School Scene VI

Kitchen. Lou and Abby sitting across from each other silently. Enter Aron and Katie. Abby scowls at Katie, Katie storms past and through the other door.

Lou. "So Katie was the one who reported you?" Sighs heavily, rubs her fists against her temples, then unstraps her gun belt and tosses it onto the chair beside her, unloads her gun, locks it up.

Aron. "So what the school told is that someone reported seeing you smoking on school grounds, and it was sufficient grounds for a search. Were they right?"

Abby looks down, silent. 

 Lou. Sternly. "We also know that they found a bong in your locker, though they didn't find weed, so there's no formal charges. But that doesn't change the fact that at some point, you were obviously smoking weed. Is that true?"

Abby. Mumbles. "Yea."

Lou leans back in her chair, blows air out her nose impatiently, throws her hands in the hair. "Well, I guess the only question I have is what the hell were you thinking?"

Abby stiffens. "I'm sorry, okay? I never planned on my sister being such a bitch."

Aron sits up straighter, catches her eye. "Abigail Marie Morgan, this is not your sister's fault"--

Abby. Looks down, grumbling. "She was the one who turned me in."

Aron. "And last I checked, she didn't buy the bong and force you to smoke an illegal drug!"

Abby shifts uncomfortable in her seat. "It wasn't just me."

Lou. Sharply. "Anyone else from our family?"

Abby. "No."

Lou. "Then I don't actually give a shit."

Abby. "Look, I said I was sorry. It was stupid."

Lou. Snorts. "I'll say."

Aron looks at her, shakes his head slightly. "It won't happen again, Abby. You heard what the principal said. A year's suspension on any further incident."

Abby. "I'm not going to let that happen."

Aron. "No, you're not, because you're going to start seeing a counselor on Monday."

Abby. "No! I'm not some addict."

Lou. "We don't think you're 'some addict,' Abby, but how do you think all of the 'some addicts' get their start?"

Abby. "It's just weed. It's not like I'm doing heroin or something."

Lou. Sarcastically. "Congratulations, Abby. You're still going to see the counselor."

Aron. "And you're also grounded for the duration of your suspension, okay? That means no Facebook, no parties, and you're only allowed your phone when we decide you need it."

Abby scowls, kicks the leg of the table. "What the fuck. You act like it's the end of the world"--

Lou. "Watch your language, young lady. I don't want to hear that word out of your mouth again or"--

Abby. Laughs bitterly. "What, mom? You'll wash my mouth out with soap?"

Aron stands. "I think that's enough, Abby. You made your choices, and now you have to accept the result."

Abby leaps to her feet, kicking over her chair. "So you're fucking punishing me twice? Because my sister is a lying, conniving little bitch and you take her side in everything?"

Lou. Sharply. "Abigail!"

Aron. Slowly. "First of all, seeing a counselor is not punishment, it is help. Secondly, you are not being grounded because of something Katie did. You are being grounded because you made the choice to smoke marijuana, because you made the choice to keep paraphernalia at school, and because you are failing to see why it matters."

Abby opens her mouth and shuts it again.

Lou. Firmly. "Furthermore, Abby, this is not your sister's fault, and if you treat her poorly because you made poor choices, you'll be grounded for another two weeks. Understood?"

Abby turns on her heel and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Lou sits back down, puts her feet up on the chair opposite as Aron picks up Abby's fallen chair. "Well, that went about as well as expected." Laughing ruefully. "Come on, honey, sit down. I say we need a  rest after this."

Aron. Sighs, runs his fingers through his graying hair. "Not yet, love. I have to deal with Dray first."