A Night In The Park
Chapter 3
"Yes," answered Jessica. Marie was still trying to explain and added,
"You understand that because of what I suggested we do, we both could be grounded and punished?"
"Yes, I understand, Marie." Both took a deep breath and prepared themselves to hear some parental screaming and yelling. Once they walked in, they noticed that there was a light on in the living room. Marie looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. It was seven o’clock. Walking slowly through the kitchen door going towards the living room, Marie hollered out, "Mom, Dad, we're home." Their dad answered from the recliner near the front door. They had been up since 5:00 a.m. waiting for their daughters. "You two come in here!"
Running up towards their parents, the girls started to both speak at once. "Dad and Mom, we want to talk to you. We are sorry for staying out all night. We were upset because we didn’t want you two to get divorced," said Marie. "We shouldn’t have left in the first place."
"You both understand that your mother and I are very upset but not mad. We were hurt and scared so much that we decided if you two didn’t come home by the time we finished our coffee, we were going to go to the police station. Next, we would have filed a missing child alert on you two. As you know Marie, there are so many crazy lunatics out there. You two young teenagers, well you know someone could have done any number of things to you," their dad said.
"Just because your father and I decided that things weren’t working out between us, doesn’t mean you should take off from home and scare us like that," added their mother starting to cry with relief as she hugged little Jessica.
"Yes, we understand, Mom; we should have stayed here, called, or come straight home, but we both were too stubborn. I was afraid if you two left each other that you would make Jessica and I live apart too. We are truly sorry," Marie said trying to get her parents to understand her bad decision.
"Heavens! Marie," Allison screamed, "we would never tear you and your sister apart. Though I can understand you not understanding that." Bill, looking up at Allison and continued, "Your mother and I are also sorry. We know our separating hurts you two, but this is our final decision. I only stayed here last night because I needed to make sure you two were safe before I moved. I wanted to stay also because your mother asked me to comfort her. Your mom and I searched the entire park last night hoping to find you. We didn‘t and we were exhausted from the search. We believed that you and Jessica would realize what you two did was wrong and come home today. Don't you ever do this again, please."
Bill taking full role of fatherhood began again, "We also decided that you and Jessica could come and stay with me after we separate and visit me as often as you like. Now that you both are home, you know that there is a punishment to be paid." Simultaneously, the girls said, "Yes."
"We have agreed that your punishment will be chores and being grounded without TV for two weeks," the girl's mother commented showing some easing up of worry. "Do you understand your mother?" their father asked. "Yes, I do," said Marie. "Jessica, do you understand?"
"Yes, I do too," answered Jessica. "Now you two are dismissed," Bill and Allison said almost in unison and the whole family smiled. Marie and Jessica accepted their punishment. Together they approached their parents. They wrapped their arms around them and said as one, "We love you!"
By Michelle Korgis-Fitzpatrick
© 2001-02
