"I don't wanna go. It's gay." Bobby sat on the edge of his bed, his lips pursed in a pout. Marie leaned against the doorjamb of his room with her arms crossed. It was a standoff of epic proportions. She fought the urge to engage in a "are too, are not' rally.

"This bites," Bobby muttered as he took a cue from the daggers Marie felt certain she properly conveyed, and picked up a pair of socks. He made every effort to put on each sock with woeful anguish. "You guys get all the money, have all the fun, and we get dragged to a crusty old folks home."

Marie slapped a hand over her mouth as a giggle escaped. The act was as entertaining as it was aggravating. She found herself feeling a little envious at a sixteen-year-olds perspective. Lately it would be nice to have such an innocent view of life.

Richard walked up fumbling with his tie.

"What's up?" He craned his neck to look in on Bobby's antics.

"Why do I have to go?"

"He won't get ready."

Marie and Bobby glared at each other as their statements met in mid-air. Richard's smirk didn't do much to improve Marie's mood. Help me, for goodness sake. She could feel the balance shifting before Richard even spoke a word. The good-ole-boys club strikes again.