"Absolutely not," Joseph said firmly.
"You can't be serious!" Sarah yelled, "Dad I'm 16 I should be able to go on a date!"
"I don't care if you're 16 or 60. I'm not going to be home tomorrow, so you need to watch your little brother."
"Ricky's 13!" Sarah snapped back, "You let me stay home alone when I was 10!"
"That was different."
"No it wasn't. You just don't want me to date. I wish you'd just let me stay with mom and leave me alone," Sarah finished before storming off.
He let her go. Rubbing his head to try and soothe the migraine that always followed a fight with Sarah, Joseph cursed his ex-wife for constantly letting Sarah do whatever she wanted during the school year. Ever since she started high school, his daughter has been a defiant nightmare. Every summer it seemed her only goal was to cause as many arguments as possible.
And sure he might not like her dating, but if she would at least break up with her current loser he might give her more leeway. Unfortunately it seemed like his only choice to keep her out of trouble this summer was the box on the countertop. He was reading through the directions for the newly delivered device when Ricky came down the stairs.
Grumpily collapsing onto the couch he said, "I don't know why you two always have to fight when we're here."
"I've had enough back talk for one day."
"I'm the one she takes it out on when she's mad," Ricky grumbled.
Joseph sighed, Sarah was already turning Ricky sour too. He better use the device tonight if he wanted to have any peace all summer.