The Grandparents

Lucy, that mouthy 18-year-old skater brat, plops down with her arms folded tight between her dad and an overstuffed suitcase. They're parked in some stranger's living room. The woman who owns the place calls herself Grandma Jean. Her husband sits next to her, quiet and stiff, beard gone gray. He doesn't say shit. Lucy's dad gushes about how thankful he is they took her on such short notice. Ever since Mom split, Lucy's been wild—parties, fucking anyone she wants, total disrespect. Pastor pointed them here, some off-the-books "family" program. Grandma Jean promises they'll treat her like their own. She offers cookies; Lucy snorts. Dad starts to snap at her, but Grandpa cuts him off, cold and polite, tells him to leave. One visit a month, same phone deal they already hashed out. Dad obeys and disappears, leaving Lucy stuck with Grandpa and that awkward silence. Grandma Jean reappears with the cookies. Lucy suddenly feels the walls closing in. She stuffs one in her mouth while Grandma lays down the rules. She plucks the baseball cap off Lucy's head like it's trash. Every girl here has to join their "happy blended family," call them Grandma and Grandpa, stay inside unless supervised, play nice but quiet with the other girls, and—most important—no hanky-panky. Grandpa just watches. Then a soft little thing named Amy steps in wearing a short babydoll dress. Grandma beams, says Amy's going to be Lucy's roommate, asks her to help get settled. Lucy clocks the dress, figures maybe this dump has some upside after all, and trails Amy upstairs. In the room she can't believe how clean and plush everything looks. Amy murmurs that the grandparents are kind, that she's been remade from a brat into a proper young lady. Grandma's kisses are the best part. Lucy tells her to drop the act, but Amy won't bite. Then Grandma brings a gift box. Lucy rips it open and finds the same tiny dress Amy's wearing. She has to put it on for evening cards. Amy helps peel her out of her skater gear, eyes tracing every curve, and the air gets thick between them. Grandpa barks from downstairs before anything can happen. They sit at the card table in matching outfits, Grandma and Grandpa across from them. Lucy tries small talk; Grandpa stares. Amy slips her a note under the table: "Be careful... Grandpa likes you!!" Lucy grins and slides her foot up Amy's leg instead. Amy squeaks, asks if they can be excused because Lucy must be tired. Grandma lets them go, promises she'll be up for goodnight kisses. Later the grandparents tuck them in, kiss foreheads, kill the lights. Lucy flips them back on and leans in to kiss Amy for real. Amy pulls away, terrified of getting caught. She admits Grandpa visits her every night at 3 a.m. He told her not to spoil Lucy before he gets his turn, or Amy won't be allowed to leave. Lucy drags every filthy detail out of her: Grandpa fucks every girl for early release, limits parent visits, Grandma stays clueless and sweet. Lucy's face lights up with a wicked little smile. She plants a hard kiss on Amy, then lays out the plan—make Grandpa bust into the room early, get caught, let Grandma hear everything. Amy's scared, but Lucy talks her into it.