Hello, It's Me ? Steven Hyde

[23] - reefer madness

Liz shrugged when Kitty shot them a look. "Well, it's kinda true."

Red ignored the comment, continuing, "I'll tell you one thing... I'm not bailing him out. He can rot in that jail for all I care."

"Actually, Daddy, they already let him out," Liz interrupted with a smile.

"Yeah, gave him probation," Eric explained.

"Probation?" Red repeated loudly, slapping his hand down on the table. "Well, isn't that just ducky? You know how they treat their criminals in Russia?"

As he got up to approach the two, Liz subtly glanced behind herself to mutter to Eric, "Oh boy, here we go."

"First offense," Red started, now standing about a foot away from them with a scowl, "Five years in Siberia. Second offense, ten years. Believe me, there is no third offense."

"Unless the criminal likes to make snow angels," Kitty attempted to joke before letting out her signature laugh.

Red turned to stare down at her, which eventually got her to stop. "Hey, Steven brought that stuff into my house. And I'm putting a stop to it before things get out of control."

"Oh, out of control how?" Kitty questioned.

"Well, I'll tell you how..."

The twins stood still, listening with mouths slightly agape as their father told a long, intricate story—one where Hyde corrupted an innocent Eric and Liz by giving them marijuana, ruining both of their happy relationships. Eventually, the story ended with a shoot out, one in which Liz ended up being shot and killed.

"Hey..." Liz mumbled as Red finally finished, "Why did I have to be the one who died?"

Kitty shook her head, shooting her daughter a sympathetic look. "I just don't think that's going to happen, Red."

Red ignored his wife's reassurance, turning back to the twins. "Has Hyde ever pressured either of you to use this stuff?"

"No, Daddy." Liz shook her head.

"Absolutely not. In fact, yeah, I can honestly say I have never felt any pressure," Eric managed to not even lie.

With a proud smile, Red reached out to pat them both on their shoulders.

❁

The next morning, the Forman family sat in an awkward silence around the kitchen table. Even though Kitty had served the food, no one ate anything. The twins kept their eyes down while Red and Laurie stared disapprovingly at Hyde. He sat slightly away from the table, keeping his ashamed eyes away from anyone.

"Well," Kitty broke the silence, settling down into her chair, "As you all know, we had a little incident yesterday. And, I think that as a family, we should discuss rational solutions to make sure that this never happens again."

"Can I start?" Laurie asked with an innocent smile. When her mother waved her on, she said, "Um, I'm not comfortable living with a criminal."

Liz slammed her hands down on the table, glaring across at her sister. "He's not a criminal, Laurie."

"Oh? What ever happened to Little Miss Goodie Two-shoes?" She mocked. "She surely would've agreed with me that holding drugs is illegal."

Eric joined in on glaring at their older sister. "Laurie, don't act like you've never—"

"I think we should kick Hyde out," Laurie spat out before he could finish. With her wide smile, she raised her hand up. "All in favor?"

Kitty was quick to push her hand back down. "Laurie, stop it. Red, what do you think?"