After diner; Martin heads to his office computer and changes the wifi password. Going throughout the house to change all the devices save Julie’s. Once that is complete he heads back to the kitchen. Opening up a bottle of light beer he sits on a stool and looks at Melissa, giving her a nod.
“Julie, get down here now!” Martin shouts.
Julie slowly heads to the kitchen dreading what is about to happen. She sits down at the table to wait for her inevitable skinning. Martin just stares at his daughter, sipping his beer. “First things first. Give me your cell phone, Julie.”
Julie meekly hands it over. She watches as her father removes the protective case and takes out the sim card. Martin then snaps the sim card in half and hands back Julie’s cellphone. Without the sim card, there is no way for Julie to make or receive calls. As well as text messages. Her phone is now a paper weight.
“Let me make this clear, Julie.” Marin states. “You are being punished. No phone. No internet. I just changed the wifi password, and finally, no television.” Martin pauses to sip his beer again. “Second. You WILL NOT leave this house. The exception being when we, head to court to face the judge over your assault charge. The consequences of breaking your house arrest will be severe.”
Julie tries to speak but is quickly silenced by her father. “Speaking of your assault charge. While you may not of realized this. After the sheriff Mirandized you; you chose to be lippy with the Anderson’s and utter a veiled death threat towards their son.” Martin sips his beer and continues. “That alone is all a prosecutor needs to put forward a motion to have you tried as an adult!”
Julie’s eyes go wide. Tried as an adult? But she is only sixteen.
Martin keeps talking. “If convicted as an adult, you will NOT have a juvenile record; but a criminal record. You will not be held in juvenile detention; it will be a prison as determined by the Department Of Corrections; a prison that could be out of state. Meaning your mother and I may not be able to visit you.” Martin pauses to control his rising anger. Lowering his voice, Martin makes his final point. “Lastly; because of your antics, you have ruined this family’s reputation and put my political career in the proverbial toilet. Congratulations!”
It is at this time Melissa speaks up. “Also note that you are suspended from school indefinitely. You will possibly be expelled. If by some miracle you manage to get off the charges you face; you will most likely have to repeat grade ten.” Melissa places Julie’s supper in front of her.
She eats it, despite that it’s cold. It’s at that point she sees the pregnancy kit on the table. “Is that for me?” Julie points to the kit on the table.
Martin and Melissa stare at Julie and both emphatically say “no.” Martin gets up, taking his half-finished beer with him. He heads to his home office to do some work.
Melissa sits down next to her daughter and holds her hand. “Julie. Your father and I love you very much. But lately we are very worried over you.” Melissa continues, “you need to understand. You have only yourself to blame for your current predicament.” Melissa holds up her finger to signify she is not done. “Yes your father and I have issues. But we are working on them. We are not getting a divorce.” Melissa lets go of Julie’s hand and picks up the pregnancy test. “As for this little device; this is for me. I know it did not escape your notice back at the principal’s office that I quickly grabbed my were-birth control pills.” Melissa pauses; trying to find the best way to explain things. “It’s no secret I was upset with both you and you father for the past few days. It put me under so much stress that I forgot to take my birth control pills.” Melissa continues, “Your father and I had a little stress that we released early this morning. One thing led to another and well. It’s possible you might have a future brother or sister.”
Julie finishes her supper. Taking in everything, that her mother just told her. As Melissa takes the empty plate and puts it in the dishwasher; Julie gets up and hugs her mother. Tears are running down her cheeks. Melissa thinks to herself, “Perhaps Julie has finally clued into reality.” Letting her daughter go; Melissa starts up the dishwasher and walks towards Martin’s office to have a talk with him.