“Dad! Why? Again? Why can’t you just let me go to parties? Everyone else in my class is going, and I am always the one left alone! Always! I am sick of this! I hate you!”, Macy shouted from the bottom of his heart. He finally exploded; he doesn't understand why his father is doing this to him.

This year Macy is turning 16, the age that most teenagers will go to parties and hang out with friends. Out of all those people, he is the special one. He spends most of his time with his family. He has never been to a party before. He was too busy with his daily schedule such as sports, music, volunteering etc. and his father never allowed him too. He didn't ask anything about partying, until one day his friends invited him to a party. As what his friends told him, there would be a lot of games and events going on. Macy was really curious since all his friends were talking about it; they all were excited about the party. This has only increased his curiosity.

This happened when Macy was in grade 8. That day he went home extremely early because he wanted to ask his father’s permission. He rushed into the house and screamed,” I’m home!” His thunderous voice shocked his aunt who was cutting the fish in the kitchen. He hurry hurried to the kitchen and asked,” Is Dad home yet? I have something important to Ask!” He was so exited; that he forgot to put his bag down. The next second his Dad reached home and was surprised by Macy and just when Michael was about to ask what happened to him, Macy started up,” Dad! My friends invited me to a party! A Party! I’ve never been to one! Can I go! Please? Please?”

“A Party!” Michael said it with a shocked and loud voice. His face looked shocked and soon turned really serious. Macy could tell from his father’s face that he wasn’t happy! “No! You stay at home and do your Work!”, Michael said it with a deep and solemn face, and then he walked away. That’s the first time Macy saw his father being so… so weird? He was scared, and his dream had just been crushed. After that day his father didn’t talk to him for a few days. During these days Macy was really upset, not only because he couldn’t go to the party but also because his father had been acting so different, or you could say unusual. Macy did not know how to ask or talk to his father about the party because his father seemed really unhappy and he did not want to make his father mad. His father never tries explaining to him why he was like that. From then on Macy kept his curiosity about parties and why his father forbidden him to go. Time passed so fast, in a blink of the eyes, now Macy is already 16.

His father is a schoolteacher, a good schoolteacher. His name is Michael. He would do anything just for Macy, anything that can make Macy’s life happy and will benefit his future. He is open-minded and is Macy’s best friend. Every time when Macy has problems he will always go to his father. He is the most loyal supporter of Macy. That was when Macy was younger. Time passed really fast, now it's the time when most teenagers start to keep a distance from their family. They want to be alone, and want to have their own lives. From always listening to their parents to having their own ideas and wanting to have new experience. He has so many questions about the world, he is curious about everything that’s surrounds him. He wants to be independents and be free.

It’s been about 4 years now. Through these years, there were many times Macy brought up the conversation about the party but he was rejected every time he asked. His father always said to him, in the party there are a lot of drinking and inappropriate events going on. He doesn’t want Macy to go and hang around them. He never talks much about it or explains much but he is surely doesn't allow Macy to go, no matter what.

Macy really doesn't understand why his father is doing this and why he can’t tell him the reason! He is boiling; he can’t take it anymore! He is going to the party no matter what. He just wants to see how parties are like since he has never been to one. He is not going to have drugs or do bad things. He knows the limits and he is known as a good, honest kid. His father’s attitude just drove him crazy and he just wanted to break that rule.

The party starts at 6 in the afternoon, the party is a bit far away from his house by walking but it only takes 15 minutes to get there by car. So his friend was going to pick him up. His friend is a guy named Nick. They both are in the Baseball team, not like Macy, Nick doesn’t really like to study or always be with his family. He spent most of his time with his friends and girlfriends. He has been telling Macy how great his life is and that’s the reason Macy felt interested.

Nick drove the car near to Macy’s house but made sure there was still some distance; so Macy ‘s father would not be able to see. Macy climbed down the house from his window and walked on his tiptoes. He sneaked out of the house and ran to Nick’s car. After the long journey, they are finally on their way to the party.
“Macy, I got you a fake ID, take it with you. You will need it later!” Nick said.

