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Jesse storms out of the car and slams the door. The car skids around the drive-through, not ordering or taking any food with it.
Jesse glares at me. I glare right back.
“That was fucking embarrassing!” he declares.
“If that’s the type of people you’re trying to impress, then you’ve forgotten your worth,” I assert, looking at Jesse with a raised eyebrow. “Is this how you spend your time? Mocking the system and stealing from workers? Do you have no respect for the value of hard-earned money?”
He nervously shifts his feet and mumbles, “It was just a joke. We were just messing around.”
“Just a joke?” I reply sternly. “Do you realize that hardworking people depend on their wages to support themselves and their families? What you consider a joke can have real consequences for them. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”
“I thought you were cooler than this.”
“Respect for others and their belongings starts with respecting yourself. It’s about understanding the implications of our actions and treating everyone with the consideration and empathy they deserve.” I storm toward my car, but stop as another thought pops into my head. “Porky? Is that really how you talk about women?”
Jesse starts to look genuinely remorseful. “That wasn’t me. I’m not like that.”
“What are you like? You lied to your father, took advantage of me, were going to steal food, and sat back while your friends belittled a woman who had done nothing wrong to you other than not be physically pleasing to your friends’ eyes. If you’re not that kind of guy, then please tell me who you are. I went to bat for you. I told your dad to trust you. To give you space. And you shit all over it. Did you even have driver’s ed today?”
“It was over after an hour. My friends picked me up after. They were going to drive me back in time for you to get me.”
“I can add liar to the charges then.”
“Tara …” He stalks behind me as I get to the car. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re better than this, Jesse. Your dad says you’re a good kid, but you go out of your way to prove him wrong.”
“My dad doesn’t have anything nice to say about me.”
“Then, you’re not listening.” I get in the car and close my door. Jesse follows to the passenger side. “You need to make amends for this, starting with cleaning up your mess.”
The drive back to the house is silent. When we get back, I urge Jesse and Molly to follow me into their dad’s shed. I find three buckets. It’s not enough for what I need, but they’ll do for now. We fill them with water, and I have Molly grab dish soap and large sponges.
Together, we walk the supplies through the field. Jesse carries two water buckets while I have the other one, and Molly has the soap and sponges.
I guide them to the castle in the fields behind their property.
When we get there, I point through the ivy walls toward the filthy stone structure.
“You’ll clean the walls of this castle,” I instruct firmly. “It’s going to take hard work and dedication to make this right.”
“You’re dishing out punishments now?”
“It’s me or your dad, and honestly, I’d take my punishment over whatever he might plan for you.”
“What does this stupid place have to do with anything?”
“It was important to your dad once, so you’re gonna make it important to yourself now. The choice is yours—start hand-cleaning this entire tower or face your father’s wrath and wait for the plethora of punishments he sends your way.”
He grabs the sponge and then pauses. “You’re really not gonna tell my dad?”
“No. Not because you don’t deserve it. Because I don’t have the heart to tell your father you failed after one day of freedom. I’ll give you one strike. There’s no three strikes and you’re out though. This is it.”
“This isn’t just about me. You don’t want him to know you messed up too.”
“Get to cleaning,” I order.
As Jesse starts scrubbing, I start walking.
