Acquiring Trouble

parents and stopped being nice to her. She was suddenly a burden to the teenager instead of the best friend she used to be. Her father barely tolerated her presence and came down on her hard whenever she got into trouble. When she was good he just ignored her, so over time she learned that if she wanted his attention she had to be bad. So she'd lift a pack et of gum or knock over a trash can. But now, it was over. Now she was graduating and now s he’d be her own woman.
    Morgan reached up into the air and plucked her cap from the sky. Her classmates were surrounded by their parents and other family members and friends . She stood alone on the outskirts of the groups and watched alone. She had told her mother that she was going over to a friend's for lunch, but it was a lie. She didn't have any friends.
    She took off her cap and gown and started the short walk home. She was hoping to sneak in through the kitchen, grab a bite to eat, and hide out in her room until everyone went to be d. Then she was going to leave forever. She looked up at the innocent looking house and dreaded having to go inside.
    Morgan saw Pam's car in the driveway —o f course Pam had a car and she didn't even have a bike. Great. It was her birthday and graduation, but with Pam here she could forget anyone even remembering.  She cut across the well-manicured lawn and entered the screened- in porch. She opened the door , stepped into the kitchen , and came face to face with her family.
    "What are you doing here?" Pam shot at her. "Mom, you said she wouldn't be here!"
    "Morgan, we’re having brunch with Pam's boyfriend, Stephen. You were supposed to be busy. I don't have enough food for you," her mother told her.
    "You need to respect us and not embarrass your sister . Leave now so we can enjoy our meal." Her father stood next to Pam as they glared at her.
    Morgan didn't even pay attention to Stephen. He looked like any of Pam's typical boyfriends. Average. Average height, average build, average looks. Morgan just thought of him as boring. With a shrug of her shoulders she headed outside and sat on the porch. She'd wait until they moved into the front living room and sneak in. It shouldn't take more than thirty minutes.
    She was curled up against the wall with the warm sun coming in through the leaves. The breeze was moving the trees gently and before she knew it she was sound asleep. Sound asleep until she felt someone kissing her. Her eyes flew open to find Average Stephen sitting next to her giving her an average kiss and with his average hand roaming up her leg. Morgan slapped him hard and he just smiled and shoved her hard against the house.
    “I heard you were naughty and I know how naughty girls like it,” he growled into her ear. She opened her mouth to cuss him out when he shoved his tongue in it instead.
    "O h my God! Morgan! How could you? " Pam shrieked, causing Stephen to fall back.
    "I'm sorry, muffin, your sist er just came onto me. She was teasing me and a man can only take so much. Then she just kissed me."
    "That's not true! Pam, I would never…"
    "Morgan, get out of my house at once! I will not tolerate such behavior. I've had enough!" h er father yelled as he stood with his hands on his hips and his face red.
    "Fine! I never want to see you again!" Morgan screamed back as tears threatened to spill.
    "I believe the feeling is mutual. I wish you were never born! You've ruined my whole life!" Pam shouted before running inside, the screen door slamming behind her.
    Morgan couldn't stand it. Her father was kicking her out, her sister wished she was never born , and her mother just stood quietly in the corner of the porch, her hands twisting a napkin between her thin fingers. Morgan looked at her for help, but her mother just kept her head down.
    Morgan shoved her way past Average Stephen and ran down the stairs and down the street. She hid behind Miss Lily's large pink rose bushes. That's when she knew what she needed to do. She'd sneak into her house from Miss Lily's side. Her bedroom window was there and she could jimmy it open, grab the money she'd been saving up and make her way to DC . She'd talk her way into a job on campus and one way or another find a way to get into the dorms early.
    She waited for another couple of hours until Average Stephen left with a blotchy - faced Pam next to him. As she approached her bedroom window she listened for her parents. She heard yelling and knew it was about her. She removed the