If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't. (Chuck Palahniuk)

“Why do you want to get away from here?”

“I love my brothers,” he said defensively. “I love my brothers and my father but I just need some distance.”

Penny nodded understandingly.

“I’ve always been part of this family and that has been my identity. We’re a family first and individuals second. Maybe that doesn’t make sense.”

“No, I think I understand.”

“What about you? What do you do?”

Penny’s cheeks flushed. “I’m in high school.”

“No kidding.”

“But just for another couple months then I graduate.”

“And what’s next?”

“I’m going to go to school. I want to be a teacher.”

“A teacher.” He popped his finger out of his mouth. “That’s a pretty principled calling.”

“No pun intended?”

He laughed. “Principaled – that’s... You’re pretty smart?”

She shrugged.

“So what are you doing with Tommy?”

“What about Tommy?” he asked re-entering the room followed by Vincent, Tony, and Senior.

“Just asking this intelligent young woman what she’s doing with a screw up like you?”