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            The next morning I woke up feeling less than rested. I didn’t sleep well, all I could think about was how much my mother is going to hate me after I come out. It’s just a nerve racking thought.

            I do my morning routines and head down stairs to wait for Ashley. I walk into the kitchen to grab myself something to eat. My father is in the kitchen as usual cooking something. He turns to me and sets a plate of pancakes in front of me.

            “Spencer, I’m sorry about your mother’s behavior last night. I think Ashley is a wonderful young woman, and I see nothing wrong with you spending time with her”, he tells me with a smile on his face.

            “Thank you Daddy. I just hate the way she treated her, and she spoke bad of her father and didn’t show an ounce of remorse after Ashley told her that her father is dead”, I say shaking my head.

            “I know, and I’m sorry. Your mother can be a handful, but that doesn’t excuse her behavior”, he says while taking a seat across from me.

            “It’s just not fair, Ashley was beyond pleasant last night”, I say.

            “I know, but you can’t change people. But I don’t want you worrying about it. Eat your breakfast”, he says.

            “Okay, thanks. Oh and Dad, can I hang out with Ashley today after school”, I ask.

            “Yeah, of course, just be home by 10, your mother gets off at 11”, he tells me.

            “Thank you!”

            He just smiles and gets up to start fixing plates for Glen and Clay and then he begins cleaning up. I start in on my pancakes, realizing  I was more hungry than I originally thought. I’m able to eat about half of my breakfast before there is a knock on the door, and my father goes to answer it. A minute later Ashley and my father walk in.

            “Good morning Spence”, she says to me with a smile on her face.

            “Morning. Thanks for the food Dad”, I say getting up and dumping my plate.