Prologue
“You need to be more responsible,” Sophia’s dad said.
“You are the oldest, so you are always going to be an example to your brothers and sisters, whether it be good or bad.” Sophia sighed, ready for the expected lecture.
“They will be looking up to you. Now, we specifically asked you to get your sister after band practice at 4:00 and Annie said you didn’t show up until almost five!?
“Well, I thought she wouldn’t care,” Sophia offered lamely. “I thought she would just be hanging out with her friends.”
“Did you see any of Annie’s friends with her on the steps?
“No.”
“No, because they’d all gone home. She could’ve been in danger. The band doors were already locked and it was dark by the time you got there.” Her dad sighed. “Have you apologized to your sister?”
“Yes” Sophia’s dad still didn’t seem quite convinced. So Sophia said, “fine, I’ll do better next time,” and began to walk with her head down towards her room, before he asked her to do anything else.
“I want to know that you’ll be on time next time.”
“I’ll be on time next time,” Sophia repeated quickly.
“Good,” he said, beginning to smile. “Oh, and help your mother with dinner,” John said as he headed towards his office.
“Darn!” Sophia muttered wishing he wouldn’t treat her like such a child. She walked back into the kitchen. She was one month into her junior year and already she was on bad footing. She looked up at her sister Annie who didn’t seem to hear the conversation. She was busy biting into an apple while watching television. She was obviously over it. Sophia grabbed some plates and silverware. Why were Mom and Dad so hard on her, she thought? Most of the time she seemed to please them quite well, and then suddenly, out of the blue, she wasn’t being mature enough, responsible enough. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Why did her mistakes always warrant a fifteen minute chewing out? She was only sixteen. They can’t expect a perfect daughter. She doesn’t exist. Sophia dropped a stack of plates onto the table. A guilty pang shot up her throat. Jared Wise. He was the problem. But it was a valid reason for her to be nearly an hour late to pick up Annie.
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