“…freeze the account.”

“You didn’t think it might be important to call me first so my information wouldn’t be compromised, too?”

“I explained that.”

“Four hours? Come on!”

“You should’ve answered your phone! Besides, nothing happened, did it?”

“That’s not the point! It could have! Maybe it still will!”

“How many times do I have to say I’m sorry?”

Nick walked around the corner into the kitchen, and his parents moved away from each other, his mom to the stove, his dad to the refrigerator. Neither of them spoke. Nick reached around his dad’s side and grabbed the carton of orange juice, then took two slices of bread from the open package atop the counter and popped them into the toaster. He wasn’t usually very talkative first thing in the morning, so his silence wasn’t that unusual, but theirs was, and Nick decided to wait it out and see who broke down first.

He’d poured himself the orange juice, spread butter and peanut butter on the toast, and was halfway through his breakfast when his mom sat down next to him with a cup of coffee. His dad had gone outside to see if the newspaper had been delivered.

“Got all your schoolwork done?” she asked.

He nodded.

“Do I need to write you a note for this?”

“No,” he said. “I wasn’t sick. I was suspended.”

“Still, maybe you should check in at the office to make sure you don’t have to fill something out with the registrar. You can call me if I need to sign anything.”

“Okay,” he told her, though his plan was just to go to first period like he normally did.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I saw Victor walking his dog yesterday.”

Nick shook his head. “I don’t think so, Mom. He doesn’t have a dog.”

“Not a little gray-brown mutt?”

“Barky? That was in elementary school. Barky’s been dead since junior high.”

“Well, whatever. I saw your friend, and it was in the middle of the day. I think he was ditching school.”

Your mom’s getting boned by the gardener.

Nick shrugged. “I wasn’t there.”

“You don’t ditch school, do you?”

By this time, he’d finished his toast. “No, Mom.” Downing the last of his orange juice, he glanced over at his dad, who was entering the kitchen reading the paper. “I’d better get dressed.” He favored his dad with a big fake smile. “I go back to school today.”

“Yes you do, David Mamet. And I expect you to behave.”

“Yes sir, sir!”

“That’s what I’m talking about.”

“Leave him alone,” his mom said. “He’s nervous.”

“I’m not…” he began, but let the sentence trail off. It wasn’t worth it. He didn’t want to get into a fight with his parents and didn’t want to rekindle the fight they were having with each other. “I gotta get ready.” Heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth, Nick realized that maybe he was a bit nervous. Especially about going back to Mrs. Nelson’s class. How awkward was that going to be?