Parker

Chapter 20

The timer went off announcing the end of Parker's punishment. Rodger removed the soap and Parker rushed to the sink to wash the bitter taste from his mouth.

I'm just glad it wasn't the F word he thought. The F bomb would have gotten me five minutes and the paddle.

Ironically when I was ten I could use that word and other ones like it with no consequences. My dad did not police my language back then nor my siblings.

Heck he still uses it Parker mused. I'm the only who is forbidden to. He then grabbed a towel and wiped off his hands and face.

Not fair he thought.

"Are you okay, Parker?" Rodger asked he stood by the door.

"Yeah I'm fine." He hung the towel up and looked at his dad.

"Come with me." Rodger said. They walked into the kitchen. "Have a seat." Parker sat down at the table. "What do you want to eat?"

"Pizza?"

"Good choice." Rodger said and walked over to the refrigerator and opened the freezer. He then pulled out two boxes. "Pepperoni or sausage?"

"Pepperoni." Glad that I actually get to choose somethings for myself. He placed the pizzas back in the freezer and then set the oven for four hundred degrees.

"Dad I was wondering." He said hesitantly. "Wouuld it be okay if I called Christine?"

"No it would not."

"Please dad." Parker begged. "I just want to make sure that she is okay."

"I'm sure she is fine." Rodger said.

"Come on dad..."

"I said no." Rodger said keeping his voice neutral. "Part of your punishment is that you are not allowed to talk to her for two weeks and you are going to abide by it."

"Just for a minute dad." He said. "That is all I am asking."

"Not even for a second Parker."

"Dad..." He whined.

"Enough." He shouted. "I told you no Parker and that is final." Parker hung his head. "Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir."

Rodger sighed. "I better not hear another word about it or I will tan your backside with the paddle."

Parker winced. "Yes, sir."

The doorbell then rang. "Now, I wonder who that is?" He then looked at Parker. "Don't move from that spot."

"Yes, dad." Parker said as his father walked out. He then placed his head on the table and let out a hard sigh.

Rodger walked to the front door and opened it. His eyes widened when he saw who standing on the other side. "Todd?"

"Hello Rodger." The nervous man said.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry for coming over like this." Todd stuttered as his nervousness increased. "But I needed to talk to you."

"If you want to talk, talk to me at work don't come over to my house." Rodger said in disbelief. "Do you realize how inappropriate this is."

"I know, I know." Todd said. "But as I said I have to talk to you."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow." Rodger said. "But I am about to sit down and have dinner to eat with my kid right now and I need you to go."

Rodger went to close the door only for Todd to put his hand on the door stopping him. "Rodger please I really need to talk to you." He said desperately.

Annoyance filled his eyes as he said "Get your hand off my door."

Todd took a quick step back. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"I need you to go now." Rodger said.

"Rodger please." The man said as he burst into tears. "I can't do it anymore, I can't put with Justin's abuse one more day."

Rodger gave him a sympathetic look. "I understand that and I will talk to you tomorrow."

"I don't want to come in tomorrow." He said as tears ran down his cheeks. "I don't want to every step foot in that dealership again."

And I don't blame you he thought. "Well that is your decision." He said. "If you want to quit that is your choice."

"But I can't quit." He said. "I need this job."

"Then don't." Rodger shrugged.

"But I can't deal with Justin's abuse anymore." The tormented man said.

"Look Todd I am not going to make this decision for you." Rodger said. "If you want to quit then quit, if not then grow some thicker skin and start doing your job better you understand." Rodger sighed inwardly. "Look I am sorry for how Justin is treating you but as I said I am getting ready to eat and I will gladly talk to you tomorrow but for right now I need you to go."

"Okay." Todd said as he wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry for bothering you." Todd then meekly walked off the porch to his car. Rodger could not help but feel sorry for him as he got into car. The devastated man looked at him one more turned on his car and then backed out of the driveway.

I need to help him he thought I can't let Justin continue to destroy him. He then closed the door and walked into the kitchen where he found Parker with his head on the table. He then rubbed his son's back who sat up.

"Who was that?"

"Nothing you need to worry about." He squeezed his arm and the oven notified him that it was ready for the pizza.

Parker watched as his father retrieved the pizza from the freezer and again wondered how Christine was doing. I need to talk to her, if I don't talk to her I am going to die he thought. I have to find a way to talk to her before I explode.