MAPS! jack dawson

CHAPTER SEVEN, tough choices and love

April 14, 1912

It was the morning after the Third Class party, and Mckenna was woken up to her mother's angry voice, and father's calm voice, trying to calm her down. It didn't work.

"What the h*** is going on?" Mckenna groaned, rubbing her temples as a headache formed. She was hungover. She never had been hungover before. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.

"Get up, missy." Her mother orders, her face a dark shade of red. "Now. We need to talk." She didn't give Mckenna a chance to wake up more before she dragged her out of bed and towards the sitting area. Mckenna's dad gave her an apologetic look, shrugging as he took a seat on the sofa. Mckenna was pushed into a chair opposite her mother.

"What's this about, mother?" She asked, her voice hoarse and her throat dry. She felt terrible. Her head was pounding, and her stomach churned with a queasy feeling. She looked up at her mother, who was glaring at her with a mix of anger and disappointment.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Mckenna. I heard what happened last night." Her mother's voice was cold and accusatory. "We were told you went to a party in the Third Class common area. That's not proper for a young lady of our social class."

"A party? I never heard anything about a party." Mckenna says, feigning innocence. "Where did you hear such a thing?"

"Your brother had been kind enough to inform me." Her mother snaps. "He told me everything. He said you were there, dancing and kissing Jack."

Mckenna sits up straighter, turning to glare at her brother, who looked guilty and apologetic. "Mckenna, I'm sorry. I didn't want to make things worse, but mom was asking questions, and I had to tell her the truth. She'd find out eventually anyway." He said, looking at his sister sadly. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You did the right thing." Mckenna sighs. She looks back at her mother, who was waiting for her to explain. "So, yes, I went to a party. So what? It was fun."

"Fun?" Her mother repeats, her eyebrows raised. "Mckenna, that's no way for a lady to behave. It's unbecoming of you. How could you act so foolishly?"

"Mom, it was just a bit of fun. I wasn't harming anyone. Besides, I had a great time. I don't see what the big deal is." Mckenna replied, her tone defiant.

"The big deal is that you're behaving like a child, Mckenna. A lady of your social standing shouldn't be gallivanting around with commoners, or engaging in such vulgar behavior." Her mother scolds, her tone stern. "It's unacceptable. You're making a mockery of our family name."

"So what? Who cares about our stupid name?" Mckenna shot back. "I don't care about all that stuff. I'm happy for the first time in my life, and you want to ruin that. You're just mad because you can't control me."

"How dare you speak to me like that, Mckenna. I'm your mother. I demand respect." Her mother hissed.

"Respect is earned, mother. And right now, you're not earning any respect from me." Mckenna retorts, her jaw set. "I'm tired of you telling me what to do and how to behave. I'm not a child anymore. I'm old enough to make my own decisions, and if you can't accept that, then that's your problem."

Her father spoke up, trying to diffuse the tension. "Mckenna, please, your mother's just concerned about you. We don't want you to get hurt or take the wrong path."

"No, dad. Mom's only concerned about her image. She doesn't care about me." Mckenna argues, her anger boiling over. "All she cares about is her reputation. She's more concerned with being seen as the perfect socialite than she is with her own daughter's happiness. Well, I'm done. I'm not gonna live my life to make her happy. Or you. You are the same way most times. All you seem to care about is appearances and what others think. I'm tired of it. I want to live my life for myself, not for anyone else's approval."