The Stepbrother

A Good Girl

Eric didn't know what to do. The desire to help Andie was intense, but he had no idea where to start. Should he sit with her and help her with her studies? He shook his head at his own suggestion. She wouldn't need his help, she's probably smarter than him. She's just being lazy. So, he would just sit there and make sure she was studying. That sounded awful to him. And he didn't have the time.

Perhaps if he spoke with her, and directly explained that she couldn't do this to herself, to her future; remind her how important it was to her mother that she succeed in her education and go on to do great things.

It was a conversation that would likely end with both of them in tears as they considered everything their parents would have wanted for them, and how disappointed in them they would be if they could see them right now. Andie was doing poorly in school and Eric was screwing up Andie.

Pulling into the driveway and shutting the car off, his eyes wandered up through the windshield and into the big blue sky above.

What would you do, dad, Eric wondered? His father was direct, but gentle in his deliveries. Could Eric do the same?

Lacking all faith in himself required to approach Andie on the matter of her grades and the secrets she kept, he fished his phone from the pocket of jeans and called the only person he thought could help.

After three rings, John's voice sounded through.

"If you're calling to ask me if I would like a home made lunch, the answer is yes."

"Sorry to disappoint, I haven't been to the store since last Thursday and I'm lacking meals as well."

"Christ, bud. I was kidding. Go to the store and feed that kid in your house."

"Yeah, about that kid..." Eric fell into the explanation of the phone call he received, the voicemail left behind, and the conversation with the counselor. "I'm trying to think of what my dad might do in this position, but I honestly can't recall having ever fucked up badly enough in school to receive any reprimand from him," Eric went on to explain. "And while Andie hasn't exactly fucked up that badly, she's basically on her way if she keeps up this weird behavior... I dunno, man," Eric sighed. "I'm worried about her. I'm afraid I did this."

"Listen, it's tough keeping up with homework, isn't it?"

"For sure."

"So just help her carve out the time. Maybe you could study with her? You've got your own work I'm sure, so why not suggest that she sit with you at the table and then hammer out some studies together?"

"That's actually a very good idea, John."

"Now, about the secret-keeping..."

"Yeah, I don't even know where to begin with that one. I walked into the school looking like a total ass all because Andie didn't feel inclined to tell me that I was needed for anything. I thought that maybe it was my fault, that perhaps I wasn't very approachable, but I'm just so frustrated with her right now that I'm having a hard time taking all the blame."

"You may be difficult to approach, but I agree, man. She had school requirements that needed your attention, and now she's put you and herself on the radar for concern because she didn't share the requirements with you."

"Maybe she just forgot..."

"C'mon, Andie doesn't forget anything."

"I guess you're right. She seems very determined in everything she does, as if she's thought it out thoroughly ahead of time. So, I have no right to be frustrated with her if all of this was due to her inability to approach me because I repelled her for so long," Eric sighed. "God, I feel like an ass."