"Problems? Wha-" but it was too late. Mr. Wolff had already hung up the phone. Nat stuck his cell phone back in his pocket. "Kristina, my dad said he had a serious problem. I have no idea what's wrong. He wants me to come over right away." Kristina nodded in concern. "You want me to come with you?" "No, it's better we just call it a night." Nat kissed Kristina on the cheek and ran outside with a red face.

It was a long walk, and he was freezing. Why didn't I bring a heavier coat?

Finally, he reached his house. Mr. Wolff and Alex were still outside. This had better not be a family meeting! Nat thought, annoyed.

"What's the matter, Dad?" He asked. Alex was peeking in the window. He was checking in on the family bulldog, Lucky. "Don't worry, Lucky! Soon we will be inside to feed you and water you and take you poopy!" He shouted inside. Nat rolled his eyes. "Why don't you just go inside and tell Lucky that?" He asked, adding a laugh.

"That's the problem, son." Mr. Wolff sighed in frustration. Ever since Nat became a teenager, his life as a father became way more complicated than it used to be. "You obviously must have locked the door before you left. Do you have any idea where the key is?" Nat stuck his hands in his pockets and thought, trying to retrace his steps. "Okay…I was in a rush…I ran out the door…I locked it and shut it…I wasn't really thinking of the key. It must be on the kitchen table. But it's no big deal. We can get in through the window. Move over, Alex." Alex stepped aside as Nat struggled to get the window open. He tried to use his knees, but he eventually tried to use his back. "Umm…a little help here?"

Mr. Wolff and Alex tried to help him. With much effort, the window eventually was pushed halfway open…but not open enough to get in easily. "Okay, maybe we can try to crawl in." Nat panted, out of breath.

Since Alex was the shortest, smallest, and youngest, he crawled in first with no difficulty. Second was Nat. He needed a little bit of a push from his dad, but he got in fine also. Then it was Mr. Wolff's turn. He got in halfway, then he sort of stuck there. "Okay, boys, I need some help." Both Nat and Alex grabbed on to one of their dads' hands and pulled. They had pulled for 20 seconds before Alex gave up. "Nat, how about you go outside and push in and I keep pulling out?"

"Wait a minute, why am I the one who has to go outside?" Nat whined. "Nat, just do it! I can't be lying like this all night!" Mr. Wolff snapped.

Nat walked out the front door, grabbed on of his dad's legs, and pushed in. It took 5 minutes to finally get Mr. Wolff inside. Nat crawled in the window again.

"You know, we really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Alex could have just unlocked the door and Dad and I could have walked in through it." Nat giggled nervously.

Mr. Wolff threw his hands up. "Nat, I can't take this anymore. Ever since you've become a teenager, you have this twisted idea in your mind that you're an adult. Well, you're not, you live under my roof under my rules!"

"Dad, what are you talking about?"

"I'll tell you what I'm talking about! Like tonight, you left the house without calling me! Where were you? I had no idea whether you were somewhere safe with your friends or lying dead in a street corner!"

"Dad, I'm fine! You're so overreacting! I was out with Kristina. We went out to eat. No big deal."

"Speaking of Kristina, who is she, anyways? I've never met her and the only things I know about her are the things your brother told me! How do I know she's not some prostitute you found on the internet and that's how she became your bass player?"

"OH MY GOD, DAD! THAT IS SO NOT TRUE!"

"How do I know it isn't true? You never tell me anything anymore! We used to be so close and we told each other everything, all three of us, but now I hardly even know you anymore! We never talk or hang out or anything! Not to mention you're lazy and you never do any chores. What's happening to you, Nat?"

Nat couldn't believe his own ears. His dad had never yelled or accused him of anything. Was he going senile or something? He's crazy!

"I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME, DAD! I'M GROWING UP! I'M NOT A BABY ANYMORE! I HAVE FRIENDS AND I GO OUT ON DATES AND OCCASIONALLY I WILL MEET SOMEONE IT WILL TAKE ME LONGER TO INTRODUCE YOU TO, BUT I REALLY DID WANT YOU TO MEET KRISTINA! YOU-"

"No, Nat! I'm not hearing this anymore!"

"I'm not surprised! You only hear what you want to hear!"

"You're grounded! No TV or computer for a week! And for 2 weeks you will be the one doing the dishes and raking the leaves! Now, go to your room, shut out the lights, say your prayers, and I better not see you until tomorrow!"

Nat stomped up to his room, slammed the door, kicked off his shoes, took off his jeans, threw off his jacket, and jerked the covers over his head violently. He couldn't believe what his dad was saying! He was being a jerk for no good reason. So what, I went out to dinner with Kristina without telling Dad? I'm not a baby anymore, I can go out with friends without asking Daddy what I should order! I can't believe I'm being grounded and being put to slave labor like this! This is so unfair!