I sat down in the carriage, feeling terrible. I looked at my father darkly, fearing the worst. My father sighed. He parted his lips and I braced myself. "So this is where you go everyday?" he said, sounding tired. I nodded, surprised that was all he said. "Johnny, you too?" Johnny opened his mouth, shocked that he was being dragged into this. Johnny sighed and nodded. I stared at my hands. Johnny studied his shoes.

"Just answer me this," my father began, "why?" I looked up surprised. My father looked at me. He really wanted to know. I contemplated the question for a moment, thinking of an answer. "It's a pretty poor area," I admitted, "and there's not much there, but the people...the people are very nice. They really are. They make you feel at home, welcome. I feel much more comfortable there then I did this evening during intermission."

"Angela's right. The people are very nice," Johnny added, "they are genuine. All the rich people...they're so fake. You know they don't really like you. I fit in better." My father nodded, interested. He didn't say anything for a while. It was bothering me. Was that all? Wasn't he going to ask anything else? I couldn't stand it anymore. By the time we arrived home I was ready to burst. As we walked in the house I finally snapped.

"Well? Is that all you're going to ask? Is that it? Aren't you going to say something? Don't you care?" I asked. My father sighed. "If you and Johnny prefer to spend you time in that part of town, you may. I'm not objecting. I'm sure the people are much nicer, as you say." "And?" I prompted. "And, it looks like someone worked very hard tonight to make a good impression." I bit my lip. Well? C'mon Dad, elaborate more.

"He's very nice Angela. Not exactly what I expected but it appears you worked very hard teaching him proper manners and getting him cleaned up." My face fell. "You could tell?" "Not if I had known from the beginning." "You knew?! Who told you?" I cried. "The newspapers on our doorstep? His name? Jack Kelly? That's an Irish name if I ever heard one, Ange." "Oh." I said, kind of dejected. I would have liked to have thought I'd gotten away with it for a little while at least. I studied my hands for a moment, taking everything in. Well, my dad didn't seem terribly upset or anything so far.

"Angela, I don't want you doing anything impulsive. I mean, are you being objective about all of this?" What was he getting at? I didn't understand. "How well do you know Jack?" I grew agitated. I knew what I was doing and wasn't just jumping into this without knowing Jack. I scowled at my dad. "I happen to know Jack very well. I know what I'm doing and I know Jack." I said, measuring out each word, slowly and deliberately.