Page 85 of Southern Comfort
“Just hear me out!”
“I heard you the first time. And I need a minute to figure out what to do. We don’t even know what they took at this point.”
“You’re right. We don’t.”
“Are the televisions still there?”
“Oh yeah. They didn’t take those. I guess they were too big.”
“I’m pissed that you guys were so fucking stupid. I get how they did it though. You were targeted. Easy marks. They could rely on your dicks to make the bad decision. And I’m the one paying for it.”
“I know. You’re right. But, can’t we come to some agreement about not telling Mom?”
I calm my voice the fuck down and get clear.
“I’m not going to lie to her, Hunter. Not even to save your hide. I’m not your bro.”
The kid doesn’t have an argument against treating his mother right.
“Okay. Shit. We are going to be in so much trouble.”
“You think? Good.” Then it dawns, and I realize things can get worse. “What about my tools? Did they take them?”
My stomach sinks with the thought and stays there when there’s no response for a few beats.
“I don’t know. Where were they?”
“In the garage. If those are gone, I can’t work. Some of those tools are irreplaceable. You haven’t checked the garage yet?”
“No. We forgot.”
“Go see and come back and tell me. There’s a red tool chest against the wall, and a smaller metal one next to it. The small one is locked. Go.”
“I don’t think they went into the garage.”
“Really? Because all they had to do is go down A FUCKING FLIGHT OF STAIRS! What makes you think it didn’t happen?”
“Uh.”
“Right.”
“Okay, we’re going. Want me to call you back?”
“No! Do it now. I’ll hold on. Christ.”
He puts the receiver down, and I hear him whisper through clenched teeth, “We forgot about the garage!”
“Crap!” Bing’s one word response sums up my thoughts exactly.
Itty and shitty take off, and I am left rolling the story around in my head. They’re still kids. In grown-up bodies. That is what made the con work. The girls used the boys’ inexperience and predictability to their advantage. And I let two kids have free run of my new house.
Kim needs to know and make the decisions about her own son. Dominque needs to handle Bing. I have no authority here. If I did, I’d handle him like my father handles me. Expecting respect and giving it. But backing the whole thing up withconsequences for bad behavior. Right now, I’m too pissed to think straight, which I am sure is required.
I have never been on this side of the problem. Never had to be an authority figure to a kid. It is harder than I thought. It comes down to you. It’s a little scary.
They may need to see a doctor, although they both sound their normal selves. Are they telling the truth about their condition? That’s another mom decision. If it was me, I would make them go just to be safe. Shit. I don’t know what I’m talking about.
Heavy footsteps coming up the stairs sound, and my stomach twists.The tools are there. The tools are there.The receiver is picked up.
