Empty Gestures
She was finally about to graduate from high school. She was not a star pupil, but she did pretty well, especially considering the feeling of dislike and disapproval she felt from the other students and teachers. Proud of herself for getting this far, hoping that her parents were proud of her as well.
Her father calls her into the family room and hands her an envelope. The girl opens the envelope to find a set of keys, and a contract. The keys belonged to the Bronco II she had coveted. The contract detailed the rules and the fact that it was a gift, her graduation gift. She was overjoyed! She immediately signed the contract, which included basic rules that every driver should obey such as "Don't Drive Drunk" and "Change the Oil Every 3,000 Miles".
The minute she's in the passenger seat and her hands are upon the wheel she feels a strong connection to the car. "Harley...that's your name" she loudly states as she pulls the car out of the driveway, on to her first adventure.
Harley and the girl go on many adventures during the next year. They go to the beach, to parties, on a few dates, back and forth to work, and even all the way to Dallas a time or two. She follows the contract to a "T". Every 3,000 miles Harley got her oil changed. Every time she had the chance, Harley was washed and stayed clean. She drove the speed limit and stayed out of trouble. It felt good to be responsible, and knew that her father must be proud of her.
One day her father asks her for the keys to her beloved Harley. She wonders why, as he's never shown any interest in her car before, but thinks maybe he is going to get her serviced or something "dad-like" along those lines.
"I've found someone who will give me $5,000 for this car," he tells her as she handed him the keys.
Her eyes get big and her heart drops. "I don't want to sell her, she's worth more than $5,000 to me," she tells him.
He tells her that it doesn't matter what she has to say on the subject, he's selling the car, and that's that. She argues, stating that the car was a gift, and that she hasn't broken any of the rules. She's been responsible, has a job, takes good care of herself and Harley. Her heart breaks just a little bit when he says that it doesn't matter, he wants the money.
Her heart breaks even more when he tells her to go and clean Harley out because the people who are buying her will be there in 30 minutes.
The final heartbreak and betrayal was him keeping the money for himself. It wasn't money that he needed, her family was fairly well off, it was just the idea that he could get $5,000 for something that he didn't think was worth it. His greed for money broke her heart completely in two.
It was at that moment she knew that she would never trust him again, that his love for her was as shallow as a few dollar bills. She knew that she would never be good enough, or do anything "right" enough for him to ever keep up his end of the deal. There would always be a flaw. Something wrong in the grand design.
At that moment she knew that every gesture from him would always be an empty one.
Her father calls her into the family room and hands her an envelope. The girl opens the envelope to find a set of keys, and a contract. The keys belonged to the Bronco II she had coveted. The contract detailed the rules and the fact that it was a gift, her graduation gift. She was overjoyed! She immediately signed the contract, which included basic rules that every driver should obey such as "Don't Drive Drunk" and "Change the Oil Every 3,000 Miles".
The minute she's in the passenger seat and her hands are upon the wheel she feels a strong connection to the car. "Harley...that's your name" she loudly states as she pulls the car out of the driveway, on to her first adventure.
Harley and the girl go on many adventures during the next year. They go to the beach, to parties, on a few dates, back and forth to work, and even all the way to Dallas a time or two. She follows the contract to a "T". Every 3,000 miles Harley got her oil changed. Every time she had the chance, Harley was washed and stayed clean. She drove the speed limit and stayed out of trouble. It felt good to be responsible, and knew that her father must be proud of her.
One day her father asks her for the keys to her beloved Harley. She wonders why, as he's never shown any interest in her car before, but thinks maybe he is going to get her serviced or something "dad-like" along those lines.
"I've found someone who will give me $5,000 for this car," he tells her as she handed him the keys.
Her eyes get big and her heart drops. "I don't want to sell her, she's worth more than $5,000 to me," she tells him.
He tells her that it doesn't matter what she has to say on the subject, he's selling the car, and that's that. She argues, stating that the car was a gift, and that she hasn't broken any of the rules. She's been responsible, has a job, takes good care of herself and Harley. Her heart breaks just a little bit when he says that it doesn't matter, he wants the money.
Her heart breaks even more when he tells her to go and clean Harley out because the people who are buying her will be there in 30 minutes.
The final heartbreak and betrayal was him keeping the money for himself. It wasn't money that he needed, her family was fairly well off, it was just the idea that he could get $5,000 for something that he didn't think was worth it. His greed for money broke her heart completely in two.
It was at that moment she knew that she would never trust him again, that his love for her was as shallow as a few dollar bills. She knew that she would never be good enough, or do anything "right" enough for him to ever keep up his end of the deal. There would always be a flaw. Something wrong in the grand design.
At that moment she knew that every gesture from him would always be an empty one.