Forbidden

"Did you hear me, Joshua?"

Doreen's voice was hard and commanding but still, her attempts seemed not to work at all. Her facial expression was also livid. She was staring at her son very intently like a hawk, waiting for him to reply, which would mean that he understood what she had told him.

Joshy stared hard at her mother as well. Surely he was upset about his mom for what she wanted him to do, or in this case, not to do.

"Joshy? Did you hear me?"

Doreen asked once more, less angry now and her voice a bit softer.

"Yes, Mom, I heard you. But I still don't understand why you forbade me to see April again? Why are you still angry with her? I told you last night that it's not April's fault. She did not ask me to go to Washington. It was my idea. She did not even know that I left without telling you."