Tension

The tension had been building since I entered the room. I knew it all had to do with Michael, but I wondered what he had done this time. He was starting more problems than anyone I knew, but somehow managed to always talk himself out of any consequences. I needed to pay better attention to his debate skills because I was always looking to talk my way out of trouble. 

I always told myself it was better to ask forgiveness than permission and my parents were getting tired of it. They had threatened me with boarding school, but in reality, I would have loved to get out from under their thumb if I could. Our political and religious beliefs differed greatly, and I often had to bite my tongue so I wouldn’t say anything I would regret later. I went to church but zoned out as soon as I got there. I liked the rituals of church, the praying, but often didn’t listen to the minister during his sermon. On this particular Wednesday afternoon, I wondered if Michael had finally lost his cool and had it out with my parents or something else had happened. 

When I heard the word prison and juvenile detention sneak out of my father’s office, I never would have guessed he had been talking about me. After all, I had covered my tracks well and often. No way he could have found out about the robbery. It was only a handful of jewels.