Homebound

Chapter 15

       Robert sits in his home office, looking at bills he needs to pay. He breathes in sharply as he sees the water bill. No more water fights for Joshua and Asher, or they'll cause him to go into bankruptcy. Asher... something is bothering him. He started secluding himself in his room. He's stopped eating dinner with the family. Laura tried talking to him and looks ready to cry after she leaves his room. Joshua is grumpy that he lost his play buddy. Delilah has no idea who to argue with. Robert called Mrs. Katz for help. Mrs. Katz came to visit Asher, but he refused to see her.

        "Have you made an endeavor in speaking with Asher?" Mrs. Katz asked Robert as she sipped the cup of steaming tea Laura brought her. The adults were discussing Asher's current behavior in his office. Robert chuckled nervously.

       "Asher and I have a very complicated relationship. I would only end up making the situation worse."

       "You never know. I think Asher needs a father figure right now."

       Those words send Robert's head reeling. Is he a father figure to Asher? That's a ridiculous idea. Asher made it very clear he doesn't want Robert parenting him. Besides, they're not on the best terms even for them. Robert received a call from the school telling him Asher hasn't been to classes on the first day. That made Robert royally mad. He started lecturing Asher and instead of Asher rolling his eyes and ignoring him, he started yelling at Robert.

      "Shut the hell up! You're giving me a headache from all of your reproaching! I don't need you parenting me! I don't want you acting as my father! Just leave me the f*ck alone, you piece of annoying sh*t!"

       "Did you just curse at me? You're lucky I don't punch you in the face! When will you learn to respect your elders? Go to your room before I do something I'll regret!" Asher flips him off and stomps upstairs, making as much noise as possible and slamming his door hard.

       Robert sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. Why are teenagers so complicated? He wants to call up his parents and apologize for any heartache he caused them. He has repaired his relationship with his and Delilah's family over the years. Maybe he could ask his dad for help. He picked up his phone and dialed his old man. After a few rings, he hears his dad's deep voice.

       "Is this Robert? It's about time you called. I was about to come over and whack you on the side of your head to remind you I'm not dead yet."

      "Hey, Pops. How's it going?" Robert titters. He won't remind his dad that he called yesterday and the day before that. Robert makes sure to check up on his parents as much as he can.

      "I'm doing as good as any old man can be. My rusty joints are making it hard for me to get up from this couch and drive up to your place to hit you with my baseball bat."

      "You're being quite affectionate today." His dad was never the one to show his love outright. He usually displays his care by threatening to kill you. In actuality, he is a big softie. His mother is more of the dangerous one. Robert winces as he remembers how many times his mom smacked his behind for misbehaving. His father always came after to comfort him.

     "So are you. Why have you decided to call me? I don't have any money."

     "Pops, I think I'm past begging for your charity. I have a problem."

     "I'm sure you can take some pill-"

     "Pops, what are you on about? You don't even know what I'm going to say."

    "I don't need you to tell me. Are you having trouble in the bedroom? When a man hits a certain age-"

   "Pops! It has nothing to do with my body!" Robert groans in distress. He has no desire to delve into his sex life with his dad. Why does he have to be so quick to assume? Robert feels like a teenager again. When he always wanted to speak to his dad about anything, he always guessed that it had to be about personal hygiene, girls, etc.