Pan 9
Two months ago…
5:00 pm
He had been so proud of himself.
He had talked her out of the Tinkerbelle does Dallas outfit and into a pirate girl costume.
This one had a low cut top and a corset but there really wasn’t anything to hold in or push out so he was okay with it.
And,
Bonus round,
Long skirt,
She loved the eye patch and the sword so it was a win for both of them.
That’s right, guerilla parenting at its best.
No one could touch him, no one.
He was one cool daddy.
6:27 pm
He was in the middle of World War Three.
Jessie had just stomped up the stairs to her room
And when the smoke cleared, he was sitting at the table with cold take out, lukewarm green tea, and a wife with an edge in her voice.
“Martin, “Amy said, “She’s not allowed to go, what were you thinking?”
“It’s a school dance.”
“It’s a slippery slope, that’s what it is. First it’s this, then its movies with friends, boy friends, then it’s a concert, and more boys, she’s fourteen, we agreed not till she was fifteen.”
“I think you’re over reacting’
Amy sighed and rolled her eyes toward heaven, “No kidding, you do this all the time, you’re always the sweetie, and I always end up being the heavy.”
He started to protest, but he realized she was right,
A little,
A bit.
God it was always like this, he was always the rope in the tug of war. Always in the ring and on the ropes between the two most important females in his life.
(Sorry mom)
So here he was again.
“Look there has to be some kind of compromise.” he was reaching.
“No.” Amy said matter of factly, “ Not this time, if we back down this time it then means everything is off the table and everything is up to be compromised . I know it feels mean, but honey we’ve got to stick together on this.”
“Amy, she just wants to grow a little bit.” Martin sighed,
“And she has,” She said, taking his hand, “But no dates, without us, until next year.”
He sighed,
She smiled,
They kissed.
“Ok,” Amy said, “Now go tell her.”
Martin felt the floor drop out from below him.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re the one who gave her the idea; you’re the one who has to take it away.”
“And you…”
“Can’t be there, because it just looks like I’m Henson with my fist up your ass making you talk, Kermit.”
“And that ….. Is wrong to show because.”
“She’s 14, respects her father, and it’s not solstice.”
“Ahh, solstice, that’s why I don’t see it coming.”
“You never see it coming” Amy said, “Now go up there, go do your chore and I’ll warm up the food.”
She kissed him on the cheek.
“I’ll also make you a martini,” She grinned, “Because you’re going to need one.”
***
Copyright fmyates 2008. All rights reserved.