Posted on January 30, 2017 by Gordon Savage
Samantha was ready to face her punishment. She figured that the tougher it was the more motivated she’d be to make sure she hurt her father. As expected, she was grounded, but it was a first time offense. She knew she had more work to do. She didn’t realize how tough it was going to be.
“Mind if I join you?” It was Bill. My heart thudded. It was Monday after my first weekend being grounded. The lunchroom wasn’t crowded so it wasn’t as if he had to sit with me.
“Be my guest.” I struggled not to appear overly pleased.
He put down his tray and slid onto the bench beside me. “So what is your punishment?”
“Not as bad as I expected. I’m grounded through next weekend, and I’m not allowed to drive while I’m grounded.” I had gotten my license on my birthday.
“So you still can’t break loose for a movie?”
It felt like a prompt. What was he suggesting, that I go over the wall? I admit I really wanted to, but our house wasn’t exactly easy to sneak out of or back into, for that matter. All I could say was, “I wish.”
I hung my head. “If I keep my nose clean, I can get out the next weekend.”
“I guess I’ll have to ask Lynda.” That was mean. Lynda was his regular girlfriend. I was hoping to take her place, and he had seemed interested. I tried not to show my hurt.
Okay, I knew he was trying to manipulate me, but I wanted to go out with him. Would this make him lose interest in me?
I started trying to think of ways I might get time off. I could tell Mom that Bill had asked me out, but that wouldn’t work. She’d just remind me that grounding was punishment, and maybe I’d think of this the next time I felt like expressing myself like I had. Or I could be the model of good behavior, but that would make Father happy. The punishment had worked, after all. The whole idea was to make him pay.
I tried to move the conversation the other way. “I bet your football practice takes up a lot of your time.”
“Yeah. We have a strong team this year. We should go all the way to state. In fact, our first game is this Friday.” He paused. “You won’t be able to watch, will you?”
“No, but I’ll be rooting for you.” Even football came back to me being grounded. “Maybe I can get a pass to watch practice.”
For a moment he stared off in the distance. What was he thinking? She can’t take time out to see a movie, but she wants to come to football practice? Have I turned on a stalker?
I shook my head to clear it. Get real, Samantha. He’s one of the most popular boys in school. He can have any girl he wants. He’s probably wondering if I’m worth the trouble. That did nothing to boost my self-confidence.
At least he didn’t get up and leave. We talked until he finished lunch. Then Randy McCall walked up. He glanced at me and then said to Bill, “New girlfriend, Don Juan?”
“Just a new friend.”
That hurt. I kept my mouth shut.
Bill slid off the bench and stood. He nodded to me. “Time for me to head for the gym. Later.”
As they walked away, I had the feeling I blew it.