"Mom? Do you know Jessie's friend Chris?" Zac asked once he and his mother were alone, where no prying eyes or ears could disturb them.
   Folding the top of the socks over to keep the pair together Mrs. Hanson smiled; "Zac, I can't be expected to remember every friend of my kids."
   Zac nodded in understanding, "Okay, he's not someone you'd forget, Mom. He's got blue hair." He shuddered dramatically, "Piercing's. White makeup, dark clothes, drives a black beat up car, half eaten with rust."
   He watched her closely as she started folding tee shirts, looking for any kind of reaction. When he got none he asked; "Any of this ringing a bell for ya, Mom?"
   She tilted her head a little. "Sounds vaguely familiar to me," she murmured while she piled up the tee shirts and started separating the dirty clothes. "Why?"
   "I think he's trouble," he admitted honestly, his arms crossing over his chest, as he leaned his hip against the dryer.
   That got his mother's attention. "Why? Do you know something about him that I don't?" she asked curiously, her mouth frowning at the prospect. "Something that he's done or anything?"
   Gnashing his teeth, Zac knew he couldn't say anything. Yet. "No, no I don't."
   Relaxing, Mrs. Hanson shrugged, "Then honestly, I don't know what the problem is, Zac. As far as I know, he doesn't do drugs, hasn't even gotten a speeding ticket or done anything that points to him being irresponsible or untrustworthy."
   His hands flew up into the air. "What about the way he looks, Mom? The way he dresses? That doesn't throw up any warning flags or anything?"
   Smiling indulgently, she straightened from loading the washing machine and patted her hand against his cheek. "I trust your sister's judgement, Zac." She picked up the bucket of freshly laundered clothes and stepped out of the wash room. "Maybe you should too," she commented over her shoulder as she started down into the hallway.
   Glowering at the light switch, Zac stared tight-lipped as he contemplated what to do next. He snapped his fingers and straightened up. "Dad," he announced smiling, as he left the room as well. Snapping the light off as he went.
   "Hey, dad?" he called out, tilting his head, trying to gauge where the response would be coming from.
   Setting the wash bucket down on her daughter's bed, Mrs. Hanson waited patiently for her to take notice.
   Nodding towards the door, Avery took the hint and hustled out, closing the door behind her.
   It took a few moment but when she finally took notice Jessica blushed fiercely as she took off her headphones, marked her book, and turned off her stereo. "Sorry, Mom," she murmured. "Didn't hear you come in."
   Smiling, Mrs. Hanson nodded in understanding. "So I gathered."
   Grinning, she ducked her head for a moment before she jumped up and started putting hers and Avery's clothes away, while her mom sat on her bed.
   "Something wrong, Mom?" she asked as she pulled open a drawer from the white dresser, and stuffed the shirts inside.
   Mrs. Hanson pursed her lips for a moment, "Jessie, honey, you would tell me if something had happened. Wouldn't you?"
   Jessica's brow furrowed and she turned around to face her mom. "What's this about?"
   Stalling for a moment, Mrs. Hanson rolled her eyes. "Your brother is worried about your friend Chris. That maybe he's not such a great guy after all. And he didn't want you seeing him."
   She glanced over at her daughter. "You two aren't dating, are you?"
   "Mom!" Jessica shrieked. "We're not dating!" She covered her face and groaned, "Chris and I are just friends. That's it."
   Looking up, she reminded, "You and dad said I couldn't date until I was sixteen."
   Mrs. Hanson nodded, "We did say that." She agreed. "I just wanted to be sure, is all."
   Clenching her hands Jessica fumed, "This is all because of Zac, isn't it? He's said something, hasn't he?"
   Nodding a bit guiltily, Mrs. Hanson looked contrite. "He did mention something in passing about Chris, yes."
   Hard pressed, Jessica tried to muffle her scream of outrage.
   Getting up to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, Mrs. Hanson tried to comfort her. "He really is just looking out for your best interest, Jessie."
   Raising stormy eyes, Jessica looked ready for battle. "It's still not fair, Mom!" she protested.
   Hearing the knock on the door, Jessica rolled her eyes and stomped over to it. Preparing to see Zac on the other side, she narrowed her eyes before flinging it open.
   The look was quickly erased when she saw her father standing in the hallway. "Hi, Dad," she grumbled, seeing Zac behind him.
   Walking away, she went to go sit on her bed. Arms crossed, and eyes fixed on the floor.
   "Since such a fuss has obviously been raised about Chris. Maybe he should be invited to dinner?" Mr. Hanson suggested, as he stepped inside the room as well. "Perhaps that will settle things down again."
   Turning to scowl at her brother, Jessica nodded. "Fine. I'll see when he has some free time, and invite him and his mom over!"
   "Why not his father too? Huh?" Zac snapped back.
   Jessica stood then and screamed, "Because he doesn't have one!"
   Whistling loudly, Mr. Hanson tried to break them up. "Hold it you two! There's nothing to get upset over."
   "He's accusing my friend without even knowing him!" Jessica disagreed loudly.
   "I don't need to know him to know he's no good!" Zac responded hotly.
   Mr. Hanson whistled again. "Now, I want you two to calm down. Chris and his mother will be invited over, and this will be finished soon enough. Until then, I don't want to hear another word about it."
   Shooing the kids in the doorway, Mrs. Hanson hustled Zac and her husband out. She winked at Jessica encouragingly.
   Laughing weakly, she plopped down on her bed and groaned into her pillow. How was she supposed to issue this kind of invitation to her friend? Hi Chris? My family obviously believes you to be a mass murderer. Mind proving them wrong at dinner? Bring your mom along for the fun!