JT frowned and fixed his father with a spiteful look. “Then I hate you too.”

Gloriana made a move toward her brother, but Papa waved her off. “That is your choice, JT, just as it’s my choice to deny you supper. Furthermore, you will not only sand and paint your desk but every desk in that classroom.”

“That’s not fair! I didn’t carve on those other desks.”

“You keep sassin’ me, and I’ll have to spank you as well. Now, go to your room and get ready for bed.”

JT’s face reddened, but he didn’t say another word. He stormed off to the back of the house and slammed his bedroom door.

“I’ve never seen him like that.” Gloriana looked at her father. “What’s gotten into him?”

“Hard to tell. Boys can be like that.” He shook his head. “You can’t hold it against him, Glory. He’s let his anger get the best of him. I’ll go talk to him about it later. He’s not gonna be able to sleep for some time. He knows what he did was wrong—at school and here at home. It’ll get to eatin’ at his heart, and he’ll be filled with remorse. It might take time for him to admit it, but eventually he’ll be sorry for what he’s said and done.”

That evening, just before Papa went to bed, Gloriana heard him talking to her brother once again. She stood outside the door, hoping and praying that all would be resolved. She certainly didn’t want Papa leaving without JT apologizing.

But the boy stood firm in his anger. He reiterated that he hated his papa. It was something Gloriana had never heard come out of his mouth. She knew the last few years had been hard on him. Losing their mother had taken joy from all of them. In fact, Gloriana found little joy left in her heart. She hurt at the thought of their loss and couldn’t imagine how it must be for a little boy to be without his mother and siblings. He had adored Aaron, who at sixteen surprisingly always found time to play with JT. Tabitha treated JT like her own baby. She had been five when JT came into the world, and she was always at his side. Was all of JT’s anger due to that loss?

Gloriana heard her father tell JT good night and reassure him that he was loved despite his wrongdoing. JT said nothing, and Gloriana wanted to go to his bedside and demand he make up with Papa. She was a firm believer in not letting the sun go down on one’s anger.

She eased away from the room as her father came out. She gave him a sympathetic shrug, having no idea what else she could do. Papa followed her out to the front room.