– Why are you doing this to me? Who gave you permission to kick my friends out of our house? – Olivia screamed, looking at me with a look of great hatred in her eyes.
– What kind of friends are they to you? You said you were going to study with your classmates! And you made such a mess of our apartment! You call this studying for exams?
I opened the window to let some fresh air in. On my way to the window, there was a row of bottles and beer cans.
– What the hell is this?! Have you been drinking? Where did you get the money for beer? Answer me immediately! Alex, why didn’t you say something? It was our daughter who made such a mess in the apartment!
Alex, silently, counted the beer bottles. Then he said:
– Can I talk to you for a minute?
He took me by the hand and led me into the kitchen.
– Well, you have to understand that our daughter is growing up. She’s a teenager, she’ll get over it and she’ll be fine!
– Are you suggesting I compliment her on what she did in our apartment? She was drinking alcohol! I’m not gonna forgive her for that!
– Yes, calm down! Of course what Olivia did was wrong. But you just have to talk to her. You don’t have to yell at her. She’s just growing up!
-Oh, come on! Look at you, how free-spirited you are! You go to your ex-wife all the time, thinking that there can still be friendship between a man and a woman. Now your daughter’s drunk, and you say it’s okay! That is not normal! It shouldn’t be like this! There shouldn’t be boys and alcohol in the apartment at 16. Do you understand that? Our daughter should be thinking about her studies. She’s only 16! If you don’t want me to worry about her and take no action, I won’t do it! But when she’s pregnant and has a baby with you at 17, you’ll be a young grandfather and babysit your own grandchild! Do you understand me?!
Alex looked at me surprised and somehow puzzled.
I went to my room to talk to Olivia again. But I didn’t find her in the room. I found her in the bathroom. She was throwing up and vomiting.
– I knew it! You had alcohol poisoning! What a shame! It’s embarrassing! My daughter is an alcoholic! What will people say?!
– It’s not me you’ve always cared about, it’s what people will say! You’re a complex, hysterical woman! What right do you have to tell me how to live my life? I’m an adult and I know what I have to do! – Olivia screamed.
I got angry and slapped my daughter. She grabbed her cheek and ran out of the bathroom.
– You’re a monster! – she screamed at me. – Daddy, save me!
She ran to her father. I closed the bathroom door and cried. “What have I done?” Then I wiped away my tears. I remembered how pretty Olivia had been as a child, how much she loved me. Then I came out of the bathroom. Alex was sitting in the kitchen with Olivia. Next to them was a pack of activated charcoal.
– Oh, good for you! Cure your hangover! Daddy will teach you everything!
– I’m not talking to you at all! – Olivia said.
– And do not! Only I’m like that in your family, with outdated views, bad, and you’re very nice and good. Good! Well, just so you know, you’re still a minor. I will consider you an adult and able to make your own decisions only when you finish school and go to university. You’ll graduate and get a job. Then you can live your life the way you want and do whatever you want! Until then, I’ll decide what you do, when and with whom. And now you will be punished! I’m taking your phone away from you and I’m going to personally check that you’re doing all your homework!
– What are you talking about? – my daughter screamed.
– And you, my dear husband, remember that I am your lawful wife, and don’t you dare go to your ex-wife and help her anymore! Otherwise I’ll make a merry life for you. You’ll know who’s boss in this house! – I was really angry.
