High School Story Book 2

Chapter 5: A Rock in a Hard Place

The morning after the winter carnival....

Sammie drive to Aiden's house to check up on him. A harried woman meets her at the door.

Sammie: Hi, my name is Samantha but my friends called me Sammie. Aiden and I--

Bridget: You go to school together. Yes, I know. I've seen photos. Come inside, you're letting the cold in.

Sammie step into the house and shut the door behind her. A man sits on the couch, drinking a cup of coffee. He looks up as she enter.

Sammie: Hi, you must be Aiden's parents. I believe he said your names are Glen and Bridget?

Glen: Mr. and Mrs. Zhou, thank you.

Sammie: Oh, I am sorry about that.

Glen: No problem, Sammie.

Sammie: Anyway, is Aiden here?

Bridget: He's upstairs in his room, but no, you can't talk to him.

Sammie: I can't? Why not?

Bridget: He's grounded.

Sammie: Grounded? For how long?

Glen: For at least as long as he's suspended.

Sammie: Now wait just a second. Aiden's suspended?

Bridget: Principal Isa called us last night. Apparently, that poor boy Luis was in the hospital for seven hours.

Sammie: And so Isa suspended Aiden?

Glen: Don't be so surprised, Sammie. From what she's told us, he planned this event, then shirked his responsibilities to goof off.

Bridget: Of course, it's partly our fault. We shouldn't taken action as soon as we found out he was spending time with people like you and Michael.

Sammie: Me?

Bridget: We've been concerned ever since Aiden started staying out past midnight with you and your friends, instead of practicing his music like he always does. It's not like him at all.

Glen: We thought it was typical teenage behavior, but then we find out someone's been put in the hospital.

Bridget: And not only that, Principal Isa also informed us that you got him involved in a breaking-and-entering incident at Hearst High a few months ago!

Sammie: Mr. and Mrs. Zhou, I'm sorry. I never meant to be a bad influence.

Bridget: I'm sure your intentions were good, but that doesn't excuse what's happened.

Sammie: Look, I--

Sammie is interrupted by a voice coming from behind her. She turned around to see Aiden standing by the hallway.

Aiden: Sammie?

Glen: Aiden, go back to your room.

Aiden: Please, Mom and Dad. Sammie came all this way, and I'm going to talk to her.

Glen: Absolutely not! You're being punished!

Aiden: You've locked me in my room indefinitely, taken away my electronics, and forced me to quit band.

Sammie: Hang on, you had to quit band, too?

Bridget: Of course. He's suspended for something that happened at a band fundraiser.

Sammie: Aw. But band means everything to Aiden.

Aiden: Exactly! Isn't taking that away punishment enough?