Page 39 of The Parent Playbook
“But, Mom?—”
“No buts.”
“Come on, Andy.” Lily looks at me sideways and I can tell she knows I’m deeply, deeply unhappy with her. “Sometimes it’s best to let the adults talk between themselves.”
As they disappear around the corner, Angel and I share a look of wary resignation.
“I don’t get it. Lily’s never done anything like that before.”
Angel huffs. “With those two, we should be glad they didn’t try to convert the gym into a bio-dome. Instead, we need to teach them how to stage a protest without getting caught.”
The silence is awkward, a sting of irritation running through my veins.
“You know, this seems like something Andy would start,” I say, my tone sharper than intended. “He’s got a knack for stirring the pot. Lily wouldn’t ever have gotten into trouble like that before.”
Angel’s head snaps toward me, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Really, Scotty? Because from where I’m standing, Lily was just as involved. And last I checked, leadership isn’t about following. Seems she’s taking after her father more than we thought.”
I sense a compliment in there, but I don’t think I like it.
“I’m all for her standing up for a cause. But doing it wisely, not like this—not disrupting school.”
“Andy’s always been passionate about nature,” Angel shoots back, her voice rising. “And Lily’s got every right to be the same. She needs to learn how to channel that passion, and then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“What are you trying to say?” But really,what is she trying to say?Because it sounds at once like an accusation and an accolade. I’m lost.
Her face softens, but then she exhales sharply. “I’m sayingthey’re kids, Scotty. They make mistakes. How we handle this will teach them more than any protest they could organize.”
The kids, who had been playing in the distance, now tiptoe their way over. They stop a few feet off. Their faces don’t hide their worry, and I’m sure they’re picking up on the tension between Angel and me.
“Are we in trouble?” Andy’s voice is small.
“Yes!” I holler as Angel says, “No.”
“Listen, I’m not saying Andy’s a bad influence.” I lower my voice because otherwise I might explode. “Because Lily can be headstrong.”
“Dad!”
“And that behavior needs to be kept in line.”
Angel tilts her head. “She could lead an army with that determination.”
“And maybe she will,” I concede, “but right now, she needs guidance. In the car, Lily.”
“Dad.”
“In. The. Car.”I am two seconds from losing it. I wait until I hear the truck door shut and then turn back to Angel. “We can’t let this slide.”
The tension hangs heavy as Angel turns to Andy, her voice firm but not the strict disciplinarian I thought she might be. “Andy, head up to your room for a bit. Think about how we can support your passions, without causing mass small-town disruption.” She gently nudges him toward the house.
Andy nods, a dark cloud crossing his young face as he trudges off.
“I’m grounding her for a month,” I say once Andy’s out of earshot.
“A month?” Angel’s jaw drops. “She’d miss all the games. You can’t do that to her.”
“Angel, she’s never done anything like this before, and I intend that she never will again.”
“You can’t control her.”
