"Mom!" Flynn yelled enthusiastically when he entered the living room. "You'll never guess what happened to me today!"
"What's that, honey?" She asked. But she didn't sound the least bit excited to hear what he had to say. She was probably still upset about everything that had happened
involving his dad. And he couldn't blame her, he supposed. But once she heard what had happened to him, she was bound to forget all of that.
"You know that girl Lindsay who called? Well, there's a dance at school on Friday and she asked me to go with her! I have a date, Mom! Can I go, please? I promise I'll be
careful! I've never been to a dance before and I've never been on a date! Please, Mom! I'll do anything you want, even do the dishes for a month if you'll just let me go!"
To his dismay, his mom grabbed a pillow and held it in her hands. And he knew instantly what it meant. It was time for a family meeting and he knew from experience that
they only had family meeting when there was bad news. The last one was led by his father, informing them that he had cancer and that he was refusing to partake in
chemotherapy. Flynn didn't want to hear any more bad news right now, and he wanted to protest, choosing instead to talk about his great news. But he was in too good
of a mood to argue with his mother.
"Flynn, honey… there's… something I need to tell you." She said.
"Mom, did you hear me? I have a date!" he said excitedly, forgetting all about the prospect of learning bad news.
"I know that, honey but please, hear me out!" She said. "I don't know how to begin."
The bad news was coming, he knew it. But he wasn't about to let it ruin his good mood, no matter what it was. Most likely it was something about his father and he sure
as heck didn't care about him. Not anymore, anyway.
"What is it, Mom?"
"Flynn, your father was back in town."
"Dad? Um, you mean Walter?" He cringed at the thought of addressing that monster as "Dad" but he supposed that old habits die hard.
"Mom, did you call the police? I hope he gets what he deserves and that he never hurts you or me or Aunt Marie ever again! Did you call the police because if you don't, I
will!" He moved slowly but steadfast toward the phone and picked it up, his fingers poised over the keypad.
"Flynn, listen to me, please!" his mom was saying as the tears streamed down her cheeks. "God, I hate him for making me do this!"
"Do what, Mom? Just forget about him! I'm trying to ask you something important! I need to know if I can go to the dance with Lindsay!"
"Flynn, your father is dead!"