Kate walked in the door and put her back pack on the floor after returning home from her community college class. High school hadn't gone well for her and she couldn't afford to go to a major university even if it had. She didn't have to work that night and hoped to enjoy the warm, late August evening.
But her mother had different plans.
"What took you so long to get home?" she asked.
"Class ran a little late," Kate replied.
"Don't lie to me. I know you were seeing him. Or talking to him on the phone. Or texting him. I told you to keep away from him!" she yelled.
"I'm 18 years old. It isn't any of your business how long I stay after class or who I talk to on the phone," Kate replied.
"He's no good. He's a drug using CRIMINAL who will either get you pregnant, arrested, or killed," her mother said as she pointed at her fingers as though counting.
"I'm tired of hearing you talk about him like that. You don't even know him," Kate said.
"He'll ruin your life, just like your father ruined mine! And you're not seeing him!" her mother shouted as she headed back to her room and slammed the door.
Kate was still hoping to make the most of it. She made herself a sandwich for dinner and watched a show she liked in the living room, planning to take a bath and possibly see her boyfriend Jake later, who her mother disliked so much. Her mother had remained in her room the entire time.
Then as Kate was watching television her mother's door opened. She didn't pay any attention to it and continued watching, hoping she would go back to her room shortly. She was meddling around in the bathroom, and then went to the kitchen and took all of the towels and rugs to her room. Kate wondered if she was planning on doing any laundry and then her bother took the quilts from the living room.
"Are you still going to see him after everything I told you?" her mother asked after she was done with everything.
"Yeah, I'm going to see him tonight. He just texted me and we made plans," Kate replied.
Kate had wanted to move out but she didn't have enough money for rent, a car payment, and all of the other bills. Not to mention her college tuition.
"So you're just going to go ahead and be stupid?" she harshly asked.