Refusal

“James, why are you acting this way? We’ve answered your questions as best we can and now you need to stop being rude and just trust us!” Tiffany was shocked at how he was behaving. “Why am I acting cautious? Are you fucking kidding me? For almost 19 years you and dad have kept everyone away from us except the doctor. Home schooling. No dating. Not even allowed to have friends! Now just before we turn 19 you suddenly bring us here with no warning, no answers, and no right to question anything! Suddenly we’re being introduced to everyone you think we should get to know! Well I don’t know what you’re playing at but we’re taking absolutely no part in it!” James looked to Jaime before walking quickly back to the cabin. Jaime was shocked at how fast her brother had lost his temper but followed him silently. “Well that was interesting.” Shirley smirked with a raised eyebrow. “Very informative! This will be a most interesting summer I think!” Bill laughed wondering how they would get James to cooperate. “I’m so sorry! He never acts that way and I don’t know what’s gotten into him!” Tiffany hoped her son hadn’t just ruined his chances.

Two hours later James heard his parents come into the cabin and waited for the blow up. “James Michael Wilkens, get the hell out here right now!” Steve yelled as he sat down on the couch and waited for his son. He saw his wife standing by the door anxiously twirling her hair with her right hand. James walked proudly into the room ignoring his mother and sat opposite his father. “What the hell is your problem? Why are you being rude to everyone?” Steve figured to let him have his say to get an idea of how to proceed. “I’ve made myself very clear already and I’m not going to keep repeating myself. I don’t know what kind of game you two are playing here but I’m not going to play it with you and neither is Jaime. So have a great time but we won’t be going out until we are told the truth about all of this.” James gave Steve a solemn look before getting up to leave the room.

“Well you might want to rethink that. These cabins aren’t equipped with kitchens and it’ll be several days before you’ll be told anything. You and your sister are going to get very hungry before long. Your mother and I won’t be bringing you meals either. You know, I’d have thought with how much you two bugged me and your mother to let you have friends you two would enjoy the opportunity to finally make some. You have that opportunity now but your acting like this and people aren’t going to want to be around you.” Steve hoped this would be enough to make him curb his attitude. “That argument means nothing. I may not know everything going on but I do know this much, you brought us here specifically to get buddy buddy with these kids for some reason. I told you we’re not playing this game and I meant that. Seems to me if that’s the reason you brought us here then we’re not giving you what you want. As far as the food situation, we’ve already taken the remaining snacks and we’ll make them last. We may not get full but we won’t die from starvation.” James smirked as he left the room.

Steve and Tiffany shared a long serious look as she moved to the couch. “This is a disaster! What do we do now?” Tiffany sat slowly wondering how to fix this or at least make them more cooperative. “I don’t know babe. I’ll think of something but this is going to impact their chances a great deal unless we come up with an excuse for their absence until we get them to cooperate. I may have an idea but I need to consider it before I tell you.” Steve sighed hoping this could be quickly resolved. “Maybe we should talk to Jaime. So far James has been the only vocal opponent. Every time anything has been said it’s been James talking. Maybe we can reason with Jaime and she can bring him around.” Tiffany wondered if that would work again. Steve looked at her for a moment thinking it might work. Jaime had always been the mellower of the twins but she’d also followed along with whatever James had decided. They sat lost in thought for a while as they both tried to come up with a good plan. “I’ll be back. I need to talk to a few people but I think I know how to get them to cooperate.” Steve smiled after a while as the idea hit him. He patted her shoulder reassuringly as he left the cabin.

James returned to the room he shared with his sister to find her pacing nervously. “Brother, you know I don’t like any of this but do you really think they would do anything to hurt us?” Jaime voiced her concern. “I don’t know any more sis. I know there’s something going on we’re not allowed to know about but that concerns us and it’s up to us to keep ourselves safe.” He sighed wishing he knew more about their plans. “You know they’ll try to bribe us somehow if they are determined enough. They seem dead set on making their plans succeed.” She worried more than ever. “I know, just as I know it’ll be you they approach first. It’s always been that way when they can’t get me to agree with them.” He sighed wishing he could stop it without having to agree with their plans. “Maybe we should just go along with them until we know more. It’d be easier to make a decision once we know what they’re after.” She wondered if that would only make her feel worse though. “We can’t take that chance sis. We don’t know what the end game is and I honestly feel like we can’t afford to play a game we don’t know the rules or rewards too. We don’t know what game it is so we don’t know how to play it safely!” he hated his parents for the whole thing.

Steve returned with a wide smile shortly after 9 pm that night. “Babe, call the kids out here please.” He laughed softly as he imagined how this conversation would turn out. “Kids, would you please come to the living room. We need to have a serious discussion right now.” Tiffany called to them hoping her husband had found a way. “This is it; they offer the bribe or tell us what’s going on. Stay strong sis and don’t worry. I’ll be there to protect you!” James put on a brave face for his sister. They walked into the living room to find their parents sitting on the love seat leaving them the couch to sit on. They sat silently as they observed their parents somber expressions. “We all know why we’re having this discussion so let’s not fool around. James, your behavior today was completely unacceptable. Jaime you shouldn’t have gone along with your brother. Now, we understand you’re probably scared, nervous, and confused about what this summer is all about but we honestly can’t tell you right now. I have an offer for you both but you need to stay quiet until I’ve fully explained what we’re offering and what you’ll have to do to receive it. Will you listen?” Steve smiled slightly believing this would work out.

“If you just told us what’s going on we wouldn’t be going through this right now. You’re determined to keep secrets that have a serious impact on us but you expect us to just willingly go along. Why is this such a secret? Why aren’t we permitted to know?” James said as his temper rose. “James there are some rules we have to follow. We don’t have a choice in the matter. Now, are you willing to listen or not?” Steve stiffened but held his temper in check. “We’ll listen but don’t expect the outcome to be what you want.” Jaime decided she needed to stand up for them both before James could anger their father more. “Ok, so you’re both wondering why we’re here and refusing to do as we ask until we tell you why. We’ve already told you; you’ll find out in a few days but you’re determined to know right now. So here’s the deal. You’ll join us for breakfast and every other meal until the meeting in a few days.” Steve began hoping this was going to work.