Chapter 4.
She left her pops house and walked into the driveway as her mom was pulling up. Her mom stayed in the car as her dad signaled a gentle wave in his ex-wife’s direction. Then her daughter got in the car and they began driving back home about fifteen miles away.
“Hey sweetie. I heard you gave your dad a hard time today. Everything alright?”
She noticed that her mom’s husband wasn’t in the car. Good ol’ Charlie. “Yeah, I was just wondering if you still love dad?”
“Oh,” She paused and turned down the radio a bit. “Your father’s an idiot. But he’s smarter than he looks.” She laughed.
She had sharp features. Everything about her was distinguished down to every detail of her appearance. But more stunning was her sharp chin, her cute nose, and her jet black hair. She looked a bit mousy, but definitely fierce with crow’s feet about her eyes from unknown experience beyond the visible worldview.
“Dad’s not dumb. He’s very kind and easy to make laugh. I think that makes him smart.”
“Oh honey. There are things about your dad that are pure evil. But yes, I guess that requires a bit of strange intellect. There are stories about your father. But I’ll tell you when your older.”
“That’s funny. He just said the same thing about you this morning.”
“What did he say?” Her mother pressed, with a slight smile curving on the left side of her face away from her daughters window seat.
“He just said he had stories about you and that he’d tell me when I’m older.”
The light was red and they were sitting in traffic. She was inching toward the vehicle trying to keep the car in motion, hoping that the car could distract her daughter from some hidden truth. Then she got too close to the car and had to stop. Turning the radio dial back to a higher level. Volume raised higher than it was before. Then her daughter spoke up again.
“Where’s Charlie?” Her mother turned the dial again.
“You know he doesn’t like going to your fathers house. Plus it’s nearly Christmas. He’s out shopping with the boys.”
“Okay. Do dad and Charlie not get along?”
“Well, actually they used to be best friends now that you mention it.”
“Mom! How could you marry his best friend?! Are they not friends anymore because of you?!”
“Oh, believe me sweetie. Your dad and Charlie go way back and whatever feelings they have for each other still, a best friendship doesn’t dwindle. I’m not sure much does. Things just change and take new form.”
She turned up the dial again and they both agreed not to talk because it was one of their favorite songs.
Back at her fathers house, he had made a couple calls wishing a couple of people happy holidays and was getting dinner set before watching some football and whatever sports there were that night. Perhaps some basketball. He checked in on his daughter’s room. Cleaned everything up a bit by tidying up, then smiled knowing she was in good hands. If there was anything about his ex-wife that he loved, it was her driving and the conversations they once had and how safe she was at all times while driving.
Charlie was tall and lean. He talked quickly and wore kind of a hipster style even though he was in his forties. He had always dressed like that and then the world finally made it popular, but he was easily an original. He was out shopping at the great malls and enjoying every minute, welcoming the consumerism and helping to be apart of a record breaking economy.
They finally arrived and pulled up into the driveway. She didn’t have any pressing questions for her mother, but she learned something quite intriguing. More insight than she thought she would find. Charlie and her dad were best friends at one point in time. And her mother married him. That meant that they had all used to hangout and spend time together and her mom had silently had a crush on Charlie when she was married to her father. It was wrong. It was very wrong. But then again, Charlie was an interesting character, and she could understand it. But things weren’t as thy seemed. She knew she had questions, she just had to dig around for the right one.
She went back to work that night then went back home and wrote in her diary.
So my father and Charlie used to be best friends. And dad’s smart and evil. I don’t think there is a question that can break mom. They have a past. More entangled than I could have guessed. And I’m a result of their years history. I feel I need to start my own history. There have been a couple of guys at work who come in as regulars and who enjoy chatting up a storm. If any of them decide to leave or to on an adventure and invite me I’m going with them. I trust that I can solidify my boundaries and get to know someone cordially and if things turn for the better, then I’ll welcome whatever happens. But then again, I’m very close to being able to afford a truck. Two more months and I can take my money, buy a truck, and even go on a vacation. I can even afford to move out soon and leave my parents mess behind. What would their situation be without me? I’m the only thing that keeps them slightly together. And they’ve been doing this for years.
I’m deciding that I will have a plan by New Years and will stick to it. Whatever happens. I will miss my parents dearly, but they will be there when I return. I am telling dad my plan. Then I’ll tell mom later. I will have to pick somewhere to go. I want to work in the wild and meet somebody kind of wild. And I want to return with him. And after being gone so long, my parents will welcome me back, no matter who I come back with. But I will bring back a winner, even though I still feel as damaged as I ever am. But I’m putting my faith in the stars, moon and universe. And keeping my diary as my sidekick and hoping that everything works out. My dad will know where to go. He’s been a lot of places.
She fell tired, and decided not to write into her diary until she had things settled in her mind. Then she fell into a deep slumber, looking forward to another day.
Realistic Fiction
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