Chapter 9

Invite Feeney to Dinner

As Alan turned the key and opened the door to their home Corey, Topanga, and Amy filed in behind him. It had been several days since Mr. Feeney had made the trip home form the hospital. With each passing day he needed less and less help from the neighbors. Corey and Topanga were sitting on the couch together as they had been invited over for dinner with Amy and Alan. Soon Eric would arrive and Morgan would return from a friend's house just down the street. "You know Alan I have an idea."

"Yes dear." He said as they continued set the kitchen table.

"I think that we should invite George for dinner too."

"Actually that does not sound like a bad idea. At least then he won't have to go through the trouble of fixing it for himself. Why don't you call Corey in and have him go over and invite him."

"Corey." Amy said as she poked her head though the kitchen door.

"Yeah."

"Can you please go over and invite Mr. Feeney to dinner with us."

"Sure." Corey pulled himself from the sinking cushion of the couch and kissed Topanga on the forehead as he made his way though the kitchen and over to Mr. Feeney's. Corey proceeded to knock on the back door until Mr. Feeney hobbled over and was able open it. "Mr. Matthews"

"Hi Mr. Feeney. My family and I just wondered if you would like to come over and have dinner with us?"

"Well I suppose so. However you might have to help me over."

"No problem" Corey replied as he allowed Mr. Feeney to lean on him. They began to slowly inch their way over to the Matthews kitchen table, which by that time was ready for everyone to take a seat and begin eating. The mash potatoes sat quietly in a big bright blue bowl in the center of the table. The corn on the cob was laying in several neatly laid rows under them a freshly washed white plate. At each place there was a set of shinning silverware and a glass full of ice. The plates at each spot awaited the food. "Oh George how nice to see you!" Amy said as she greeted him and Corey held the door open as Mr. Feeney gingerly limped through the doorway. Corey followed up by helping Mr. Feeney get seated and get his drink. That is when Topanga, Eric, and Morgan entered the kitchen and sat down at the table. The conversation quickly started up as they all began filling their plates with the different dinner foods. "Mr. Feeney it is so good to see you out of the hospital."

"Yes Topanga, I am glad to be home. Thank you all for helping me and inviting me over for dinner."

"Your welcome to come over at anytime George." said Amy.

"Yes, George we will help you in anyway that we can." Added Alan.

"So Corey, how are you doing? I have not seen you in a while bro."

"I am doing better Eric. How are you and Jack doing?"

"Oh you know Cor, same old same old. Jack has been hanging around with friends a lot, but you know I don't mind. What about you Topanga?"

"Well, I have not really gotten much sleep in the last few weeks. I have been a little stressed and worried." She answered as she glared at Corey.

"You know Topanga it has been kinda a stressful last couple of weeks with the accident and other events." The more his mother talked Corey's face began to turn red and the anger continued to build. He knew they were talking about him, they were trying to get him to admit that he needed help. As he kept remembering what Feeney had told him he was able to keep quiet while the conversation continued. Until several minutes later when he no longer could take it. He hated the fact that his Family would not believe him and even more that they believe that he could even do such a thing. He felt as if he were being interrogated by the police. It seemed as if they wanted him to have a problem with drugs. "Cor…Corey!"

"Uh, oh yes mom." Corey said as his thoughts were broken and his attention was brought back to the kitchen table.

"Corey what is wrong?"

"You know I don't have a clue. You seem to know everything. So why don't you tell me."

"Corey, don't talk to your mother like that!"

"You know what…whatever you want to be wrong with me you got it. You want me to admit that I am on drugs then fine, I am on drugs. Are you happy now?" As Corey's voice took command of the conversation everyone sat motionless, and tears began to run down Amy's face along with Topanga who sat with her napkin covering her mouth. Mr. Feeney's eyes filled with the look of disappointment as the family watched Corey storm out the back door. Nobody said a word for several minutes. The room was so quiet that they could have heard the presence of a fly. That is when Eric's voice shattered though the still air, "Look what you guys have done to Corey."

"Hey pal, we have not done anything to Corey. He for some stupid reason has just now admitted the truth. He was the one that chose to be involved with drugs. Don't go blaming me."

"Dad, you were not listing to him. Drugs are not his problem. It sounded like to me that he was upset because his own parents don't know him or trust him well enough to know that would never do something like that. I believe that he always did everything he could to not hurt others. Does anyone else here believe me?"

"You know Mr. Matthews as strange as this might be, I believe you. That is the message I got from Corey. I must say I am a little disappointed in the way he chose to tell us that."

"So wait a minute George. You are telling us that you don't believe Corey is addicted to drugs. You mean you actually believe his wild story about the gang?"

"Well Alan, I don't know everything but I don't ever believe Corey would make something like this up and I don't believe he would ever do drugs. Just look over there at Topanga. Corey loves her to death and I am quite sure that he would never do anything to hurt her or disappoint her. Durgs would do both of those and Corey would never do anything to shame you or Amy either."

"Well George maybe you are right, I guess we can only take things one day at a time."