“What? Why do I need a fake ID? Wait, where are we going? ” Macy rushed.

“Calm down, Man! Not a big deal okay? Calm down. Jeez! It’s just a big party with different people there. This ID is just to show whom you are. Later you are going to have so much fun, you might lose your ID. If you lost your real ID, then you will be in big trouble right. You get it?” Nick said.

Macy felt there was something weird but he could not tell what it was. He didn’t want to think too much because he knew he would lose the fun. Macy was excited but at the same time a bit worried, this was his first time to sneak out of the house…

15 minutes later they reached to the party house. Nick jumped out of off the car and called,” Dude, come on! What are you waiting for? Let's go!!” Macy was shocked. He saw a white fancy villa in front of him; in front of the house there was a huge swimming pool where girls and boys were having ‘fun’ inside; kissing, drinking, smoking everywhere. There’s the DJ playing the music, girls wearing bikinis dancing next to the pool. He was just at the gate and the noise already went through his ears. He moved backwards and asked himself, ”Really? Is this really a party for high school teens? ” He was horrified I guess. He was also speechless.

This environment was too new to him. He needed have a break. He turned back to the car and walked fast towards it. Nick looked back, found out Macy was trying to leave, he caught up and dragged him into the villa, said,” Come on, Macy! Aren’t you excited! You said you wanted to come to the party, that’s why I brought you here! This is the biggest party in this area. You know how hard it is to get in? I did this all just for you, man!”

Macy paused for a while and slowly turned back to Nick, thought; ‘right, he can’t just leave like that, can he? His friend worked so hard to get the allowance of the party and brought him all the way here. He can’t just walk away.’ He frowned and tried not to make a big deal out of it, try to accept the new environment. Thought, ‘Maybe I am just not used to it yet; maybe I will like it once I talk to the people. Maybe they are not that bad.’ He tried to convince himself to go back to the party, tried to think positively so he won’t ruin the exciting atmosphere.

“Fine” he whispered. They walked into the living room and sat down. Nick offered Macy s tiny cup of drink said,” Drink this, it will make you feel better! The first time I got to the party, I was just like you, nervous and felt that I didn't fit in here. Then someone just came up to me and gave me this drink. Somehow it just made me feel better!” Macy looked at this tiny cup and wondered what's so special about it. It just looked like orange juice or something. He took the cup and gave a try. It was a bit spicy, it made his body became really hot and he slowly started to feel a little dizzy. Before Macy tried to say a word, Nick pushed another cup to him said, “One more, you will get use to it.” Nick was smiling, not the kind of happy, positive smile. It seemed like he was planning something and everything is following what he had settled.

Macy was trying so hard to fit it, to get use to it and he took the cup and drank it all. This time, he started to feel sleepy and he saw some girls moving towards him and sat next to him. He felt really uncomfortable and strange, he tried to look for Nick but somehow he was not beside him anymore. He felt something was not right, but he can’t just shout for help that would be weird and childish and didn’t want to cause any trouble, instead of saying anything he pushed the girls away and rushed out of the villa. He was still dizzy, he used his hands to hold the side of the car, try to balance his body. Nick caught up with him and shouted,” What the heck man? What are you doing here?”

Macy looked at Nick, shouting back furiously,” Are you kidding me? Are you really asking me that? Are you even my friend!? You were selling me out there! You never told me that there were Drinking? Smoking? What are these? Are you serious? This is not what you told me!”

Nick shouted,” What do you expect then? A group of kids play video games, watching movies and sleeping over? Grow up boy, how are you going to survive if you don't even party? I am helping you out! “

“ Look, I know you are a bit shocked but let’s just go in now okay? You will get used to it. I was like that too.” Nick said, pulling Macy closer and trying to bring him into the crowd again.

Macy pushed him away, said” Sorry to disappoint you Nick but I can’t do this. I guess this is just not my thing. I am going home alone.”

