“Tory? Care to tell us what an iPhone 16 is doing in your closet? I mean, you don't work, you have no means of earning, so how could you afford that? I'm curious."
“You went through my stuff? What rights do you have George? How dare you! Mom! Your husband is at it again. Can't I have my privacy? Do you want me to leave?” Tory fumed, hitting the table hard as she stood up from her chair.
“Stella, over to you. Are you going to find out what's going on with your daughter? Or should I mind my business just like what you've been doing and keep ignoring the big Elephant in the room?”*
“George it's nothing, I think you should cut Tory some slack. I mean, the phone could be for anyone, probably keeping it safe for a friend. You don't have to raise dust”. Stella defended.
“Ok Stella, Tory? I am sorry for prying”. George apologized to Tory, wearing a smirk on his face and then descended on his dinner.
After the iPhone incidence, George made sure to be blinded to everything that Tory does. From her sneaky movements around the house, to her keeping late nights and sneaking back in through the kitchen.
The thing is, George works from home, unlike Stella who always have to be at the office and at various job sites. Since George is always at home, he gets to see most sides of Tory that Stella is not knowledgeable of.
Several times he tried counselling Tory, but she will brush him off, reminding him that he's not her father and doesn't have that right. With George, Tory is a wild animal but with her mother Stella, she tries to water down her wild side.
One evening, George was driving home from grocery shopping when he saw Tory coming down from a black SUV and a black nylon was handed over to her
She quickly opened her backpack and dumped the nylon bag in it. George was curious, but he couldn't confront her on the spot. He managed to get some pictures and hoped to snoop around Tory's room, to know what she's really up to.
Later that evening, Stella had gotten home just in time for dinner, but Tory was nowhere to be found.
“Did you inform Tory that it's dinner time?” Stella questioned George as they were set to eat and still no trace of Tory.
“You know Stella, for a mom, you are slow. Tory is just 15, but you treat her like an adult. Do you even know what her after school activities are like? Do you know who her friends are?”
“Where is all this coming from George? If you are going to report Tory again, I think you should come directly. I mean, you are the stay at home father, what time do I have to be a mom? That's where you come in, George."
“The last time I tried being a dad to Tory, you encouraged her some more to not regard me as anything. Countless times, Tory challenges me to my face that I'm not her father and you Stella say and do nothing about it. I am not Tory's father, you need to step up for your daughter and stop shifting responsibilities.” George fired.
“Wow! It would have been better if you didn't respond to my question, that would have saved us all this unnecessary outburst”.
“Unnecessary? Oh my God! I can't with you Stella. Bon appétit, I just lost my appetite.” George pushed out his chair from the table which let out a sharp piercing sound and then emptied his plate in the trash can.
It was close to midnight and still no sign of Tory. Stella couldn't sleep as she kept frequenting Tory's room and kept dialing her cell but got no response. George at his end was just as worried, but he was unable to show concern as he wasn't happy with Stella and how their family is going.
He also wasn't sure if he should inform Stella about seeing Tory earlier and the condition of which he saw her because he would rather not be blamed if anything bad had happened to her.
At a point past midnight, Stella had exhausted all options and went to George for them to alert the police on Tory's disappearance. They were about to head out to the station, when a group of drunk teens drove by and dropped off Tory who was wasted.
Stella couldn't believe her eyes, she looked at George who gave her a satisfying look. Just as Tory was sneaking to go through the kitchen door, Stella thundered, "Stop right there young lady!"
Tory froze, she partied so hard and got really wasted that she forgot about time. She tried to pretend and cook up a lie but her mother dragged her inside and asked her to explain herself.
"Mom, I know you are angry but believe me, I was out all night working on a school project with my friends".
"Same friends that dropped you off in an SUV close to the Alley and handed you a strange bag?" George chipped in.
"Mind your business George, this doesn't concern you. I am talking to my mother." Tory fired.
Right there, it dawned on Stella all that George has been saying and she thought of how best to punish Tory.
Also, for the first time since she married George, she actually took his side and shut Tory up never to disrespect him again.
Stella standing up for George and setting Tory straight gave him the authority to act in a fatherly capacity. He forcefully seized Tory's bag from and emptied it to the ground. The black bag from earlier fell out but seemed to be of a lesser quantity.
George was eager to know what the black bag contained and quickly tore it open revealing carefully wrapped powdered substance in small portions.
"Is that what I think it is?" Stella questioned as she burst into tears.
"Mom I can explain, it's a mediation I'm keeping for a friend".
Fetching his phone, George brought out Tory's pictures from earlier and handed it over to Stella. He turned to Tory and said, "maybe you should explain you in those pictures too."
At that point, Tory knew she was toast as there's obviously no way out than to come clean.
