Chapter 5 – Dinner at the Nut House
After drying off, Nicholas and I head back to his house. Since his mother is apparently dying to have me over for dinner, I really don't have a choice. Besides, I've been having so much fun with Nicholas so far today how could I say no to spending even more time with him?
Once we arrive at Nicholas' house, he turns toward me. "Remember, don't say or do anything stupid in front of my parents. Okay?" Nicholas reminds me yet again.
"Yeah, yeah. I got it." I wave my hand in the air.
"No, seriously. My parents are…" Nicholas starts with a very serious expression on his face.
I then cut him off. "I said I understand. Let's just go in. I promise I'll be good." I wrap my arm around his shoulder and wink at him to indicate I am on his side. However, Nicholas becomes a bit red. "Is everything okay?" I ask him.
"Yeah." He says as he gently lifts my hand off of his shoulder. "Let's go in."
As we enter Nicholas' house, his father, Christopher, is once again found sitting at the front of the house reading the newspaper. Talk about a boring dad. I mean, it's understandable to see him doing something boring if it has to do with his job, but just sitting there all day long reading the paper is definitely neither productive nor exciting.
"Hey dad, we're home." Nicholas says as we walk through the living room.
Christopher lowers his reading glasses to get a firm view of the both of us. "Oh, and you brought your friend back as well. Welcome back. Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?" Christopher asks me.
"Mom already invited him before. He's staying." Nicholas replies.
"I think the boy can talk for himself." Christopher stands up and walks toward me. "Zack, was it?"
"Yes sir." I respond. I don't think I've ever actually used the word 'sir' before. Then again, I don't think anyone would expect a guy like me to use that word to address anyone.
"So, Zack, what are your religious views?" The older man questions me with a firmly suspicious look on his face. Where the heck did that come from?It's like he just asked the first question that came to mind. Then again, he's a pastor so I should've expected him to ask me that.
I take a deep breath and answer honestly, which luckily is also the answer I know he wants to hear. "I am Christian sir."
A smile then draws across his face. Is it really that big a deal what my religion is? Why should he care at all?
"And which sect of Christianity do you affiliate yourself with?" Christopher continues.
"Uhhh, what's a sect?" I ask in utter confusion. This guy is really starting to sound nosey, but for Nicholas' sake I won't be mean.
"It's a division of Christianity. For example, Catholicism is one sect." The old man smiles at my curiosity or rather, the curiosity he thinks I have.
"Oh, yeah, I'm Catholic. At least I think I am. I'm not sure. I'm not really too religious. I just know the basics."I answer him, hoping the conversation will end soon.
"Well that's fine. Most boys your age aren't very religious. Maybe Nicholas can teach you a thing or two." He continues smiling at me as if I have some sort of potential in his religion or something. Whatever the case, he's certainly the person I'd want to avoid talking to around here.
"Dinner's ready. Nicholas, set the table!" Nicholas' mother shouts from the kitchen. Oh no, now he has to leave me here to talk to this guy alone? Maybe I should have just told him I am not religious and I am not interested in being converted and left it at that to begin with.
"Zack, do you want to help me set the table?" Nicholas asks, nudging his eyes in the direction of the kitchen. He is as aware as I am of the verbal annoyance I am undergoing right now apparently.
"No. Let Zack stay here and talk to me for a while. He's our guest and guests don't set the table." Christopher responds.
"Guests also shouldn't be bombarded with questions." I groan to myself.
Nicholas then takes a deep breath and walks away.
"Anyhow, Zack where were we?" He begins immediately once Nicholas exits the room.
"Shouldn't I go help set the table?" I plead.
"No, no. Don't worry about it. Nicholas and my wife, Katherine, have everything under control."
"Oh, ummm… In that case, I have to use the bathroom. Where exactly is it?" I say, trying to escape the conversation I've been locked in for the past ten minutes.
"It's right next to Nicholas' room upstairs." Christopher tells me. I quickly charge up the stairs without another word spoken between us. I should've pulled the bathroom card from the start.
After using the bathroom, I decide to quickly change out of my bathing suit in Nicholas' room. I throw on my pants and walk toward the door to go downstairs for dinner. However, something catches my eyes on the way out. One of the drawers on Nicholas' nightstand appears half open. I walk toward it and begin to shut it until I notice books inside it. Being the curious person I am I open up the drawer to examine the books.
