Teen Trials

Turkey Time

"What's the game plan, Emma?" Amy asked, keeping her back to the teen.

"I don't know what you're talking about about..." Emma said, kneeling on the barstool and reaching over to eat some of the food laid out on the bar.

"Your attitude this week has been awful, I would have thought you would be happy that you just got your cast off." Amy said, ignoring the girl picking at the food that she had told her to leave alone. Whatever food they could get in the teens body, they took at this point.

"Why can't I stay home tomorrow?" Emma asked for the hundredth time that week.

"You really want to be alone on thanksgiving?"

"Yeah, it will be like every other year." Emma said, reaching forward and taking another carrot. Amy's eyes filled with tears at that, but she pushed them down and blamed it on pregnancy hormones.

"Why don't you want to go tomorrow?"

"Because I don't know those people..."

"You know Hunter's parents."

"Not his sister or her family though..."

"Jackson and Alex are cool, they have a little boy Niko's age." Amy told her.

Emma shrugged. "I don't want to go."

"Non-negotiable. Your choice isn't whether you go or not it's whether you enjoy it."

"Its my break from dance and school. I should get to spend it how I want." Emma whined.

Amy did turn around at the whine. "Do you want a swat?"

"If I take the swat can I stay home?"

"No."

"Then no. Amy..." Emma whined again.

Amy sighed, "Emma, no. It feels like you have some energy to burn off, lovely. Why don't you pull out that ballet barre we got you and do some stretching?"

"I don't want to." Emma whined again.

Amy raised an eyebrow. "I know that you are worried about being around new people, but the whining stops now. Go watch TV, or do some homework, or come help me cook. I don't care, but find something to occupy yourself and stop whining."

"Fine." Emma snapped pushing off the breakfast bar. "I'm going to do some homework in my room..." The teen started to walk off.

"Emma. Pause." Amy said. Emma stopped in the doorway. "If you slam that door, then you will be doing homework without your music, understood?"