Chapter 7

Chase was in his kitchen cooking spaghetti and meatballs. Chris came in through the kitchen door.

"Hey Chase," Chris said.

"I'm cooking dinner," Chase said. "What do you want?"

"I want you to check for a mole on my back," Chris said lifting up his shirt.

"Gross," Chase said. "I'm not checking for a mole on your back."

"No seriously," Chris said with his back turned toward Chase. "Is there a mole?"

"If you're concerned, go to the doctor," Chase said. "I'm not going to check your back for moles!"

"I'd check your back for moles," Chris said putting down his shirt. "And that sounded less creepy in my head. So where's Jonathan?"

"He's in his room," Chase said. "He's grounded."

"Why?" Chris asked.

"On Monday, he decided to go to a bar and got drunk," Chase said.

"Wow," Chris said. "First he has sex, and then he gets drunk. Just like Chris Keller at that age."

"I will hurt you," Chase said.

"So can Chris Keller stay for dinner?" Chris asked.

"Sure," Chase said. "That way you can keep me from strangling Jonathan."

"Thank you," Chase said.

"I don't know what is up with Jonathan these days," Chase said as he poured the pasta into a pasta bowl in the sink. "First he's been having sex, and now he's using a fake ID at a bar and getting drunk."

"One time Chuck I walked in on Chuck and Beth having sex," Chris said. "That was embarrassing. And another time Chuck came home drunker than a skunk."

"Can you tell Jonathan that dinner is ready?" Chase asked.

"Jonathan!" Chris shouted at the top of his lungs. "Dinner's ready!"

"I could've done that," Chase said.

Jonathan came downstairs into the kitchen.

"Hey Chris," Jonathan said.

"Hey," Chris said.

"Set the table," Chase said.

Jonathan set the table and Chase sat the spaghetti, meatballs, and garlic bread on the table. Chase, Jonathan, and Chris sat down and began making their plates.

"Jonathan," Chase said. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Yes please," Jonathan said.

"And by drink, I mean water, juice, or soda," Chase said.

"I know," Jonathan said.

"Because alcohol is for people over the age of 21," Chase said.

"I'd like some water please," Jonathan said.

Chase got up, got a glass, filled it with water from the sink, and sat it down in front of Jonathan. He then sat back down in the chair in front of his plate.

"See that clear liquid?" Chase asked. "It's called water."

"I know what water looks like," Jonathan said.

"Guys," Chris said.

"I'm just letting you know," Chase said. "Because you know what else is clear? Vodka! Vodka is also clear, but that in the glass I just gave you is water!"

"Chase," Chris said.

"Look," Jonathan said. "I know I screwed up, and I'm sorry. I'll never do it again."

"Damn right you won't!" Chase shouted. "You cannot leave the house unsupervised except for school and work! No TV, no video games…"

"I don't really play video games," Jonathan said.

"No computer other that doing your homework!" Chase shouted. "No phone except for emergencies! And you can't get your license until you're 17!"

"Okay," Jonathan said.

"I am very angry at you!" Chase shouted. "I don't know if I'll ever trust you again!"

"I'm sorry!" Jonathan shouted. "How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?"

"You can say it all you want, but it won't be enough!" Chase shouted. "Two weeks Jonathan! You're grounded for two weeks."

"Okay," Jonathan said nodding his head.

"So," Chris said. "This spaghetti is really good."

"I just want to know why," Chase said. "Why did you get drunk?"

"Andrew invited me to hang out because he's trying to be nicer and trying to be my friend," Jonathan replied. "I didn't think those drinks were that strong."

"You knew it was wrong, but you drank anyway!" Chase shouted.

"Yes," Jonathan said.

"Go to your room!" Chase shouted.

"But I haven't had a single bite to eat yet," Jonathan said.

"Go to your room!" Chase shouted louder.

Jonathan walked upstairs to his room and Chase looked at Chris.

"Okay," Chris said grabbing his plate. "I'm just going to take this plate home with me and I shall return it tomorrow."

Later that night, Jonathan was lying down on his bed. Chase walked in with a plate of spaghetti and meatballs.

"Hey," Chris said.

"Hey," Jonathan said.

"I brought you some food," Chase said. "You can eat it at your desk."

"Thank you," Jonathan said.

Chase sat the plate on Jonathan's desk and then lied down next to his son.

"I'm sorry I lost my temper at you," Chase said. "But Jonathan, what you did was wrong and I want you to understand that."

Jonathan nodded his head.

"You don't have to wait until you're 17 to get your license, but you're still grounded for 2 weeks," Chase said.

"Yes Dad," Jonathan said.

"Now remember I love you," Chase said. "I'll always love you. You're my son."

"And you're my father," Jonathan said.

"Now you better eat before your food gets cold," Chase said.