Responsible by Darlene Ryan Read Free Book Online Page B

to pay next month’s rent and to buy groceries—something other than cornflakes, Kraft dinner and powdered milk.” Now it was him who couldn’t look at me.
    â€œSo the whole thing was a fake.” I pulled my voice lower and mimicked him. “Oh no, I never considered keeping the money.” Where did he get off lecturing me about doing the right thing? “You freaking phony.” I started out of the bathroom, but his hand shot out and caught the neck of my shirt.
    â€œBut I didn’t get the new brakes and tires for the car. I didn’t pay old man Barton the rent.” Now he was looking at me. “I went to the police station and I turned in the money.”
    â€œBut you almost didn’t.”
    â€œYeah, and my stomach felt like I’d drunk a bottle of toilet bowl cleaner. I wanted to be able to look at myself in themirror every morning when I shaved and not be ashamed.” Dad let go of my shirt. “I told you, Kevin. The right thing is not the same as the easy thing.” He pushed past me and went back into the kitchen.

Chapter Eleven
    I stood there, hanging onto the doorframe until my stomach settled and the pain slid down a couple of degrees. Then I wobbled back to my chair. There was half a cold pancake floating in syrup on my plate, but I didn’t feel like eating anymore. Dad stood at the counter with his back to me, hands wrapped around a coffee cup. “The right thing doesn’t always get you money and a parade, Kev. Sometimes all it getsyou is a fifty and a handshake. Sometimes you get worse.”
    There was a knock at the door of the trailer. Dad looked over at me. “Don’t move,” he said. I couldn’t have if I’d wanted to.
    He opened the door. A blond man with jeans and a dark blue sweater was standing there. He didn’t live in the park, and his hair was too long for him to be one of the holy rollers out to save our souls. We got a lot of them around the park.
    â€œMr. Frasier?” the man said. “I’m Michael Tennant. Erin’s father.”
    â€œErin?” Dad said. Then he got it. “The girl that...”
    Erin’s father nodded and offered his hand. “Yes.” They shook hands.
    â€œCould I talk to you for a moment?” Mr. Tennant asked. “It won’t take long.”
    Dad stepped back. “Sure, c’mon in.”
    Crap! I wished he didn’t have to see the inside of the trailer. Not that the outside was so impressive.
    â€œHow’s your daughter?” Dad asked.
    â€œShe’s all right, because of your son.” He turned to look at me, swallowing as he studied my face. “Thank you, Kevin, for everything you did for Erin.” He shook his head. “I had no idea he’d been this badly hurt.”
    â€œI’m all right,” I said. “It just looks... bad.” I sounded lame.
    Mr. Tennant pulled an envelope out of his pocket.
    Dad shook his head. “No.”
    What did he mean, no? The guy hadn’t done anything.
    â€œMr. Frasier, I just want to say thank you. When I think about what could have happened...” He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to.
    â€œYou have said thank you,” Dad said. “We can’t take your money.”
    What was this
we
stuff? The man had been about to give
me
the money. Not Dad. And I could take his money. Going by his clothes, he wasn’t exactly broke.
    Mr. Tennant looked at Dad. “Wait. You’re the guy who was on the news. Youfound all that money and gave it back.” Dad nodded. “What do you do?” Erin’s dad asked.
    â€œI can do just about anything,” Dad said. “But mostly construction. I’ve been looking for a job. The last one I had was just...temporary. I’m looking for something a little more permanent.”
    â€œI know quite a few people around this area,” Erin’s father said. “If you won’t let me