Megan was a friend of my daughters. A bit of a wild child but a nice girl for all that. She'd had a screaming argument with her parents over something and had asked if she could crash at our place for a few days. My daughter immediately agreed so I assented. As soon as I got a chance I called her parents and told them where she was. They agreed that it was probably better that she stay for a few days while tempers cooled.
It was on Friday night that something unusual happened. The girls had gone to bed and I was in my room reading. Hearing a noise I left the room, wanting to see if either of the girls wanted something. I found Megan in the front room, looking out the window.
"Something wrong, Megan?" I asked and she jumped.
"Oh, no. I was just looking up at the stars," she said. "Um, I'll go back to bed now."
She turned and rushed off to the girls bedroom and suspicious minded me decided that something was giving off a fishy aroma. (It was rather overcast.) I closed the door to my room quite firmly knowing that Megan would hear it. Then I left the house quietly via the back door and went around to the front. I stood in the shadow of the trees, waiting to see what happened. I'd give it ten minutes and then call it quits.
Five minutes later a car pulled into the driveway. Very quietly. No revving of the engine and making an entrance for this guy. There were two boys in the front and a girl in the back. I was rather surprised to see the girl because her name was Julie and she was known as a nice girl, a good girl, one who didn't get into trouble. She was also very intelligent so it further surprised me she'd be with two obvious losers like those boys.
Megan came running quietly out of the house. She opened the back door of the car and I stepped forward out of the shadows.
"Thank you, Megan," I said. "You can go back inside now. Wait for me in the front room. I want a few words with you. Julie, get out of the car. I want a few words with you, too."
"I don't have to. You're not my father."
"I know I'm not, but trust me, you have to."
Very reluctantly she got out of the car, glaring at me. When you have moral domination over someone it's hard for them to disobey. I glared at the two losers who were looking confused and irritated.
"Whose car is this?" I asked and they both started to indicate the other.
"Stolen," I said. "Kindly get this stolen property off my place. Don't come back."
I closed the back door and the car took off with a squeal of tyres. It seemed they didn't mind making noise during their exit.
"Inside, you," I snapped at Julie and she went flouncing all the way. I was definitely in her bad books.
"I assume that you both knew it was a stolen car," I observed, facing the guilty pair.
They reddened slightly, not wanting to look at me.
"Megan, go back to bed and this time stay there. We'll discuss this further tomorrow."
She opened her mouth and I just knew she was going to come out with that you're not my father protest.
"I know," I said, getting in first. "I'm not your father, but while you're living with me I'm in loco parentis, meaning I'm acting in place of your father. Do you want to call your father, explain the situation, and see what his ruling is?"
"Ah, I'll go to bed and see you tomorrow," she said quickly. "Sorry, Jules, you're on your own."
"You're not my father and you're not a local parent where I'm concerned," said Julie. "I'm going home."
"Indeed you are," I agreed, "and I'm driving you there. Really, what sort of adult would I be if I let a minor wander around the streets in the wee small hours?"
"I'm not a minor and it's only eleven o'clock."
"Do I look like I care? I'm driving you. I assume that home is where you're supposed to be?"
She reluctantly nodded and went with me to my car. I started it up and off we went. She was silent for most of the drive but just before we reached her place she spoke up.