Chapter 5

• ~ July 23rd - 9:00 PM ~
• Mrs. Rhodes pulled the restaurant door closed with a click, locking it for the night. Inside, all the lights were turned off, except for a few flickering above that provided just enough illumination for them to navigate without bumping into the tables arranged around the dining area. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes busily tended to the aftermath of a long evening. The restaurant hadn't been overly busy, but the influx of customers was a success for the family. There were still tasks to complete before they could finally call it a night.
• Taylor, the Rhodeses' only son, trailed behind his mother, waiting for Deanna, one of the recently hired waitresses, to leave. He wanted to ensure she wasn't around to overhear the conversation he planned to have with his parents. Although he was excited, he had a nagging feeling that his mother was going to say no, as that was her usual response whenever he wanted to hang out with his friends from school.
• The moment Deanna was gone he had asked the question he had been holding on to. “Please, Mom!” Taylor implored, his voice had a slight whine to it.
• Mrs. Rhodes planted her feet on the floor. “I’ll say it once more: you are not leaving!” she asserted, as she tossed the dampened cloth on the table she had just finished cleaning.
• Taylor gently shoved a chair against the table, ensuring the area was organized the way his mother liked it. "You're being unreasonable!" Taylor had placed his hands on his hip. "Mom ... I don't understand why you are acting like this!" His voice rose with his growing frustration. "It is as if you are allergic to me having fun!"
• Unexpectedly, the kitchen door swung open, and Mr. Rhodes strode in, wiping his hands on a dish towel before flinging it over his shoulder. He paused for a moment to survey the scene, noticing his fuming son and his visibly upset wife. From the kitchen he had hear their voices slowly rising as the conversation continued. Groaning, "What’s all this commotion about?" he inquired, raising his eyebrows as he stepped closer to the two irate individuals he loved dearly.
• Feeling the tension in his shoulder, Taylor had taken a deep breath, filling his lungs. Needing to calm his growing frustration, he explained, “Soph has invited me to her parents' cabin for the long weekend. I asked Mom, and she said no!” Tossing his arms in the air, he glared up at the ceiling. “This is unfair!” He looked at his mother and then directed his attention to his father. “I have worked at the family restaurant since you opened it. I’ve kept my grades up and made it onto the honor roll."
• Mr. Rhodes nodded his head and said, "You certainly have, and I am very proud of the hard work and dedication you have shown," a smile spreading across his face.
• Taylor suddenly turned to his mother and exclaimed, "Why can't I have a weekend off to have a little fun? Is that too much to ask?"
• Reluctant to back down, Mrs. Rhodes declared, “You have to work!” her voice stubborn and unyielding.
• Taylor scoffed, “But we’ve hired two new workers to handle the increase in customers!” he shot back, frustration in his eyes.
• With her arms defiantly crossed over her chest, Mrs. Rhodes stood her ground. “They need the time off!” she insisted unwavering.
• Taylor could feel his patience slipping. “So do I!” he shot back. His voice rising as he fought to make his mother see his side of the situation.
• Furrowing her face, she replied defiantly, “You already get two days off!” Her resolve was unshakeable.
• Breathing heavily, Taylor broke his normally calm demenour, “I work full-time while they get only three shifts a week!” Frustration bubbled as he studied his mother.
• Mrs. Rhodes's expression showed her agervation of her son's unwillingness to do as she wanted. “I don’t care!” she yelled, her voice echoing through the room.
• Taylor knew that without his father's support, he wouldn't be able to join his friends. "Then I quit!" he bellowed. The threat in his words was aimed at making his parents understand just how much he wanted to join in on the fun. After four years of hard work, he was ready for some downtime.
• Mrs. Rhodes shouted, “You can’t quit!” Her foot was planted hard on the floor. “You live ...” But the rest of her sentence was lost in the eruption of emotions that filled the space between them.
• Mr. Rhodes pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed internally. Motioning his head to the side several times, 'Not again!' It was uncommon for their family to clash. However, when it happened, things could get heated. The disagreements always revolved around Taylor wanting to spend time with his friends. In these moments, Mr. Rhodes found himself caught in the middle. Mrs. Rhodes had been highy agains many of his friends, considering them to be a terrible influence.
• Along with his wife, he had decided that their son's friendships could lead him astray. They always pushed him to do better, telling him that there would always be time to hang out with friends. Keeping his grades up, however, was something that needed to be addressed immediately.
• Now that Taylor had graduated from high school and accomplished the goals they had set for him, he wanted to enjoy some time with his friends. His personal reward for everything Taylor had done. Nodding his head, he understood how his son was feeling.
• Breathing in, Mr. Rhodes raised his hand. "Enough!" he bellowed, gaining the attention of both his son and wife. Softening his tone, he turned to Mrs. Rhodes. "Aiko, what reasons do you have for not allowing Taylor to go?" He knew she would have many. This time, however, it would be harder for her to come up with a valid excuse. Taylor had completed high school, and instead of going to college, he had decided to dive into the family restaurant, learning how to manage it himself one day. The leverage his wife once had was now gone, Taylor and he knew it.
• Mrs. Rhodes wrinkled her face, struggling to articulate her thoughts. “He can't go ...” she began.
• Mr. Rhodes knew she was about to repeat everything that she had spoken. “Aiko, I know there’s more to this than just wanting Taylor here. What is it?” Mr. Rhodes had a feeling there was more to her outburst about denying their son a bit of freedom.
