Richard was in his last year of high school and would be home from his job at the local ice cream parlor in a few minutes. She finished folding the clothes she had washed and went into the kitchen to start dinner. Before she had decided what to prepare, Richard walked in the door and kissed her on the cheek. "Hi, Mom. "Hello dear. How was work?" "We were busy tonight. But I have to run. I'm meeting Ben at nine." "You don't want to eat before you go?" she yelled down the hall as Richard ran to his bedroom to change clothes. A few minutes later he returned to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He pulled out an apple and took a bite. "No time for dinner, Mom. I'll grab a burger at the Fast Meal Barn." Molly was disappointed. She had held off on making dinner so she could eat with Richard. But he was now grown up, so she understood his need to run out the door and be with his friends. It didn't help her disappointment, however. "I guess I'll just order a pizza then," she said. As Richard was about to run out the door she said, "Take your clothes to your bedroom, please.