Nick was not pleased,” Loser, coward! Stop being a baby boy who always hides behind your father! I am sick of you now. Did you even have sex before? You are 17, man! Never smoke, never drink, had a girlfriend but never had sex. You think people will think you are a good boy? No! They will think you are a loser! A loser just like your fa!”

He didn’t wait for Nick to finish the sentence; he was already on the floor. His face was burning; the hot red liquid slowly came out from his nose, flowing on his pale white skin. He was bleeding.

Macy sat on top of Nick, holding his shirt, ready to give Nick another punch,” You just went too far Nick! No one can insult my father! No one! You know nothing about him! How dare you.”

Suddenly, Macy felt a big warm hand was holding onto, the hand he was going to punch Nick with. He turned around to see who that is and it was his father. He helped Macy stand up,” Let’s go, son,” he said with a soft voice. At that moment, the tears were already holding around Macy’s eyes. He crouched his head, followed his father and whispered,” Sorry, Dad.”

They kept silence until they got home. Michael sat down on the sofa and invited Macy to sit too. For about a minute, he did not say anything. He was preparing, preparing to say something big to Macy. Something that took him long enough to remember again and have the courage to say it, tell it to his son.

Finally, he took a big breath in, signed,” Son, I guess it's time to tell you about your mother. Before that, I wanted to apologize to you. Sorry I didn't trust you, sorry for being so impatient with you. I knew how excited you were, and I knew I should let you try. You are a grown up boy now. You know what is good, what is bad. What to do and what not to do. You are mature enough to decide what you want. But I just couldn’t let you go.” He was nervous while talking. He was trying to get time to prepare. He really didn’t want to tell Macy what had happened but he knew he had to.

Macy felt anxious; he wanted to know what happened to his mom. Since he was young his father never really mentioned his mother to him. He gave him as much as love he needs and let his sister take care of him too, so Macy will feel the love from his “mom” too. Michael didn’t want to tell him, he really doesn’t want to remember the accident, he still couldn’t handle it yet even after so long. He didn’t want to let Macy feel upset or hurt him too. He chose to hide.

“Your mother” he paused, “Your mother was the most beautiful woman I’ve never seen. She was so kind, so generous and she loved you so much. When you were young, we used to bring you to the Botanic garden everyday after work. We would sat under the big maple, sing songs for you and tell your stories. We would talk every night, planning how to educate you, how to make you become a healthy, handsome boy. She just loved you so much; she loved you more than anything in the world. You were here everything” He said it with a calm voice. He was smiling but at same time you could tell the bitter taste.

He gave a big sigh and slowly explained,” It was when you were around 1 year old. Your mom went to her 30th birthday party with her friends. She left you home with your aunt, because you were still too young and I was having an important meeting far away so I couldn’t go too. That day they finished the party around 8pm, which wasn’t really late. She called me when the party was over. She told me she didn’t drink, she had fun, she wished I was there with her and she told me not to worry. Her friend will send her home safely and she will see me the day after!” He paused.

Until here, Michael’s face was still normal. He seemed to remember the old time they had, the happy memory they’ve spent together. “ We kissed each other on the side of the phone and said good bye. No one expected that was the last time we would talk to each other. That was the last “good bye”.

He paused again and gave a big breath in, then continued,” Around 30 minutes later, I got a phone call from one of her friends. She told me your mother was in a car accident and she passed away when they were on the way to the capital hospital. She asked me to go quickly.”

“I was shocked; the death of your mother was a big blow for me. Even today, I still have difficultly to remembering it again. It’s painful; it’s hell. The police told me people who hit your mother and her friends was a group of drunken teenagers. They were driving home from a party. I felt ridiculous when the policeman told me that.” Pearl sized tears streamed down one by one from the old man’ eyes. This is the first time he cried in front of someone, the first time broke down, and the first time to tell someone how sad and how terrified he was when he heard his wife was killed by a group of drunken teenagers.

Macy moved closer to Michael, held Michael’s shoulder tightly and put his face on Michael’s back. He was crying too. Not just because of his mother, but also because he finally understood everything his father did to protect him and noticed how much pain he has gone through.