Junior Year Box Set

“You explained that to me when you grounded me for asking to go to a party this weekend. A party that, if you had allowed me to go to, I wouldn’t have lost half my friends and gotten into a fight today. You’re such a good mother? Well, your son’s been in a hospital for over six hours before you decided to show up. If you want me to move to Uncle John’s too, just say the word.”

“Where’s your father?” Mom asked.

“You’re asking ME?” I asked, and she slapped me.

I rolled over and put my back to her. If I said something right now, I doubted we would ever talk to each other again. When Mom finally left, I rang the nurse.

“I’m out of here. Where are my clothes?” I asked.

“Mr. Dawson, your doctor hasn’t released you yet.”

“Fine, I’ll walk out like this,” I said with my rear hanging out of my gown.

She got between me and the door.

“Please, let me get your doctor first,” she begged, and then guided me back to my bed.

While the nurse left to get the doc, I called Tom. I explained my need to leave. He arrived at about the same time the doctor did. The doctor wasn’t happy that I had called my lawyer. This was going to be an expensive day, if Tom charged me by the hour, but he was worth every penny because I walked out the front door an hour later.

◊◊◊

Tom took me to get my car. I called Brandon and had him reserve a room at a local hotel that accepted pets. I drove home and packed a bag and Duke’s crate. Mom came out of the house on my last trip.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Your house, your rules,” I said, and got into my car and left.

Duke and I had just settled in our hotel room when there was a knock at the door. I peeked through the little peephole and saw my mom. There was no point in not letting her in; she would most likely just call the cops and have me hauled home. I let her in.

“David, I haven’t been myself for the past few days. When I realized I’d slapped you while you were lying in a hospital bed, I knew I’d lost control of myself. Baby, I’m so sorry. I sometimes forget you’re my little boy and I love you. I love your father, too, but I don’t know how to tell him. I’m afraid things have gone too far for us to forgive each other right now,” she said.

“If I sent you and Dad to Vegas for a week, do you think you could work this out?” I asked.

Mom had mentioned she wanted to go someday. I figured this was something they both needed right now. It also got them out of my hair for a week. A win-win, if I were keeping score. I called Dad and told him about my plan. He wanted to talk to Mom. When they were done talking, she agreed and said Dad was coming home tonight. I called Brandon and had him set everything up. I gave Mom his number so she could tell him what shows she would like to see. Mom told me I was moving back home, so I loaded up my trusty hound and drove home. Duke would be happy to get back because he heard every noise anyone made in the hall.

◊◊◊

When I got home, Mona, Pam, and Tracy were waiting for me. I thought about telling them to go to hell, but if I had learned anything from my time with Peggy, it was to hear them out. Of course, there also was Tami rattling around in my brain to remind me never to go with my first instinct. When we got into my apartment, Mona lost it, grabbed me, and sobbed.

I looked at the other two girls over Mona’s head to try and figure out why she was acting like she was. I mean, I expected some crying, but this was full-on bawling, and I didn’t see it ending anytime soon. I picked her up, carried her to my bedroom, and laid her on my bed.

“I need to talk to Pam and Tracy. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I said as Mona clutched my pillow like it was a life preserver.

“What’s that all about?” I asked as I tried not to let my irritation come through.

I had flashbacks of Mike’s older brother and what a jerk he’d turned into. I wondered if I would ever get over Mike sending me the text to rub his conquest of Mona in my face. I had no idea he was such a douchebag.

“Mona got drunk, and Mike took advantage,” Tracy said.

“What are you talking about?” Pam asked.

“Are you telling me that Mike got her drunk?” I asked. “Mona always plays hostess and NEVER drinks.”

“She’s told me everything, but I caught Mike right after … you know. Mona was obviously upset, so I tore into him. He told me what a lousy lay Mona was, that she just lay there. I told him he must be the worst lay at Lincoln High because she went wild when you were with her. Mike got pissed off and said I was going to regret what I said, and left the party,” Tracy filled us in.

“So, he basically raped her and then texted David the picture of his conquest. Cassidy should have stayed out of it and let you kill him,” Pam said.

“No. Cassidy kept me from going to jail,” I said.

“Did Mona ruin things for you two?” Tracy asked; she knew I felt about my relationships.