The New Girl

Chapter 14

Donner woke up at 5am, took his shower, checked on Ethan, who was still sound to sleep. and then shuffled into the kitchen. He poured himself a big glass of juice, returned the bottle to the fridge and pulled out a tomato, onion, green and red pepper, grated cheese and a dozen eggs. After plopping one raw egg into his juice he set about making omelet's. He cracked all the eggs into a bowl, added some salt, pepper and garlic, whisked them and set them aside. He then went to work on chopping the veggies. When that was done he poured the eggs into a skillet, waited a few seconds then added the veggies. Just as he flipped one side of the eggs onto the other side, Ethan walked into the kitchen. Donner looked up and said, “Morning.” Ethan replied between a yawn, “Morning.”

Donner finished the omelet's, placed them on a plate with a slice of toast and said, “Grab you a glass of juice and eat breakfast. We have a busy day ahead of us.” Ethan did as he was told and started eating. Between bites of eggs, Ethan asked, “So what does this busy day consist of?” Donner smiled at him and replied, “Glad you asked. Are you still in school?” Ethan shook his head no. Donner looked at him, “Why not?” Ethan took a big forkful of eggs and said, “I'm just not. Why does it matter anyhow? I hated school and all the shit that came with it so I just quit. Didn't see the point of school anyway. End of subject.” Donner could see that this was a sore subject so he changed it, “We also have to go see your father today.”

Donner could see that this was going to be a sore subject too but he continued, “We have to talk to him sooner or later and it might as well be now.” Ethan stuffed the last of the eggs and toast in his mouth, swallowed, crossed his arm in front of his chest and replied, “I don't see the point of that either. He doesn't give a shit, never has and never will. He doesn't care where I'm at as long as I'm not under his feet.” “Ethan, I understand why you feel that way but we still need to talk to him. He is your father and has the right to know what's going on.” Ethan got up to take his empty plate to the sink, set it in the sink then said, “He don't have the right to know jack shit but I'm not going to change your mind so let's just get this over with.” Then Ethan walked out of the kitchen back to his room. Donner let him leave.

A few minutes later Ethan returned wearing the clean clothes Donner had washed last night. They headed out to Donner's car, got in and headed for the other side of town. Donner risked a conversation, “After we talk to your dad get the stuff you'll need from your house then we'll head over to the retail store and pick you up a couple of black pant's, white shirt's and some shoes for work. Ethan do you have any idea what you would like to do for a living someday?” Ethan set slumped in his seat looking out the window and shrugged his shoulder's in response. Donner continued with his one-sided conversation, “Well, what do you like to do?” Again, shrugged shoulder's. This went on for the 45 minute drive to Toliver's trailer. As they pulled into the driveway Ethan finely spoke, “Oh yeah we're here. Let's get this shit over with.” He then opened the car door, got out and stumped his way up the steps.

He walked in the trailer and let the door swing shut in Donner's face and stumped back to his room. Donner gave a slight chuckle and stuck his head inside the door, “Mr. Toliver may I come in?” Garrett Toliver mumbled something and Donner came on in the trailer. Garrett was laying on the couch with a stained wife beater t-shirt and a pair of boxers that had seen better days, “I said no but I guess you cops just do what the hell you want, he set up and continued, I guess you found my kid so what the fuck you want now?” He then took a swig of beer and lit a ciggerette. Donner set down in the chair across from Garrett Toliver, “Mr. Toliver we need to talk about your son.” Garret blow out some smoke and took another drag of his ciggerette, “Is that so. Well you ain't gonna tell me nothing I don't already know. I am his father. He's worthless just like his mother. He ain't gonna amount to nothing just like her also.”