How Do I Know What I Think Until I See What I Say?

In which shit starts to get real. Previous excerpts can be found here: Excerpt 1 Excerpt 2 ***** Since we were going to call the Circle, I went right home instead of watching football practice. My parents and I had healed the rift that brought us out to Benowa in the first place, but my mother still preferred it when I was home when she got home. Even better if the dog was walked and fed and I had dinner started when she came through the door. My mother had high standards, but she was not above a little bribery. She knew something was up, though, when she saw me chopping celery for homemade dressing. "Okay, what do you want?" she asked, hanging her coat on the hook next to the steps. "What?" I made my best innocent face, but I was lying my butt off and the woman knew it. "Fine." I sighed. "I want to go over to Gabriel's after dinner. If it's okay with you. I'm done with my homework. I'm making pork chops for dinner. I