The Ballad of Eddie Munson

Dowry is a Death Sentence

Lissa stirred the mashed potatoes as her mother pulled a ham from the oven.

"Go get ready, honey." Jodi basted the ham.

"Ready for what?"

"The Stewarts are joining us for dinner."

Lissa stopped, "What?"

Hearing the aggressive tone, her mother looked back at Lissa. "I thought I told you. Kevin's company contracted your father's firm, so they're coming here to celebrate the partnership." She waved the baster while she spoke.

"Is Chad coming?" she began mashing, harder this time, already knowing the answer.

Jodi laid a hand gently on Lissa's shoulder. "Honey, you're going to break the bowl." She took the bowl and masher from Lissa. "I thought you liked Chad."

She rolled her eyes and sighed, leaning against the counter. "I thought I did, but he's kind of a dick."

Jodi raised a brow. "Language. So why did you go out with him?" She sprinkled seasonings into the potatoes.

"I don't know- I guess I didn't notice."

Jodi flitted around the kitchen, ensuring the meal was coming along. "Does this have anything to do with that boy you've been tutoring and spending so much time with?"

"No!" defensively.

"You know, Candice told me he's trouble. Told me some nasty things about his parents. Callahan tried to arrest him once but he ran... cuffs and all." Her tone was light for such dark topics.

"Yeah, kids talk too."

"Any of it true?"

Lissa's head tilted slightly. "What?"

"Well, you seem to be hanging around him a lot. I assume you're getting to know him. Are any of the rumors true?"

The question was a realization. Any other mother would be screaming, telling her daughter to stay away. But Jodi never was one to engage in idle gossip, she always asked for the other side of the story. "I don't really know. We haven't really talked about that. I mean, he sells drugs at school but he's never offered me any."

"I'll admit that makes me worry." Jodi looked at Lissa, "Just be careful, okay?"

Lissa nodded.

"And you know you can come to me, right?"

Lissa nodded again.

"I could see why Chad's a dick, have you met his father?" Jodi giggled to herself.

"Mom! Language!"

"Go get ready." Jodi spoke through smiles.

Lissa winced "Alright." She begrudgingly left the kitchen and headed down the hall to her room.

Her father leaned against the archway as Lissa walked passed. "Lissa okay?"

Jodi smiled sweetly, "High school drama, you remember how it was."

Ryan leaned towards Jodi and kissed her on the cheek. "Barely, it was so long ago." He smiled fondly at his wife, his high school sweetheart. "Need any help?"

"Can you prepare the drink cart, Ryan?"

"On it." He gave her another peck before heading into the dining room.

***

The dining room felt smaller with Chad sitting across from her, his eyes boring into her. Lissa took small bites of her food and avoided eye contact.