Time to man up

"Look, Mrs. Fellers," Matt said, "I appreciate any help you may give us but I haven't forgotten that you're a big part of the reason we have problems in the first place so I really don't need to hear your condescension."

"Uh-oh," Deisi volunteered. "You talked back to mom."

"Shut up, Deisi," Mrs. Fellers said. "Now what were you saying, Matt? And think carefully before you answer."

"I said that I don't need your condescension. Yes, I tried to build a business. Yes, I tried to pull myself up by my bootstraps the way you people in the rich people party always say we should. Yes, I've run into a lot of the same problems people in the other party claim they always have when they try to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. And yes, I care a lot about my business. But that's not the only thing that matters to me. And, ultimately, I will shut it down rather than turn it over to my dad, let my dad **** my friends, my sister, or your daughter. So, do what you want, push me as hard as you think you need to, but know that if you push too hard, I'm walking."

"Oh," Mrs. Fellers said. She touched her tongue to her lips.

"Now look here, young fellow," Mr. Fellers boomed. He slapped Matt on the shoulder. "That's no way to talk. Besides, we're not the Rich People Party."

"Should I say 'entitled white people party' then?"

"Uh-oh," Deisi volunteered again.

Mr. Fellers puffed up like one of those animals in nature documentaries who need to show how big and tough they are. "Don't talk to me that way, punk."

"Why? Because I'll make you deny everything?"

"Uh-oh." Deisa seemed to have hit an echo.

"That is... rather forceful, Matt," Mrs. Fellers said. "Perhaps we should all go inside and have the nice dinner Maria has put together for us."

"You know," Matt started, "I--"

"Let's just go eat." Deisi grabbed him by the arm. "I know Wendy is looking forward to having dinner with you."

"Yeah, sure." Deisi was right. He'd been pissed off and let his mouth run... hell he was still pissed off. But he really could use some help and storming out of there might be good for his ego but it wouldn't help Tanya and the others. And he was pretty sure Tanya's dad was just waiting for him to shut the operation down to take it over himself which would leave all of the girls in a bad place.

Mrs. Fellers was looking at him with a predatory gleam in her eyes. Which told Matt that dinner was going to be very interesting.

He just hoped that it wouldn't be bad on Wendy.