They're filthy and you'll track mud all over the house.They're filthy and you'll track mud all over the house." He kicked the shoes off into the corner of the entranceway and shrugged his shoulders as he went to go up to his bedroom. "Where do you think you're going young man? I'm speaking to you," his Stepmother demanded. Mike turned back to her and muttered, "I'm sorry. I won't slam the door again," and quickly turned to go upstairs. "Stop right there," she ordered. "I'm not going to put up with your insolent attitude any longer. Stay in you're room until I call for you." She turned on her heels and left to regoin her guests. Michael went upstairs convinced that his stepmother was mad. The sounds from her gathering filtered up to his room. They seemed to be celebrating something. No matter. He would speak to his father about it and end this nonsense. But that was part of his problem also. His father had been called away on business several months before. At first the trip was supposed to be only a few weeks, but it later turned into an indefinite assignment. In his father's absence, his Stepmother had become increasingly autocratic, and Amanda had become absolutely intolerable. It got to the point where he simply avoided them as much as possible. Whenever Michael was around his Stepmother she was constantly demeaning him and criticizing his behavior. |