Ash finally got over her shock and put a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “None of us are interested in anything like that. That’s why you almost got caught, isn’t it? Anyone would be suspicious of a kid walking into the liquor section, Matt. A lot of stores also put special bar codes on alcohol and electronics and stuff; that’s what triggered the alarm.”
“Who are you trying to impress?” Jon-Allen asked.
Matt shrugged.
“It’s over now,” Ash said. She felt bad for him even though she was also angry. “It’s normal to be curious about it.”
“My mom drank all the time,” Jon-Allen said. “She used to say it helped her relax. But there were times she would drink too much and I couldn’t wake her up.”
“Dayna and Kevin are both really freaked out by alcohol,” Ash said. “Their mom and dad drank, too.”
“What did their parents do to them?” Matt asked. His face was pale.
“I can’t tell you; it’s up to them to talk about it.”
“Dayna said they hit them,” Jon-Allen said.