• Mrs. Rhodes’s expression changed a sight that Taylor nor Mr. Rhodes had ever seen. “It just doesn’t feel right!” she murmured, her hand instinctively cradling her belly. “If Taylor leaves, he won’t return!”
• 'This is absurd! When is she going to release the umbilical cord?' Taylor filled his lungs with the air he needed to stay calm. "Dad!" Taylor interjected, trying to reason with the one person who might understand his side. "I've done everything you've asked, good grades, hard work, and staying out of trouble. I'm asking for just one weekend!" adding to his statement. "Ella is excited to go! Zoe is coming as well!"
• *
• Intertwining her fingers nervously, Mrs. Rhodes said, “I like her. Zoe is a good girl!” However, you still can’t go!” She maintained a pout on her face.
• Taylor’s frustration boiled over, “Dad!?” he glared at him for support.
• “Mathew!?” Mrs. Rhodes whined, her voice tinged with exasperation.
• Mr. Rhodes glanced between his headstrong wife and son. He knew that he held the key to resolving this dispute. He was also aware that his decision would make one of them happy while the other would likely give the silent treatment. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he turned to Taylor and asked, “So, what exactly are Sophia’s plans?”
• Taylor hesitated. “The details are still sketchy. I know that Sophia plans to assign the task to Zoe; after all, when it comes to time management, Zoe does better than any of us.” He took a moment to recall an instance when he had approached her for help. He had been struggling with schoolwork while also working for his parents. Each time he brought the topic of how stressed he was, he parents would only say, 'get the work done!' which had not been very incouraging to him. With his grades starting to slip. And the crushing stress he had gone to Zoe, who always seemed to have everything in order with amazing grades. With her guidance, she showed him how to balance school and working at the restuarant.
• "Sophia wants to leave the city on Friday, July 31st, and return on Monday. The details regarding timing and the route will probably be provided by Zoe in the next couple of days. All we’re going to be doing is hanging out, laughing... and Zoe will probably be exploring the woods to see whatever sparks her curiosity.” Taylor felt like he had one foot in the door. His father was willing to listen to him. Instead of automatically siding with his mother.
• With a nod, Mr. Rhodes declared to his son, “You can go,” being cut off by his wife.
• In an instant, Mrs. Rhodes was at her husband's side, her grip tightening around his arm. “No! Mathew, he ...” Her voice trembled with emotion, revealing the depth of her concern about Taylor leaving for the cabin.
• Patting her shoulders, Mr. Rhodes looked at his wife lovingly. Giving his son his attention. He spotted a large smile on Taylor's face, “You didn’t let me finish!” he said. “Taylor, Deanna has already asked for that time off. Since I already said yes to her, I don’t want to turn around and say no. However, you can go on Friday and return on Saturday to cover the evening shift.”
• The smile that was once on his face had turned into a flat line. Taylor gritted his teeth. At least his father had a better reason for him not being able to go for the whole weekend.
• Mr. Rhodes added, "If you'd like, you can go to the cabin on Monday to spend some time with your friends before coming back." He hoped this would help lift his son's spirits a bit. "we probably will not be that buzy. Cindy and I should be able to handle everything here."
• With desperation Mrs. Rhodes gripped her husband’s arm tightly, her tears streaming down like rivers of sorrow. “No! Taylor is not coming back!” she cried out, her voice thick with sorrow.
• “Mom!” Taylor couldn’t understand his mother’s outburst. “It’s not like I’m moving away. When are you going to let me grow up and be a man?”
• Mrs. Rhodes rushed over to her son. “You are a very good man,” she said, shaking her head back and forth. She placed a hand over her stomach, “I have a bad feeling you will not come back!” Tears streamed down her face.
• Taylor glanced at his father, who glared at him and shook his head. As their only child, Taylor’s mother had always been too protective and controlling, often getting his father to side with her. This time, however, Taylor’s father had given him the opportunity to have fun—something he hadn’t had in a long time.
• Taylor tried again, “Mom! It’s one weekend for the gang to get together and have fun before they leave for college and university. I have no idea when we’ll be able to hang out as a group again. I’m asking for one little thing; it’s not like I’ve asked for much.” he pushed the air out of his lungs. He was exhausted with her need to control his every move.
• Mrs. Rhodes began to cry again. “My only child!”
• Mr. Rhodes gestured with his head toward the kitchen. “It’s still a mess in there!” He stepped in to care for his wife. "Once you are done, turn off the light and call it a night!" Mr. Rhodes watched Taylor leave the area without saying another word. Mr. Rhodes turned his attention to his destressed wife, determined to get through to her and help her understand that they can't control every aspect of Taylor's life. If they tried, he could begin resenting them.
• Pushing the swinging doors into the kitchen, he pulled out his phone. 'I didn't get the whole weekend off,' he thought, considering what to write next. 'I didn’t know any of the waitresses had requested the time off. But I was able to get the Friday off and Monday!' He pressed send. 'It’s better than nothing.' he was bummed that he couldn't get the whole weekend, but he was happy with what his father had offered.
• As Taylor finished what his father had started, he could hear his father mumbling words of comfort to his mother and her soft cries. Shaking his head, he thought, 'This is the worst outburst she has ever had!'