One Push Too Many

The several weeks before Kinsey's arrival whittled down to a few days, which led to the night before her stage was to reach Green River.

“Son, have you given any thought on what you might like to do while Kinsey stays with us?”

Scott glanced up from the same page of the book he had been staring at for the last 30 minutes. Well, of course he had…

1. Sending her off fishing in a leaky boat.

2. Suggesting she camps out in coyote country.

3. Letting her explore the North Pole without a compass.

“No Sir. I haven’t given it much thought.”

Scott returned to the page of his book. It took two full minutes until he felt the icy stare of his father burrowing into his skull. Scott set his book aside and cleared his throat. “Well, I thought Kinsey and Teresa could spend one day shopping.”

“No.”

Scott shifted in his chair. “Maybe Kinsey and Johnny could ride out to…”

“No.”

Scott raised his eyebrows. “Kinsey and Jelly?”

“SCOTT.”

Why was it Scott could always see Johnny traveling down the road to self-destruction with their father but never himself? Even as the name Jelly was coming out of his mouth he knew he had pushed back one too many.

The tongue lashing that commenced was one like no other that Scott had ever experienced. How does Johnny live through one of these?

Topics covered during the one-hour tirade:

1. Stubbornness

2. Childishness

3. Appreciation

4. Mulishness

5. Patience

6. Respect and the lack thereof

When Scott retired for the evening his ears were still ringing and there was absolutely no question in his mind on who would be entertaining Kinsey.

Five. Days.

Starting tomorrow.