NovelEnglishShirley was half asleep when she heard someone calling her name.
"Shirley." She blinked her eyes open and saw Abner's face, still feeling a bit groggy.
Abner pulled back his hand. "An hour's up." Shirley quickly adjusted her seat upright and patted her face.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe had a good nap, and upon checking the time, she realized an hour and forty minutes had passed, which surprised her. "Didn't I ask you to wakein an hour?" Abner looked down, seeing her sleeping so soundly; he just couldn't bring himself to disturb her sleep.
"I'll go grab a coffee. What would you like to drink?" "Nothing for me." Shirley opened the car door, paused, and then asked, "What did you just call me?" Abner's eyes shifted awkwardly. "You're young; I didn't want to call you ‘auntie'." She cracked a smile. "Alright, Shirley it is then." She returned with a cup of coffee for herself and a glass of milk for Abner.
"Have something to drink. If you need to use the restroom along the way, letknow in advance. I've still got four hours of driving ahead, and we probably won't get huntil around 7 p.m." "Okay." After taking a few sips of her coffee, she hit the gas again.
"Abner, don't keep things bottled up inside. I've never raised kids, nor do I have a younger brother, so I might not always know how tomunicate with you or guess what you're thinking. So, if there's something you want or something you want to do, just tell me, okay?" Abner felt a warmth in his heart and his eyes welled up.
"Okay." Two hours into the drive, Mr. Davis called.
Shirley didn't want to answer, but the ringing persisted.
Having no choice since she was driving, she put it on speaker. "Dad, what's up?" "Mark swung by your place last night to pick you up, said you weren't home. Who were you out with, staying out all night? Shirley, are you still fighting with Mark? Mark explained everything to me, this is on you he was just being extra attentive to that girl. Once he's in the workforce, situations like this will only increase. You need to learn to adapt. Besides, Mark has already offered to bring you into thepany with him. That's an opportunity others would kill for." Shirley had been holding back her frustration since yesterday, and hearing this only made her more upset.
"Shirley! How dare you speak to your father this way? I'm only looking out for your best interests. Marrying Mark could save you from so many potential hardships!" "Mark also mentioned you inquired about that kid you sponsored last year. You're getting more rebellious by the day. I told you to stop sponsoring him. Why meddle in someone else's life?" Hearing this, especially with Abner sitting right next to her, Shirley felt a pang of embarrassment.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe took a deep breath. "Dad, I took on that responsibility myself. You taughtto bear my own burdens, hoping it'd make you and mom proud. Let's not discuss this now; I'm driving." She hung up, her eyes reddening.
Abner sat quietly, slightly afraid, fearing that his hoped-for future was just a dream, scared that Shirley might decide to turn the car around and send him back.
If he were more understanding, he should ask her to do just that, to take him back.
But he genuinely wanted to continue his education, realizing at that moment just how selfish human nature can be.
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