/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Four

Morgan stared at Ayanna in horror. She was tight lipped with her gray-blonde hair put in its place perfectly in a bun, like she's never had a bad hair day in her life. She was wearing a tight top and a tight miniskirt and high heels that made her ten times taller than her average height. How could his father go out with someone old who thought she was still young? No wonder she hated teenagers. She was too ugly to be cute like teenagers were.

Ayanna waltzed over to Graham's favorite chair and sat daintily into the chair. She stared as if accusingly at Merrill, Bo, and Morgan as if they smelled of bad fish. Truth be told, she seemed like a fish to Morgan. Her nose seemed to be small, yet pointy at the same time and her mouth puckered out ever so slightly.

Graham walked over and sat on the wooden chair next to Ayanna. He smiled nervously at her, but she never responded and Graham's smile quickly disappeared.

"What's wrong, Ayanna, dear?" he asked.

"Oh, there's something wrong all right," said Ayanna in a deep voice that Morgan didn't expect from such a thin woman. He almost expect a squeaky, mousy voice from her. "Your brother here's looking cocky and your daughter's following suit."

"Bu--," Merrill began.

"Don't talk back, young man!" Ayanna said shrilly. "Remember that I am older than you even though you're Graham's brother and you are also an adult! And Bo, I am ashamed of you, you know better than to follow after what you see someone else do. You are only a child!"

"But Miss Ayanna, I wasn't following anything that uncle Merrill—"

"Don't talk to me that way, young lady! Don't tell me what I don't know! I'm going to be your mother soon and you better get used to obeying me! Honestly, Graham, I don't know how you let your ex-wife to spoil her like this," Ayanna said.

"I must say I wasn't around much when she was taking care of the children because of my ministry job," Graham stated.

"Of course, and I don't blame you one bit. It was all your ex wife's fault. She should've been more strict while raising her."

"That's not true!" Morgan stood up angrily and Ayanna turned to stare at Morgan beadily.

"And who are you, young man?" Ayanna asked softly.

Morgan took this to be a danger sign, but he didn't care. Nobody insulted his mother and got away with it.

"My name's Morgan Hess and Bo's my sister, Merrill's my uncle, Graham's my father and the lady that you were just insulting was my mother. I don't appreciate my mother being talked about like that," Morgan said angrily.

"Ah, but your mother left your father for another man. What kind of a mother is she if she left you children and your father to fend for yourselves? I would be a much better mother than yours ever will be," Ayanna stated.

"My mother died in a car accident," Morgan said so angrily he was whispering.

"I am afraid that's where you are mistaken. Your father just said she died at the time so you would keep a good memory on her. But now that you're older, you have the right to know about the truth," Ayanna exclaimed.

"And why should I believe you on that subject? I'm nineteen years old and I can make my own decisions on what I think is fact or fiction. You're not the one who's controlling me on what I want to decide," Morgan yelled at her.

The two of them stared each other down for what seemed like a long time. Morgan was so angry that he was willing to yell some more to get his point across because he was absolutely certain that he was right. This old woman couldn't tell him what he knew had actually happened. And his father should've known better and told her off for saying untrue things to his children. What was wrong with his father anyway? Why was he going with her?

"I think that it's better off that you stay home instead of coming with us to the restaurant. And I don't think you should be allowed to have any supper whatsoever. That's how I was raised, it taught us discipline. Graham," Ayanna turned to Morgan's father, "I would suggest you send your son up to your room and lock him in there so you'll be sure that he doesn't eat anything while we're gone."

"If you think that is the best method to teach him with, Ayanna dear," Graham said soothingly to her.

"And I stand behind it quite firmly," Ayanna reassured Graham.

"Well, then in that case," Graham stood and faced Morgan, "off to your room, Morgan. Now."

"I don't mind staying home as punishment but being refrained from eating is a little bit too harsh, dad," Morgan reeled onto his father.

"You will do as I say, Morgan, or you'll get further punishment. I'm sure you would not like that to happen to you," Graham said sternly.

"Of course not," Morgan said and with a turn on his heel, he raced out of the room, headed upstairs and slammed the door behind him.

Morgan kneeled onto his bed and began punching his pillow as hard as he could before dropping exhausted onto his bed all the way. Why did everything have to go wrong? He thought coming home would be a happy experience and everybody would be glad that he was home. But when he came home, Morgan found that his father was acting weird and his new girlfriend was controlling every aspect of life that was enjoyable here at the farm.

"We're leaving now, Morgan," Graham's voice came through the door. "We'll be back in a while. I hope you'll be thinking about everything that has been said downstairs."

"Sure, dad," Morgan said, his voice muffled from the pillow.

"Please, Morgan, I don't want you to go through this. I'm only trying to do what's best for you, I hope you understand that," Graham continued.

"I understand dad, go have fun with your girlfriend and Merrill and Bo," Morgan said to him.

"Ok, then," Graham said.

Morgan heard his door being locked and footsteps going down the hallway and going down the steps. Distantly he heard the front door slam. Personally he was glad they left without him. He didn't want to be that crooked old woman one more minute and he was only in her presence for about ten minutes. Soon Morgan fell asleep.