Creative Writing: Jane Smiley's Haunted House

A few days later, Ginny felt strong enough to begin to walk on her own. She slowly began to limp around the house until her ankle could deal with the pressure enough that she only walked with a slight limp. Ginny realized she was not only free of the parlor but of her house. Ginny headed to go outside, yearning to see Ben, to tell him she did not blame him for her injury. He needed to know that she was not angry at him. Then she realized that she probably should tell her mother where she was going less she would face her wrath later. “Mother! Mother!” She called her hand on the door knob.

Instead of her mother, her father appeared in the hallway. “Mother's still asleep, says she has pounding headache and does not wish to be disturbed. What

He rose from a slouch to his full towering height. His face became twisted and he certainly did not seem happy. “Is there anything wrong Father? I don't need to go out today, I can stay home.”
"There is nothing wrong with you going out, I understand that need that young people have to go out. However, the problem lies in whom you are going to see."
Ginny hung her head. She knew her father's opinion on Ben. She did not want to have to deal with him scolding her for spending time with Ben, but she knew that it was coming. Persoanlly, she saw nothing wrong with Ben. He had his faults, as all humans do, but there was nothing about him that should discourage her father from allowing her to see him. Father saw her expressioned and sighed. "I see you are naive in this matter. Follow me into the parlor, would you?"
"Alright father, as you wish," she said entering the parlor com. Whatever could Father wish to talk about? She understood why he was worried, Father tended to worry when it came to his little girls being involved with boys. Yet there was no need to worry about Ben. Ben would never do anything that would require any concern. He had his morals and would stick to

You cannot be that ignorant of your surroudning. I know you are a smart girl."
"Yes, I am aware." Ginny knew that the tensions between the patiotrs and the loyalist were building. There were more and more reports of loyalists being attacked, their shops being broken into, tar and feathering inncidents, Ginny had been praying that her family would escape the notice of those responsible.
"Well, here is the issue. Your little friend, Ben, is not a loyalist. Due to that, I would prefer you did not spend your time with him. We do not need you to get the radical ideas of freedom and self-government that have been placed into her little head."
"Why not Father? Just because he is a patriot does not mean he is not a human being, made of flesh and bones, just as we are! Should we trample them beneath our feet because they are different. Father, there is nothing wrong with