“Birdie, this is for adults to figure out.”
Birdie planted her feet where she stood. “I am an adult.”
Walter shook his head. “You don't know what that means.” He stood up to walk off the porch. Birdie blocked his way.
“I know it means carrying the load with Mom gone. I know it means all the work I did all summer, doing your office work, directing the harvest, making sure the tractors were running. I know it means picking up the slack and all the things you weren’t doing.”
Walter shook his head at her. “Birdie, shut your mouth….”
“Does it mean giving up? Because that’s what you did, you know.” Her voice broke all along the syllables of the words.
Walter’s hands shot out and grasped her shoulders. “Go up to your room. I don't want to see you….”
“You don’t see me anyway. You know, I spend the night with a guy, Dad. Is that adult enough for you?”