Spencer watches out her window as the new family moves in across the street. She is in her attic bedroom, leaning halfway out over the roof.
There are three of them: a mom, a teenage boy and a teenage girl. Great, that means her parents are going to invite them over for dinner and she’s going to have to play nice.
Ever since her brothers went to college her parents have been insufferable. “Spencer, can you come down here?” her mother calls. She sighs and closes her window.
“Hold on! I’m busy!” She yells. She clomps down the two flights of stairs through the living room, past the computer room to the kitchen. Her dad smiles at her.
“Honey, I made a pound cake for the new neighbors. Will you take it to them?” He holds up serving dome. Her mom turns from the fridge with a beer. “Oh, and while you’re over there see if they want to come to dinner.” Paula cracks it open.
Spencer picks up the cake and goes across the street. The teenage boy is leaning against a dark blue mini van. He’s wearing a light blue jersey and some loose jeans, with a matching ball cap. His face is hiding. She holds out the cake. He doesn’t respond.
“I uh live across the street and my dad made this cake for you guys…” she starts. he looks up and jumps back a foot. “I should kick your ass for sneaking up on me like that!” he exclaims pulling out an ear bud. Spencer notices his accent.
“Sorry, my parents made me come over here.” She hands over the cake. “Oh, well, thanks for the food.” He goes to put his ear bud back in. “They also wanted me to say you and your family are welcome to dinner around 6ish.” She twists her foot. “I’ll run it by them.” He turns and takes the cake inside. Spencer goes home, feeling weird.
Around 6:15 the bell rings. Arthur opens the door. Spencer is on the couch watching TV. “Hi, I’m Arthur. That’s Spencer and my wife, Paula, is in the kitchen.” He introduces everyone. “I’m Christine, this is Kyla and- I’m Ashden.” Spencer hears the son interject. “Come on in. Dinner should be ready soon.” Arthur leads them inside.
Kyla and Ashden stand awkwardly near the door. “You guys can sit, you know.” Spencer suggests. Ashden sits next to her and Kyla at the other end. “I liked the cake. Did you make it?” Ashden tries to make conversation, speaking softly like he doesn’t want to disturb anything. “No, my dad did.” Spencer replies. “So, um, how old are you?” Kyla is twice as loud as her brother. “Seventeen.” Spencer is nonchalant.
“I’m sixteen and Ash is almost 17.” Kyla answers even though Spencer didn’t ask. “Kids, dinner!” Paula calls. Spencer leads her guests to the kitchen. “I made london broil!” Arthur announces. When Paula starts to say grace everyone but Spencer lowers their head. And then starts to put food on their plates. Spencer and Ashden both take corn and carrots.
“Why aren’t you two eating?” Paula asks. “I don’t eat red meat.” They answer simultaneously. “Spencer, don’t be ridiculous. Eat your food.” Paula scolds her. “Why do you have to be so difficult? Take off that stupid hat.” Christine reprimands. “You know I don’t eat beef, Mom.” Spencer huffs. Ashden takes off his hat. His hair is short on the sides and in the back, an auburn color. But his bangs are long and died red, obscuring the right half of his face.
Spencer finds herself strangely drawn to him. They peek up at each other over their plates while everyone else chatters away about meaningless things. Spencer finishes first, then Ashden. “Can I be excused?” she asks. “You can’t leave until you eat your dinner.” Paula says. “What about me?” Ashden quietly asks his mom. She ignores him.
Spencer slumps in her chair and glares around the table. Ashden hangs his head and puts his ear buds in. They go unnoticed for a few minutes. “Spencer sit up! You’re being rude.” Paula barks. Spencer ignores her and scoots down farther. Christine turns to Ashden. “You too. Sit up!” Ashden turns his music up and starts head banging and doing air-guitar. Spencer giggles. Her parents glare at her.
She decides to air-drum to Ashden’s air-guitar. Christine slaps him across the head. “Ow! What the hell?” he exclaims. “Stop it! You’re such a disgrace. Why are you trying to ruin this?” Christine screeches. He jumps up. “I fucking hate you!” He bellows. Then stomps out the door.
“Why did you have to encourage him Spencer?” Paula accuses. Spencer stands up, slowly raging. She glares at her mother and kicks her chair across the room before storming out and slamming the door.
She drops down in the driveway cursing. “Are you ok?” comes from behind her. Tears sting her eyes. Ashden is standing behind her with a tissue. He sits next to her. “Let’s not think about them, They’re ignorant.” A tear falls from Spencer’s eye and Ashden wipes it away.