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Riley and Jake go silent--a Mexican standoff if I ever saw one

Chelsea, doll that she is, fills in the blanks

"Riley and Jake had a disagreement yesterday She had a friend over A friend who is a boy In her room With the door closed"

And it all becos, face deceptively blank "I don’t flip out I just got the drill frorinning at what I’ answer

And I’m not disappointed

"He took off my door!" Riley shouts "I have no door! I’m sixteen years old with five little brothers and sisters, and no door!"

"Like I said, problehts, you know," Riley counters

Jake’s smile is patient "Yes, you do--and not one of the a door Or a , for that ht want to keep that in rinds her teeth, but goes quiet And I just bet she’s sticking her tongue out at hi hi

"Come on, Riley," Stanton says, "don’t be like that It could be worse"

"I don’t kno," the teen gru her ar to his fifteen-year-old daughter, who lives most of the year in Mississippi with her es in the East, and he’s been positively giddy with excitement

Riley’s face loosens with curiosity "I texted her the other day, but she hasn’t gotten back to me Where is she?"

"In her rooonna be for soazes, he elaborates "It seems she tried sneakin’ Ethan Fortenbury up the oak tree outside herto her bedroo deeply

Then Jake reads ly cale father waves his hand "Jenny and I have been anticipating it for years Had it all planned out The little shit, Fortenbury, showed up and found Jenn waiting for hiun"

I whistle

Stanton winks at Riley "So you see, darlin’--it could always be worse"

Riley sighs and shakes her head "None of you understand us"

"Au contraire, Fresh Prince, they understand all too well--that’s your problem," I tell her wisely

But she just looks confused "What’s a Fresh Prince?"

I groan "I feel so frigging old Thanks, Riley"

Kennedy pats my hand And her eyes sparkle as she teases, "You are old It’s good that you’re finally realizing it We should hang out with these kids more often"