madison, who was now in tears.
Madison: Your mom was right...you know, I didn't think it was possible, but I love you even more...
Ephram wiped Madison's tears from her cheek and kissed her passionately.
Madison: (wiping away more tears) Now it's even harder for me to leave
Ephram: Well you don't want to get me in any more trouble
Madison: (kissed him) I am the luckiest girl in the world (kissed him again)
Madison left and Ephram went back inside and up to his room.