Parker

Chapter 49

Parker had grown quiet on the trip to the dealership. Rodger had tried to engage him in conversation but the boy only responded with one a few grunts and one word answers.

They pulled into the back parking lot and Rodger slid into the space that was reserved for general manager. He could not help but think how he's wanted this space for a very long time.

Parker was about to get when Rodger said "Hold on."

"I said I'm fine dad." Parker said.

"I know but are you really?"

"No." He said with a slight sigh.

"Tell me what is bothering you."

"You mean besides not being allowed to talk to my girlfriend for a month, my girlfriend being paddled, a stupid rumor going around my school that said girlfriend was groping her ex, and that I am grounded myself for a month." Parker said.

"Yes." Rodger said. "Something else is bothering you I can tell."

"Yeah." Parker scratched his nose. "But its not important now."

"Its important to me." Rodger said. "Tell me."

Where do I start he thought. My anger towards, how I fear you are replacing me with Cyrus and Carson, that I'm being harassed by a sadistic prefect who is looking for a reason to cane me.

Or the fact that my best friend wants me to keep my demerits down for an unknown reason and I'm not sure if he is going to spank me or not if I let him down.

We will never make it to lunch if I do. Lunch he then mused. How about I start there.

Parker let out a breath. "When you asked me if I wanted to go to lunch with you I thought it was just going to be just you and I."

"Oh." Rodger said.

"Yeah I was kind of looking forward to just doing something with you." Parker said think how childish he sounded at that moment. A small voice in the back of his head told him to stop being a baby.

"Well we still can." Rodger said. "I can cancel with others and it can be just the two of us."

"What!?" Parker said forcefully. "You can't do that I'll look like a jerk."

"You won't look like a jerk."

"Yes, I will." Parker said. "They'll think  a spoiled brat."

"Hardly." Rodger said.

"Yes they will." Its exactly how would look at Cyrus if he made Miranda cancel lunch mere minutes before they were supposed to meet with us.
"Please don't cancel I'm okay I promise."

"You sure." He gave him a reassuring look letting him know it was okay.

"I'm sure dad." Parker said. "We should head in I'm sure they will be here soon."

He thought how Miranda and Cyrus already are. Carson should be there in a couple of minutes.

"Okay." The two got out. "How about after we get Carson moved we go out for dinner just the two of us?"

"Where?"

"You pick." Rodger said as he opened the door and let him in. The two walked through the service bay were six cars were being worked on by techs. Rodger said hi to Jubbs who was doikng a break realignment on a Mitsubishi. They then walk into the dealership saying hi to the three guys working at the service counter.

As they walked to his father's office Parker wondered how Todd was doing now that Justin was gone. Was he having any success. He hated to say but he had a feeling he wasn't.