Parker

Chapter 9

Parker waited twenty minutes and then left the office. As he walked down the steps he could not help but wonder why this second dealership was here.  And why no one was working in it.

He mused how customers did not even seem to come in here.  And if one did wander in here tey would not even know it.

It's just weird he thought.

Parker walked into the bathroom and washed off his face. He looked in the mirror and watched as the swelling went down.

I wish the swelling on my butt would go away just as easily.

"Okay Parker you are going to stay out of trouble." He told himself. "You've gotten enough butt whippings and you don't want anymore." Not that I wanted the last two he thought. "Just stop doing dumb stuff. Do what youe dad tells you and you will be fine."

Parker hung his head as he questioned if he could.

He then walked out of the bathroom and looked at the cars as he passed them. He really wanted to learn how to drive one.

Maybe my dad will teach me if I stay out of trouble.

He stepped outside and saw one of the salesmen walking around the lot with a couple of customers. He hoped that he closed the sale and did not get yelled at like the poor Todd guy.

I wonder how he's made out today.

Parker got his answer when he entered the hall that led to his father's office. "I don't know what to do." Parker heard a voice say. It was coming from the small lounge right before his dad's office. "No matter how hard I try I can't seem to do anything right."

I know the feeling Parker thought.

"My boss hates me." Todd said. "I'm a joke to my coworkers."  Todd then sniffed. "I don't think I can do this anymore."

I don't blame you Parker thought.

"Parker." He then saw his father at the office door who waved him in. Parker hurried past the lounge as Todd told whoever he was talking how miserable he was.

"You okay?" Rodger asked as the door closed on them.

"Yeah." Parker said. "My butt still feels like it is on fire but I'm okay."

"That will pass." He said as Parker sat down on the couch. "That guy sounds really upset."

"Yeah he's been having a pretty rough day."  Rodger said.

"Maybe you should talk to him." Parker said.

"He'll be fine." Besides I don't want to say to him.

"I don't think he is going to be fine." Parker looked at the door.

"I appreciate your concern but don't worry about him right now." Rodger said and Parker looked back at his father. "I just need you to worry about doing what you are told."

"I will dad."

He gave his son a skeptical look as he thought yeah I've heard that before.

The side door opened and Justin barged in. "What is with you sending Ken home." The man angrily said.

"Can we talk about this later?" Rodger asked giving him a disdain.

"No we are going to talk about it now."  Justin shouted.

Rodger sighed. "Let's go talk in the conference room."

"Fine."

Rodger put his hand on his son's head and then followed him out. As soon as he closed the door Justin yelled "Why the hell did you send him home."

"Justin." Rodger said keeping his composure. "I am not Todd, I am not your wife, I am not the delivery boy who forgot your mustard packets. You will not talk to me like this." He steeled himself as he spoke. "I will tell you why I sent him home but I won't until you calm down first."

Justin looked as if he was going to start yelling but instead he sat down and said "Fine. Why did you send Ken home?"

"Because he drove one of the cars off the lot with an unauthorized person in the car."

"And who was this unauthorized person?" Justin watched as he grew uncomfortable. A look of comprehension crossed his face. "It was your boy wasn't it."

"Yes it was Parker."

"No wonder you didn't want to tell me." He said with a small laugh.

"Only because I knew you would pop a blood vessel." Rodger said.

"I thought you said he would not be any trouble." Justin said with a smug look.

"He hasn't."

"Really?" He said. "Ken gets sent home, you disappeared from the sales floor not once but twice."

Rodger sighed. "Well he won't be anymore."

"He won't be because I need to you get someone to pick him up and take him home."

"I can't." Rodger said.

"Why not?"

"Because I have no one to watch him." Rodger said. "His mom and stepdad are away at business convention, my older kids are too busy, and my parents are in Florida."

"He's sixteen Rodger." Justin said. "He does not need a babysitter."

"Yes he does." Rodger said. "I don't trust him to be left too his own devices. You see what happened here can you imagine what would happen if he was by himself for six hours with absolutely no supervision."

"What did he did he do?" Justin asked. "Did you catch him taking drugs? Raiding your liquor cabinet?"

"No." Rodger shook his head. Fortunately I've not had that problem with him.

"Then what?"

"I found him and his girlfriend making out in the hot tub." Rodger said.

"That's it?" He said confused. "That is why you have dragged him to work with you. Because he was kissing his girlfriend in your hot tub."

"Yes." He said.

"Why the big deal?"  Justin said. "I'm sure you made out with girls when you were sixteen."

"Yes I did." Rodger said.

"And I'm sure Spencer did too."

"Yes, he did." Rodger said. "And my girls made out with their boyfriends."

"And it was not a big deal when they did it."

"No." Rodger shook his head.

"Then why do you care so much now?" Justin asked.

"I just do." Rodger said.

"So what are you going to do?" Justin asked. "Keep him locked up in your office until he turns eighteen."

"No." He said forcefully. "Just until his grounding is up."

"I don't know I think you are being a little hard on him." Justin said.

"And I think you are being too hard on Todd."

Justin rolled his eyes. "Todd's an idiot."

"No he's not." Rodger said.

"Yes he is."  Justin said as he stood up. "And you know it."

"If he is such an idiot why do you keep him?"

"Oh I plan on getting rid of him." Justin said. "As soon as I hire someone to replace his useless ass he is gone."

Rodger shook his head in dismay. "You really should watch how you talk about people."

"And you need to find something to do with your son besides keeping him here all day."

"He is going to stay right here." Rodger said not backing down. "I promise you he won't be any further trouble."

"He better not be." Justin said. "Or it will be you who is going home."

"Fine." Rodger shrugged.

Justin got up and walked back onto the sales floor.

Rodger sighed as he hoped his son behaved himself.