Page 7 of Pressure

I was so tired of constantly being compared to my siblings and cousins that I could vomit. Had they called just to rub in that everyone else was doing stuff for the law firm this summer? Tired of the conversation already, I held the binoculars up so I could see if the live action porn was still going on.Yes! It was!I was going to draw this exact scene.

The service techs’ hands were sliding up and down each of the Silver Fox Daddies’ shafts, while he alternated a quick lick or suck of their cock heads.

My father didn’t like competing to be the center of attention and had to make sure that I heard him.

“Cashman, did you hear what I said?”

“Yeah. Good for them. I’m sure they thoroughly enjoyed their summer,” I said sarcastically at my cousins’ dedication to the family firm. I continued to watch the activity on the cabin deck, regretting that I’d answered the phone at all.

“Don’t be a smartass, Cashman. The reason for our call is that we haven’t received the bill yet for your upcoming classes.”

“Cashman, have you enrolled in your law classes for the fall?” my mother asked in a much kinder tone.

Fuck no. I sighed loudly again and set the binoculars down on the chair beside me, then rubbed my eyes. I hated school and didn’t want to get into this conversation again.

“No, not yet.”

“You know space is limited in the law courses,” Dad reminded me.

“I’ll look into it,” I lied. I didn’t want this conversation to drag out longer than it already had. I recovered quickly and said something that I thought they’d like; a glimmer of hope that I wasn’t dropping out of law school. “I still have almost a month to register.”

“Get it taken care of so I can pay for it.” Dad seemed satisfied for now.

“Is that all?”

“Cashman, if you don’t, you’ll be permanently cut off from receiving any monthly allowance. I thought being cut off for the summer would have taught you something.”

“Seriously?”

“Serious as a heart attack, which is nearly what you’ve given your grandfather over your grades last semester and not taking any classes or seminars this summer.”

I’m so tired of the guilt and pressure.

“Dad, I’ve told you and Mom that I hate studying law! My heart and mind aren’t invested in it, and I’m just not feeling it. Honestly, if I continue law school, it’s just going to be a waste of your money.”

“You have a ticket to living a good life, Cashman. It’s being handed to you on a silver platter, and now you’re saying you’re just not feeling it? Is that some generational garbage you’ve picked up while out in Los Angeles?”

I was so sick of this shit. My patience had reached its max.

“What the hell, Dad,” I began, but he overpowered the conversation, as usual.

“You get your head screwed on straight, stop that nonsense drawing, and register for your goddamn law courses for the fall. I’m not asking you, Cashman, I’m telling you.”

I ended the call, and even though it had me unsettled and stressed, I reached for the binoculars. Through the lenses I searched the cabin decks and desperately searched for the active porn display.

“Fuck,” I mumbled. The service tech and the Silver Fox Daddies were nowhere to be found.

4

CASH

Ihadn’t slept much the past few nights other than a few hours here and there. The phone call from my parents the other day had me wondering how far they would push this financial cutoff. I didn’t know if it was an empty threat or not. I wish I could say that at least one of my siblings or cousins had gone rogue to compare this with so I would have a decent idea how the family might react. At least they had to be proud that out of all their kids and nieces and nephews that only one had gone off course.

I’d spent the past few days taking long walks to think about my options. At least it was very quiet and peaceful outside, which allowed me the perfect atmosphere to think and consider everything. I hadn’t settled on what I was going to do exactly, but I knew without a shadow of doubt that I absolutely didn’t want to go back to law school in September. To prepare for the war with my family, I decided I needed to look around here for a job. Since there was still almost a month left before we werescheduled to go back to L.A., I thought I might be able to get a few local jobs here and there to give me some money.

I headed to the cabin rental office to check the job postings. This place had a small town feel to it, and I recalled seeing a bulletin board with random part-time jobs on it in the rental office. I knew online resources were best for more career types of jobs with permanent employment. I was looking for quick, local jobs and figured local listings might have the most options.

I pulled open the glass door of the rental office and immediately caught the whiff of pine. I loved the scent of pine but this smelled like a mixture of something else. The scent was smooth, so I looked around to see where it might be coming from. I spotted a massive candle burning on the counter, which I assumed was the source of the scent.