Timothy, we need to talk.

Are you listening to me?

Timothy!

Yes. I am talking to you.

Stop it and sit down. Sit right there. On the floor. So I can see your face.

Do you know what this is about?

Stop acting like you don’t.

You very well knew this was coming. More so after what you did this morning.

I can’t believe you behaved like that in public. 

You have no shame, do you? 

Will you stop playing with that ball alone and look at me.

Timothy! Look at me when I am talking to you. Don’t be disrespectful.

Look, I am your father and I love you more than anything in the world. And you know that very well.

But you’ve got to stop taking advantage of this.

Your mom and I have never been strict with you. James and Anna aren’t wrong when they say we have spoilt you. They are our kids too but have you ever seen either of them behave like you do? Never!

Why are you getting up? Sit down. I said sit down! 

This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in this house.

You are 15 for Christ’s sake. I can no longer excuse your behaviour on being a child. You have to eventually start behaving your age. You have to be more responsible.

I know you had a tough time before we brought you home and believe me not a day goes without your mom and I wishing that you had found your way into our lives earlier. She still cries when she remembers how you were when we first saw you at St. Anthony’s.

But we can’t change the past. What we can do is take control of our future and make it better and I believe we have done that quite successfully. But we need your help too.

You know very well what the doctor said. You need to watch your diet. You need to lose weight and also eat healthy. Your blood test results are worrying. 

I know you hate that we have changed your diet and we are controlling how much you eat but this doesn’t mean you try to eat whatever you can get hold of behind our backs. 

Just this morning you ate my French toast and you would have eaten Anna’s cornflakes too had she not yelled at you. This is not going to help you get healthy. Do you want us to take you to the doctor every week?

No? I thought as much. Nobody likes visiting a doctor but If you don’t change your behaviour, there won’t be an option.

And what’s with that appalling behaviour at the park? Every day I take you to the park because your lazy ass just sits indoors and what do you do there? Nothing but embarrass me. I get it, you get excited. So many girls there. But can you stop acting like a creep?

I don’t know how the girls feel but their parents are disgusted by your behaviour. I know I am. Mrs. Cenkus has now started taking Juliet back home as soon as we enter the park. How is that fair on Juliet? 

Why can’t you be a little respectful of others’ personal space? Just give the girls some time. If they like you they will come to you. And they will like you. Look at you, such a handsome boy. Just don’t go chasing after them. Be a gentleman like your father. Understood?

Okay. Stop sulking now. And don’t look at me like that. You brought this lecture upon yourself.

Now don’t make that sad face.

Is that the ice-cream van that I hear? Is it? Is it? Who wants an ice-cream?

Timothy wants an ice-cream? Of course Timothy wants an ice-cream.

Go, bring your leash!