It was just two months since Randy had arrived at the small Christian college in Tennessee and began renting an inexpensive room in the home of Mrs. Susan Symington.

Since her husband had run off with an eighteen-year-old girl who worked at a local supermarket.

Mrs Symington has supplemented her income as a nurse by renting an extra bedroom to a series of college students.

Randy was the latest

Randy and Davey sat down at the table with Mrs Symington while Aunt Carolyn brought the dinner out. It was one of her specialties, lasagna, and it didn’t take long before the four of them were pitching into generous helpings and talking up a storm.

After dinner, Randy and Davey cleared the table and did the dishes while the two women retired to the parlor for coffee.

When the boys finished cleaning up, they joined the two women who were discussing the upcoming October church supper.

Suddenly the bell rang and Davey rushed to the door.

He greeted his best friend, Sammy, grabbed his coat, and said goodbye to his mother and Mrs Symington before dashing out to the car where Sammy’s dad was waiting to take them to the movies.

Randy remained in the parlor, looking glum as Mrs Symington took on a puzzled expression.

“What’s the matter, Randy? It’s Friday night. How come you aren’t off with Davey and the Parsons to the movies?”

Randy looked at his shoes and mumbled,

“I don’t really feel like the movies tonight, Mrs. Symington. I’ve got a big history test on Monday and I’ve got a lot of studying to do this weekend.”

“Randy MacPherson, you know better than to fib to Mrs. Symington,” Aunt Carolyn spoke out sharply.

Turning to her friend, she continued, “Susan, Randy was planning on going with Davey to the movies tonight but he misbehaved yesterday and he’s being punished.

He may have a lot of studying to do this weekend but that’s not why he’s staying home tonight.”

“Oh … I see.

Well that certainly makes a lot more sense,” Mrs. Symington noted, her serious tone combining with a distinct twinkle in her eyes.

“And what may I ask did Randy do to get grounded on a Friday night, Carolyn?”

“I’m afraid he broke his curfew and then lied about it to cover up the fact that he was at a dorm party and not in the library where he said he was.

If it wasn’t for the reserve desk librarian who called asking for an overdue reserve book charged out to Randy, I never would have known he was off partying when he should have been studying.”

“And he’s only getting off with a grounding for lying?

Do you really think a simple grounding is going to work, Carolyn?”

“Of course not, Susan.

You should know me better than that by now.

A month ago, I would have grounded Randy for two weeks but ever since I caught him in my liquor a month ago and told him he was going to have to find a new room to rent, we have established a much more satisfactory arrangement.

I have agreed to let him continue living under my room and he, in turn, has agreed to give me a parent’s normal authority in disciplinary matters if he breaks any of my house rules.

You might say Randy is no longer a tenant.

He’s more like one of the family.” Randy sat there, his ears growing red as the two women discussed his misbehavior.

Sensing the direction of the conversation, he asked if he could be excused only to provoke a sharp reply from Aunt Carolyn.

“Young man, I will excuse you when I am good and ready.

You will sit right there quietly until I say otherwise, do you understand me, child?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“That’s better, young man. As I was saying, Susan, I now treat Randy exactly the way I treat Davey, and that goes for disciplinary matters whenever he misbehaves.”

“Really … oh my … I see … I see,” Mrs. Symington replied.