Chapter 7
Nathan was lying on the couch at the Scott household with a Band-Aid on his foot. Haley walked downstairs carrying her purse.
"Well I'm off to sneak into the PTA meeting," Haley said.
"Okay," Nathan said. "Just let me get my shoes and socks on."
"No Nathan," Haley said. "The doctor at the clinic said to do as little walking as possible until the wound heals."
"It's not that bad," Nathan said.
"Okay," Haley said. "Then I will just have to take you shopping for a prosthetic foot."
"Very funny," Nathan said.
"Don't worry," Haley said. "Clay is taking me and since Quinn is too pregnant to go, we're going to try to convince them that I'm just going in Quinn's place."
Clay walked in through the kitchen door.
"Hey Clay," Haley said.
"Hey," Clay said.
Clay walked over to Nathan.
"How's your foot?" Clay asked.
Nathan pointed at his Band-Aid.
"I have to limit my walking until it heals," Nathan said.
"Sorry bud," Clay said. "You know this town shouldn't have sharp seashells on the beaches. Let's write a letter."
"Very funny," Nathan said.
"Let's go," Haley said. "Bye Nathan."
"Bye," Nathan said.
Haley and Clay left and Keith came downstairs.
"Daddy?" Keith asked. "Do you not like me anymore?"
"Hey," Nathan said softly. "You know I love you."
"I got myself expelled," Keith said.
"Look," Nathan said. "Yes, it was wrong to pull that chair out from under that girl, and yes you're still grounded. But what you did wasn't bad enough for expulsion."
"No," Keith said. "I'm a bad person."
"You are not a bad person," Nathan said. "You just made the wrong decision. Next time Pacey Martin triple dog dares you, you should say no."
"What if he doesn't want to be my friend anymore?" Keith asked.
"If he convinces you to do things you know are wrong, was he really your friend in the first place?" Nathan asked.
"I never thought of that," Keith said. "I love you Daddy."
"I love you too son," Nathan said. "Now do you think you can give Daddy a foot massage?"
"No," Keith said before going back upstairs to his room.
Lydia came downstairs.
"Dad," Lydia said. "I need to go to the library to get a copy of The Giver. I have to do a book report on it and all the copies are checked out of the high school library. I asked Jude and Davis to see if they could check out a copy at the middle school, but all of those copies are checked out too."
"I love that book," Nathan said. "We actually have a copy on the bookshelf."
"Thanks Dad," Lydia said.
Lydia walked over to the shelf and took the book off the shelf.
"I'll start reading this right now," Lydia said.
Lydia began walking upstairs.
"Lydia?" Nathan asked. "Do you think you can…"
"No," Lydia said. "I'm not giving you a foot massage."
Later, Haley came home and walked in through the front door.
"So?" Nathan asked.
"I was able to speak to the superintendent," Haley said.
"And?" Nathan asked.
"I'm sorry Nathan, Keith is still expelled," Haley said.
"What?!" Nathan shouted.
"I'm joking," Haley laughed. "He's not expelled."
"Don't scare me like that," Nathan said.
"Sorry," Haley said.
"So now that that's settled," Nathan said. "Can you give me one of your foot massages?"
"Only if you give me one too," Haley said.
"Deal," Nathan said.