The Boarding School

-7-

"You can't do that to me!" I yell and cry.
"I don't care what you or your father says. Your going against your will" She threatens, then leaves the room. I just lay down on my side and cover my face with my hands.
"She can't do this to me" I whisper to myself. I hide in my room till Dad gets home. I hear him come in and I run down the stairs before Aunt Lisa could get to him, I try to lead him outside, but he jerks his arm out of my grip.
"Dad please, I need to talk to you" I plead.
"Go back to your room" He commands, but I don't listen.
"Please! I really need to tell you something!" I whine.
"Then tell me now" he says. I look behind me, Aunt Lisa is standing there watching us.
"Please, Daddy! Not here, please, can we go outside or something?" I say desperately.
"No. Not now" he says sternly, then walking into the kitchen. I follow him.
"Please, Dad there's something I really want to talk to you about!" I yell.
"I said no! I have extra work to do now, since you made me miss part of work, that I now have to make up for. Now go to your room. Don't come down till I come get you" Dad demands.
"No! Please! This is very urgent!" I try to tell him.
"Go" He says roughly.
"DAD PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!" I scream, punching his shoulder.
"Don't do that again" Dad threatens. He grabs my arm and starts dragging me down the hall.
"Dad! Why won't you listen!" I cry and kick him. Dad gets mad and picks me up in his arms. I kick and scream like a little kid, trying to get away. He grumps and carries me upstairs.
"Dad please!!!!" I scream, cry and kick. He walks into my room and sets me down on my bed.
"Stay here. Do not come out. You stay in here tonight. Don't cause a fuss" Dad says super stern and slams my bedroom door shut. I run to the door and bang my fists against it and scream. I finally give up and just sit on the floor against the door. I bet Aunt Lisa is talking to him right now about taking me to the boarding school. I fall asleep on the bedroom floor.
Later, Dad comes upstairs and knocks on my bedroom door. I don't wake up. He tries to open the door, but I'm laying against it. He's able to open the door a crack and peeks in. He sees me.
"Maddie!" He calls. "Maddie, are you alright?!" He yells, tapping my ankle. I slowly wake up and move out of the way of the door.
"Maddie, are you okay?" He asks, kneeling down next to me, putting his hand on my shoulder. I sit up.
"I have a massive headache" I groan. He hugs me.
"I think... I think you should try the boarding school" Dad hesitates.
"Dad, please don't do this" I say frightened.
"You should be fine there," Dad says, standing up.
"Please! I want to stay home! I'll be better! I promise!" I whine.
"Why don't you give it a try?" Dad says.
"You well know that I wouldn't do well there" I say hoarsely.
"I've been thinking about it, and I think you should try it" Dad says.
"You weren't thinking about it, Lisa has! She's making you send me there! I'm your daughter! Please! You're making a mistake!" I cry.
"You go on Monday. Now get some rest" he says, then leaving the room. I walk back to my bed and cry myself to sleep.
I wake up really early in the morning. 4am. I go downstairs and make some tea. I wait for the kettle to heat up. I pick it up when it whistles and sip on my honey and cinnamon tea. I rub my forehead with my palms. I sit there in a seat at the kitchen table, silently for a long time, quietly, sipping my tea. Later I hear someone come down the stairs. It Dad, still wearing his pj's, he has work at 6:00pm. He walks into the kitchen and  starts brewing coffee then sits in a seat across from me. I don't say anything.
"Maddie, I don't want to upset you over this" Dad says.
"I don't want to go to a boarding school" I growl.
"I'm not doing this to punish you or anything. I just think that a change will help you, this is a good school. You'll get a great education and they will take care of you" Dad explains.
"But I want to live at home. Dad, you already know that I don't like school, and I don't handle it well, I really don't want to go" I say.
"Can you please try, a favor for me?" Dad asks real kindly.
"But.... Fine" I finally give in.
"Good. Now darling, I know you don't want to go, but if you try it, but don't like it, you can always come back" Dad says.
"Okay, Dad.... I'll try" I sigh.
"Good girl, Maddie. I love you" Dad says.
"I love you too, but I really don't want to go" I sigh.
"Please, just try?" He asks, I nod.
"Did Lisa convince you?" I ask. He doesn't answer.
"I have to go get ready for work. Maybe you should go back to bed, it's early" Dad says.
"I can't sleep" I say.
"Okay, well, I'm cancelling your grounding" Dad says.
"Thanks Dad" I say quietly. He kisses my forehead, grabs his coffee and goes back upstairs. I sigh, finish my tea then go upstairs and lay down. I try to go to sleep, but I can't. I toss and turn, trying to fall asleep, but I only have the worry about going to the boarding school on my mind. I really don't want to go, but I promised Dad that I'd try...