Later, as Shannon and her father drove home, they both cried a little.
“I guess I’ve been too concerned with my own problems. But I can’t believe that your mother would—“Mr. Parker took a long breath, and said, “It has to be my fault. I’ve let you down.”
“No, you haven’t, Dad. It’s not your fault. It’s Mom’s. I hate her for leaving us, for not wanting us.”
Clark stared in surprise at his daughter. “Not wanting you?”
“Watch it, Dad! The light’s changing.”
The car stopped as Clark stepped his foot on the brake.
“Listen to me, Shannon,” he said. “Your mother wasn’t leaving you and Gabriel. She loves you both.”
“No she doesn’t.”
“Yes, she does,” he answered, “as much as she can love anybody besides herself.”
Shannon sighed. “I don’t want to talk about Mom, Dad. I can’t take this. I don’t want to talk about anything else.”
Clark reached and held Shannon’s arms. “All right, sweetheart. I understand.” he said.
As they finally got in their driveway, Shannon broke her silence. “Dad,” she said, “do I have to do what the judge told me? I mean about baby-sitting some elderly woman?”
“Yes, my dear” her father answered. You can use my car on certain days after school and on Saturdays, and I’ll catch the bus. I’m not going to let you be prosecuted for…” The judge explained the Hand to Hand program, and it sounds okay. According to him, many of the teens and the elderly they’re assigned to have become close friends.”
Close friends? Shannon hated the idea. She already had close friends. She didn’t need new friends—especially people older than her.
One day Judge Fisher’s wife called early. Shannon was eating her breakfast, when the phone rang and she reached for it. “Hello,” she said.
“I’m sorry, I can’t hear you” Shannon said. She nagged to Gabriel to turn down the sound of the television. Shannon snatched the remote control.
“You’re so kill joy.” Gabriel said.
“Please pay attention,” the woman said. “As I told you, my name is Janine Fisher. I’m the president of the organization Hand to Hand.”
“Oh—oh, y-yes,” Shannon stammered.
“I know. My husband informed me about you and your case.” Mrs. Fisher said
“The teens who are volunteers in our program are top students and leaders in their high schools or even troubled kids.” Mrs. Fisher added.”
“Troubled kids, like me?” Shannon said.
“My husband has convinced me to give you a try.”
“Criminal trouble? A girl on probation? The talks made Shannon feel like some terrible kind of lowlife.
Mrs. Fisher told Shannon that a package of information had been said by messenger to her house. “Please read all the rules carefully. If there are any questions, just call our secretary’s number. I believe you agreed to call on the woman who’ll be assigned to you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Shannon answered.
“Nice to hear that,” Mrs. Fisher. “I hope there won’t be any problems.”
“No there won’t,” Shannon said, but Mrs. Fisher had already hung up the phone.
“Before Dad went to his office, he said I could watch the Anime all day!” Gabriel yelled at Shannon. “Give me back the remote.”
