The Summer I Met Her (GirlxGirl)

29- The Long Way Around

"We're hosting dinner??" I cried. "Tonight??"

Mama continued packing the cupboard. "That's what I just said, yes."

"With that asshole on the couch like that?" I screamed loud enough for all to hear.

As she organized, my mother's words grew quiet, but fierce. "You know I don't like you using those words about your father."

I grit my teeth to lessen a good amount of my volume. "It's not like he deserves better ones."

"Hey-" I heard from the living room.

I rolled my eyes into the back of my head. Here we go...

My mother glanced at me quickly with an expression that said "you opened that can of worms."

It continued. "What makes you think you can talk to me like that? I'm the one keeping this roof over your head!"

The slurred rambling grew louder, closer.

My dad entered the kitchen haphazardly, intensely pointing his finger. His bloodshot eyes were fixed on me. "You better learn some respect, girl. You don't get to talk to me like that in my house. You keep in mind, I'm in charge here."

I placed my hands on my hips. "Oh you are now? Who pays the bills? Me or you?"

"The one whose name everythin' is under." He spat out.

I turned my body toward him as I spoke, my voice as quiet as it was threatening. "You say that as if I don't have the ability to change that."

He laughed heartily once. "Since when a seventeen year old able to put 'er name on things?"

It was my mama's turn to put her hands on her hips. "Earl. You cannot be serious right now."

I just watched, rolling my tongue along the inside of my mouth to keep from saying something stupid.

He was dumbfounded. "What?" He started yelling defensively again. "She thinks she's grown now an-"

"She is grown! She hadn't been seventeen for two years!"

"Then why doesn't she act like it!" He yelled louder. If his volume increased enough, she wouldn't be able to tell him he was wrong.

"For Christ's sake-" I interrupted before things could escalate any further. "-Can you pull yourself together in less than two hours?"

My dad looked as if I'd asked him if a circle was round. "There aint nothin' needin' pullin' together, Jaycee. I can pull myself together anytime, sweetheart."

I exhaled through my nose heavily, my concealed teeth grinding together. I held my breath and my tongue.

As I always do, I went for the back door. The more I gave it any extra thought the higher a temperature my blood boiled.

He always has to fuck shit up. It's like he's being worse on purpose, just when it involves Fianna. He was reminded I don't know how many times... There's ZERO self control...

I needed to work. I had shit to do. Not this bullshit.

It's not my job to be the dad.

I entered the dark shade of the barn. Not the barn. My barn. With my stuff, my things...

I snatched a hefty aging wrench off my workbench and lurched it through the air with a guttural scream, gouging a crevice into the opposite wood-paneling wall. A powerful bang echoed with a scattering of dust.