The book on the top is, of course, the Bible. It also says "English Standard Version" on the front of it, whatever that means. I guess Nicholas wasn't kidding when he said religion is a strict part of his household. I quickly glance through the book to find that Nicholas has marked up a good portion of it. However, I find that one chapter in particular has nothing marked on it at all. It is under the part called "Leviticus" and the chapter is titled "Unlawful Sexual Relations" with a big fat number "18" next to it. To be quite honest it sounds like the most luring chapter to me. Maybe it's because I'm a teenager and the word "sexual" just screams out to me. Whatever the case, why would Nicholas skip over the most intriguing chapter?
I begin to scroll through the chapter and then discover why he, or then again anyone, would not want to read this chapter. It discusses the most disgusting scenarios of having sex I've ever heard of. It starts off talking about how banging relatives and family members is bad. Why would anyone even have to be warned not to do that? That is just gross on so many levels.
Next, it goes on to inform the readers that you shouldn't have sex with animals. Oh, come on Bible. Are you serious? Why would anyone even think about that let alone do it? The people who wrote this book must've been total perves to even have that cross their minds. Besides, if anyone were to sink as low as to rape an animal, would they even be reading this book?
Then, right next to animals as the final two points, it says that two men shall not have sex with each other. Ewwww, what guy in their right mind would ever want to have sex with another guy? I mean, just thinking about it gives me the chills. I don't want some other guys… stuff… all over me!
Although with all three of these points I do agree that each one is wrong, I don't see why they should be rules. I mean, as gross as this may sound, if someone wants to do it with their cousin, let them. Or if someone wants to have sex with another dude I don't see why anyone else should care. It isn't doing harm to anyone. Animals, on the other hand, would never allow you to do such things to them without rape so that is overall the only plausible point here.
After digesting what I had just read, I slip the Bible back into the drawer with absolute disgust and pull out the next book titled "The One Year Book of Youth Devotions". I quickly flip it open.
"What are you doing?" A voice from outside the room asks. I quickly shut the book and notice Theresa watching me from outside the bedroom.
"I was just changing into my pants." I reply as I quickly slip the book back into the drawer.
"What were you just reading?" Theresa asks out of curiosity.
"Nothing…" I try to fend her off.
"Ooooo, I'm telling!" She yelps excited as she charges down the stairs.
"No! Get back here!" I shout as I bolt after Theresa. Why do little kids get such a thrill out of getting people in trouble?
"Nicholas! I caught him reading a book in your room!" Theresa points at me as I enter the dining room right behind her. Apparently the entire family is beside him. Way to get me in trouble you stupid little girl. You'd better get a good laugh out of this.
"I was just changing into my pants." I sigh as I point to the pants that I put on.
"Nooooo. I saw him! He was reading a book!" Theresa exclaims as she jumps into the air and continues pointing at me.
"What were you reading Zack?" Nicholas asks me.
I look down. "I was reading the Bible. I found it on the floor, but I put it away when I was finished." I look back up to find a big grin drawn across Christopher's face. Oh boy, not again! This guy really can't just stop being so curious about me, can he?
"Well that's excellent! Time with God is time well spent. Which story did you read?" Christopher asks. Apparently Nicholas' opinion of me invading his personal Bible doesn't even matter to his dad if it means I was 'spending quality time with God'.
I obviously don't want to tell him I was reading a chapter about sex, so I lie. "The story about Adam and Eve sir." I state, since that's the only other story I know.
"Ah yes, the story of Creation. A very insightful one indeed. You do know that, despite contrary belief, that story is very true. If anyone tells you that the Earth was created by other means then what is said in that there chapter then they are lying to you!" The old man warns me. This guy can really just talk about the Bible all day. Someone should just have a nice long fireside chat with him to just get it out of his system.
"Got it." I say as I force a fake smile onto my face to act like I actually care. I look to Nicholas, who looks completely aware of how fake my smile is.
"Come on everyone, let's eat dinner before it gets cold!" Nicholas' mother says as she removes the oven mittens from her hands.
