“Use your judgment. I took her keys and she’s grounded until the grades come up. I’m sorry to leave you in this predicament, but I really appreciate you being willing to help.”
“Ah, I know that look. You changed your game plan. Pop, haven’t you realized that she doesn’t follow the rules of the sport?”
“I don’t think that child knows what rules are. I don’t know how she would survive if she ever ventured out on her own.”Bill sighed and propped his leg on the coffee table. “Do you think you will be okay with her?”
“No problem. She’s not the only one who needs looking after. Ask HIM about his chem test. Bry called me on that one, too.” Rob pointed to Glenn.
“Bry’s an asshole. I passed. I’m going to be a sports therapist, not a chemist, so what’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is that I’m paying a lot of money for your education and I expect you to do well. Like I told Cassandra, you have the choice to move out and take care of yourself. That means getting a job. Straighten up, mister. You don’t have that much longer to go,”Bill said firmly.
Glenn sighed. “Ok, fine. I’ll work harder.”
“Good. What are YOU looking at, Robert?”
“I was just wondering why you don’t you use that scarier-than-shit tone on Miss Attitude? Maybe then she’d treat you a little more respectfully. You’re paying for her education, too.”
“Leave the kid alone, bro. She’s got a lot of issues,”Glenn defended his friend.
Rob nodded. “I agree. One of which is total disregard for anyone else. You would have kicked our asses if we ever spoke to you the way she does. I seem to remember a very hard and painful lesson about how to speak to my elders.”
“It’s not the same with boys. Besides, you were raised differently,”Bill argued.
“Yeah, with a willow switch. Pop, you know that’s no excuse. She’s been around this family for 12 years. She’s spoiled and rude. None of us have done anything to invite it. Not even jerkoff here.”
“Hey!”Glenn complained.
Bill shook his head. “I need to start packing. Just get along, please? Glenn, hit the books.”
“Yes, sir,”Glenn grumbled, leaving to get started.
Rob watched his brother go. “Pop, I’m really worried about Cass. So is Bry. We both think she’s heading for disaster,”he said quietly to his father.
Bill nodded, noticing something odd in his son’s expression. “So do I, son. So do I. Make sure you and your brother do your best for her, okay?”
* * *
Two days after Bill left on his trip, Cassie decided it was time to escape the hell she now called home. Glenn was out with his friends and Bryon had left for an away game. Rob had ordered her to clean her room and, in response, she had made her famous retreat and slammed the door as loudly as she could. She ignored his calls from beyond the locked door, turning up the headphones so she couldn’t hear his ranting. Rob finally left her alone and slammed his own bedroom door in frustration.
She waited until the house was quiet and then slipped out of her window and shimmied down the trellis that lined the side of the house. Bill had planted Wisteria there years ago and had made sure the trellis could take the weight of the heavy plant. Cassie had no problem with her get-away; her tiny 5’0”frame weighed no more than a feather and she was agile to boot.
Smiling, she started down to her friend Gina’s house. Rob would never know…
* * *
Rob woke suddenly, hearing a noise coming from outside. He looked out his window to see Cassie trotting down the tree lined street. Growling, he threw on some clothes and followed her. After witnessing her effortless climb up a tree and in through Gina’s upstairs window, he knocked loudly on the door. A man answered.
“Yeah? Hey Rob, you okay? It’s late.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Todd. Sorry about the time. I came to get Cassie. She just snuck into Gina’s room through the window.” Rob rubbed his neck, pointing up.
He stood in the doorway as the man leaned over the stairs, calling up for his daughter. “Gina! Is Cass up there with you?”
“Um, no Daddy,”Gina lied, sticking her head out the door as Cassie shimmied back out the window, lost her footing and clumsily fell…right into Rob’s strong, waiting arms.
“Hello,”he said calmly to her shocked face. Held captive as if by bands of iron, Cassie suddenly felt very small and very vulnerable. She swallowed.
“Good catch,”she gulped.
He nodded. “Wide Receiver. You okay?”he asked.
“I’m fine. Put me down. I’m not a football.”