Uncomplicated 2.23: Grounded

     Bonnie has a friend over while I'm out fishing one Saturday. The Maker can't think up a dialogue right now, but she thinks the pictures tell the story well enough.

     I walk into the house to see this. I've never met this boy in my life. I have no idea who he is, and he's kissing my daughter!
     I slam the door behind me to let them know I'm here. They separate like they've been electrically shocked. The boy's face turns as red as his shirt, and Bonnie's eyes plead with me not to make a scene.
     "Dad, this is Rashawn. He's the one I told you about," she tells me, her hands anxiously turning over each other.
     "Why didn't you tell me he was over?" I ask, tight-lipped.
     "I... I didn't think I had to."
     I close my eyes. This isn't happening. Mandi, why aren't you here?! You'd know what to do!
     "Uh, hi, Mr. Brewer," Rashawn says in nervous politeness.
      I answer Bonnie. "Yes, you have to tell me." I walk around the stairs towards the pair.
     "Sorry," she says, looking just like her mother did when she told me she was pregnant.
     "Especially if it's a boy, and especially if it's a boyfriend," I continue, my voice getting harsher with each word coming out of my mouth. On what planet did she think this would be okay with me?!
     Bonnie takes her turn blushing. "I... Well... Dad... It wasn't like that," she finishes lamely.

     "So you two weren't sucking face when I walked through the door?" If my parents had done this to me, I'd have died of mortification. Still, Bonnie needs a wake-up call. You do not have boys over when I'm not here!
     Rashawn speaks up in Bonnie's defense. "I'm sorry, sir. We were just friends when I got here, honest. The truth is I like her a lot, and I'd... just now told her."
     Well, that took guts, I think as Bonnie turns and looks at him with a smile brightening her face, especially to say that to her angry father.

     I don't know what to say! I just know I'm upset.
     He continues, "I was just walking by when she was taking out the garbage. We stopped to chat before she said she had to get back inside to check on Anastasia. Then she invited me inside. I wasn't going to stay much longer than now."
     I can't help but feel like I'm the interloper, the one that just ruined a very romantic moment. When did I become this person?
     "Next time, you make sure I'm home before coming inside and being alone with my daughter," I say sternly, and he nods, apologizing again.

     I walk into the dining room. "And I think it's time you went home," I tell him.
     I can't be in there anymore. She reminds me so much of Addie right now that it makes me angry. I want to scream! Why do I have to do this alone?!
     I hear him speak to her in the kitchen. "Yeah, I'd better go. Sorry for getting you in trouble. I'll see you at school?"
     "Y-yeah," Bonnie answers, and I imagine her nodding her head.
     I sit down at the table, and I can hear him kiss her again. The sound grates my nerves like a cat shredding upholstery. Then I hear the sliding glass door open and close. Bonnie walks into the dining room.
     "Sorry, Daddy," she says, her hands folded in front of her and her head bowed. "I didn't think it was a problem."
      "I didn't exactly tell you not to do that, but I do hope you use better judgement in the future. I guess the only place you're going to see this boy is at school...because you're grounded." I look down at my salad to keep from seeing her outraged expression.
      "That's not fair!" she yells.
      "It's perfectly fair. You'll have plenty of time at home to learn from your mistake." I take a bite of food.
      "I finally get a boyfriend, and you have to try and ruin it! You just want me to stay home and watch Anastasia so you can work at getting a deathfish because all you care about is getting Mandi back!" She runs up the stairs and slams her door. Anastasia wakes up from her nap.
      No, that is not all I care about. If I didn't care, you wouldn't be grounded, I think, finishing the argument in my head. I continue to eat my salad, giving my teenage daughter time to cool down.

     Later, I go up and tell Bonnie my thought. She sobs and apologizes for what she said. She's still not happy about being grounded, but at least she has some idea why.
     She gets a keyboard and starts practicing. Her LTW is to be a renaissance sim, and the roll for generation three has a plus one in the family structure. She has the busking job, getting tips for playing instruments, and she can start on it right now.

     I finally finish teaching Anastasia how to walk. I've done all three: walking, talking, and potty. Bonnie occasionally helped, but I was the one to do most of it.
     Bonnie made a good point, and even though she said it in anger and apologized, that didn't come from nowhere. She's feeling abandoned and having Anastasia thrust upon her again.

     The fishing is going to have to wait until Anastasia is old enough to go to school. I didn't realize I was gone that much, wanting to still be there for my girls, but perhaps I was gone more than I should've. Getting Mandi back will have to wait.

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