"Were you really reading my Bible?" Nicholas whispers to me in shock that I would even think of saying that.
"Yeah."
"Ummm, good. I guess…" He sighs in confusion as he walks toward the dinner table.
After we sit at the dinner table, Christopher once again places his focus on me.
"So Zack, are you dating anybody?" Christopher asks me before I even take a seat. And the harassment continues…
"No sir." I reply.
"Have you ever dated anyone?" He questions me further.
"Chris, would you stop interrogating the boy? He's our house guest, not a job applicant!" Katherine reprimands her spouse. Suddenly, I like the mother of this household a lot more.
"Very well then. He's seems like a good kid anyway." Chris smiles as he turns to me. "You know Zack, if I had a daughter around your age, you'd be the perfect boyfriend for her. Of course I would help you become more knowledgeable with God's Word first though." He smiles at me. He honestly thinks that I, Zack Martin, am a good candidate for a boyfriend? Maybe I just fed the guy everything he wanted to hear because I have never been considered the "perfect guy" for any girl. I can't hold on to a girl for a week, let alone a lifetime. Yet this guy is saying that I could be a good boyfriend. I'm glad the old guy sees potential in me, but I don't see myself going very far in the marriage game.
Next, I notice a rather extravagant meal across the table. On one end of the table, there is a tray of perfectly prepared Baked Ziti with some sort of additional yellow chess sauce I have never seen in a typical dish of Baked Ziti mixed into it as well as several visible spices. Next to that there is a bowl of assorted vegetables topped in a brown sauce. Finally, I also notice a plate piled with barbecue chicken wings, with Blue Cheese dressing beside it. My mouth begins to water just looking at all this stuff. I haven't had a good home cooked meal in years. As if Katherine hadn't proved to be my favorite parent around here already, this meal has sealed the deal.
"This food looks amazing!" I say with an excited smirk across my face.
"Hahaha, enjoy! I made plenty of food for everyone." Katherine smiles at the complement.
As we start to eat, Nicholas' mother initiates a "family discussion". "So boys, how was the river?" She asks.
"It was so much fun! Thankfully Zack is a good swimmer so it actually could be fun." He states as he winks at Theresa.
"Hey that's not funny! I can swim too! Besides, mommy said she'll teach me how to swim better next summer." Theresa pouts in discontent at Nicholas' indirect insult.
I then turn toward Nicholas' dad and notice that he is just eating silently. I guess he likes to talk all day long, but when it comes to meal time nothing is on his mind aside from the food he shoves down his throat.
Katherine begins to laugh watching the innocent heat between her children. "So, Theresa, how was your day today?" She asks as she inserts some ziti into her mouth.
"It was awesome! Me and the girls played make believe in the forest for a little while." Theresa answers as she takes a sip out of her cup.
"That's nice. How did you feel today? Any signs of that cold from a few days ago?" Nicholas' mom continues asking.
"Nope. That cold didn't even cross my mind. All that was on my mind today were gay thoughts!" She exclaims with a smile across her face. Did she just say… oh no…
As soon as she says this, her father spits out the chicken in his mouth and looks up. "What did you just say?" Christopher questions his daughter.
"I had gay thoughts. Why are you acting all surprised? Yes, I know what gay means. You can complement me if you'd like for using new words." She smiles.
"Who taught you that word?" He stares at her intently. I turn to Nicholas to see his reaction to this whole scenario. He seems to be staring at his plate and eating, knowing that he is guilty, but spending all of his innocent time productively.
"Nicholas did." She stares at her brother. Can't that girl lie just once? It wouldn't hurt anyone for her to say she heard it on the radio or something.
"Theresa, go to your room for a little while and bring your food with you. Nicholas and I need to have a serious talk." Chris growls at his daughter in an irritated tone. Oh boy, I've only seen the nosey, yet kind side of Christopher. Now it's time to see the strict and disciplinary side of him and so far it's already scaring me!
And that concludes the ending to yet another slow paced chapter. I hope you guys don't mind the pace I'm going at because I am doing this so that you all can get to know the characters well before I dive into the story!
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Remember to check back for the next update to find out what happens in the argument between Christopher and Nicholas! ^_^