Terry Sauter’s Beer
When I entered the house, Jerri sat on the couch in the living room with only one lamp burning. She wasn’t reading an accounting book or anything. She seemed to be sitting there in the gloom, just waiting for me to come in.
“Hi,” I said.
“So you’re a fan of German beer?” Jerri said.
“No.” My heart accelerated. I mumbled, “Not a fan.” My heart began thumping hard. Abby and I hadn’t cleaned up the beer bottles. We’d left so fast in the morning that it hadn’t even occurred to me.
“Are you a drinker?” she asked.
“Not really,” I said.
“Is Abby Sauter?”
“Abby? How did you know about…”
“Terry saw the bottles and he swore the only way you’d have that kind of beer is if you took it from Abby’s house. You can’t buy it in town. You can’t buy it in the U.S. Have you gone to Europe without me knowing?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Do you and Abby think it’s funny to take people’s prized possessions?”
“Terry’s prized possession is beer?” I asked. “Really? You’re okay with that?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do. Your boyfriend’s prized possession is beer.”
“Don’t turn this back on me. You’re stealing. You’re drinking. I’ve given you room to be an adult and this is how you pay me back?” she snapped.
I paused for a second. I glared at Jerri ,who hadn’t been a mother to me through the roughest of years. “You’ve given me room?” I spat.
“I’ve given you free rein…”
“This is your gift?” I shouted.
She sat forward in her chair. “What’s going on, Felton?”
“Maybe I crashed a car. Maybe I beat up some kid. Maybe I got drunk by a Dumpster at Kwik Trip.” I turned and walked out of the living room.
“You did what?”
“Up yours, Jerri,” I called.
“You’re grounded, Felton!” she shouted after me.
“You going to hang around to oversee that?” I shouted back.
She didn’t answer, and I ran down the stairs.
I walked past the empty bottles and the half-eaten pizza on the floor. My head exploded. That German beer smell made me sick. My mouth dried like crackers. I flopped onto my bed. “Shit,” I said. I thought about calling Abby to warn her of impending trouble. Then I thought, That asshole Terry isn’t going to call anyone…these people aren’t even adults.
However, Abby wasn’t remotely fine at that moment.