"No, Nat, stop.", you begged as your daughter taunted you. You laughed as she had this wide smile, "Nat-"
"Look, it's daddy!", she said pointing towards the kitchen doorway.
You looked and saw no one, but felt something wet on your left cheek, "Nat!" You looked back and saw her devilish smile, heard her wild laugh, "You're gonna get it." You tickled her, she rocked back and forth on the wooden chair, she fought for air and her laughter calmed as you took your hands away.
You were wiping the strawberries off your cheek as you heard a rustling of papers, "James Thomas Dolan, get your ass down here!", Grayson yelled.
His tone of voice startled you, "What's wrong, babe?", he saw you in the doorway and held out a paper. He looked down at you as you sat on the couch, "I... I don't understand. What the hell has he been doing after school?", you ask.
"I don't know.", Grayson says, sitting with you, "I thought you said he was studying-"
"I know what i said, babe, i said that because i thought it was true, that's what he told me."
You both hear the thudding down the steps that your couch rested under and your hazel eyed 15 year old son came down the steps, "Yeah?"
You shook your head and Grayson threw the opened envelope on the coffee table, "You're failing 2 classes?"
"Dad, they're hard-"
"Ask for help.", Grayson says, scrunching up his hair. "James, that's English and math."
"Two of the most important classes," you interrupt, "why didn't you tell us?"
"Cause i knew that dad would flip out-"
"No kidding!", Grayson said, lifting himself from the sofa, "This is your freshmen year, 2nd semester-"
"Dad i know-"
"You know but you don't care-"
"I care, it's just hard!", Grayson sighed at his comment. "You try high school all over again, dad!" James said in a mocking tone. "Bet you'd struggle too-"
"This isn't about me-"
"For once it's not about you huh?!", James said, taking out his hands from his pockets. "For once-"
"James!", you yell. "Do not start with that!"
"Think about it, mom! He's hardly here! And when he is, he isn't with y-"
"Enough! You will not tell me that i don't love my wife or you and Nat-"
"That's not what i'm saying, dad! All i'm saying is if you do, you don't show it well-"
"James...", you took a long pause as Grayson backed away in anger. "You have to understand what you're telling your father."
"I know exactly what i'm talking about mom. And dad?", Grayson didn't turn, "Turning away from is something i'm used to, so i'm really not offended-"
