From the time Tim upset me, until now, I had ridden all the way back with my arms crossed and my head leaning aginst the window.

I stared out the corner of my eye at all the trees and the occasional house and mailbox as it all whizzed by, but I wasn't paying attention to any of it. It was all a blur.

Tears trickled down my face, which was reflected in the window everytime we passed a break in the trees and light from the full moon illuminated my face.

Not many, but a few words were exchanged between Tim and I. He was angry at me, because I was mad at him and wouldn't spell it out for him why. He didn't get why I was so upset with him at all. He tried to apologize, but what he said just made it even more clear that he didn't understand, which only made things worse.

Boy was I glad to see our house as we turned up the long dirt driveway. I jumped out of the car as soon as Tim brought the car to a stop in front of the house.

Leaving my giant stuffed animal on the seat, I slammed the car door without retrieving my shoes, or purse, and ran, in my stockinged feet, over the lawn, up the stairs and across the wrap-around porch of our rustic old farmhouse.

As soon as I opened the front door, I spotted Ma lying awake on the couch, reading one of the classic modern literary novels she loved to read again and again, probably Jane Eyre, for the third or forth time since she fell ill.

The screen door slammed with a loud pop behind me.

"How was it, sweetie," Mama asked, looking up from her book.

For a moment she was stunned by the sour expression on my face. It looked like I was upset and had possibly been crying, but a second later when Tim blew through the door, letting the screen door slam closed again, her emotion turned to anger.

"Wait right there, young man," Mama sternly demanded of Tim.

Tim slowed to a walk, but continued a few steps towards the hallway before he heard Ma call out, "Timothy Conrad, don't you walk away from your mother."

She was obviously upset and trying to be firm and stern with him, but you could hear, not exactly weakness, but a lack of strength in her voice.

"What did you do to your sister, Tim?"

"I don't know, Ma. Honestly, I really don't know. I thought the night was going so well and I was doing the right thing. Why don't you ask her, him, whatever?" He yelled.

I felt so bad --- for myself; because Tim had disregarded me as a person and not considered my thought, feelings, and opinion, for Tim because Mama was yelling at him, and for Ma because Tim was upsetting her and she didn't need that.

Tears began to fall down my face once again as I realized how, ultimately it was my fault everyone was unhappy and Mama and Tim were now arguing.

I walked back to the doorway that led into the living room. Tim noticed me standing there.

He ran his fingers through his hair again, and gave me an angry glare. "Are you on female hormones or something, cause you are reacting just like an emotionally fragile woman!"

"Tim! I will not tolerate that kind of talk in this house. Now you  apologize to your sister."

There was a moment of awkward silence where Tim didn't respond.

Ma quickly broke the silence, raising her voice louder than she should have.

"Now!"

"I'm sorry you think you have to do this, Kevin," Tim angerly shouted at me before stomping up to his room.

What? Did he just say that after all he said earlier that led me to believe he was supportive of me? And after the great time we had at the fair?

Mama sat up and moved to one side of the couch. Upstairs Tim's bedroom door could be heard as it slammed shut.

"Give him some time, he'll cool off. His temper is just like y'alls dad's was. Come to your mother, my baby girl." She told me while patting a spot on the couch next to her.

I took a seat next to Ma on the couch and she put a supportive arm around my shoulders.

"Now, sweetheart, tell Mama all about what happened."