Ivan flew down the stairs in record time. He could tell by the tone of Chad’s voice that something was definitely wrong. He threw on his rain jacket and his leather gloves that he received for Christmas last year. He was just about to open the door when his mother’s voice came from behind him. It was sharp, demanding, and penetrated his ears like a knife when it first cuts into an apple.
“And where do you think you’re going, Ivan Joshua Harvey?” Great! the middle name was just great. Anybody who has ever been in trouble with his or her parents knows what the middle name means. It means you are in big trouble, and there is no escaping it. Ivan’s whole day flashed before his eyes, and he suddenly felt sick to his stomach with the thought that his parents might have found out about him skipping school.
“I, uh, well, you know,” Ivan said, searching his mind for words. He could not lie, he would only be in more trouble if he lied. But, he could not exactly tell the truth or he would not be allowed to leave the house.
His mother stood there, tapping her foot with her arms crossed.
“I’m waiting. Ivan, you know it’s late, it’s dark out, we’ve just finished dinner, and you’re supposed to be studying,” she reprimanded. That was it! Studying. Studying could be Ivan’s excuse.
“Chad was sick today, he wasn’t in school. I have to bring him his assignment and help him with it,” Ivan said, resisting the urge to bite his lip and scrunch his eyebrows together in fear that his mother knew that he skipped school. In which case, Ivan Harvey would be in so much trouble for skipping school, and then lying about it.
“Well, I guess that’s okay. But, you have to be back before ten tonight. Do I make myself clear?”
Ivan nodded, relieved, hugged his mother and then ran out the door, on his way to Chad’s place.