The Hazelnut Tree

The First Date

One year after my mom died, and my Dad was out on the prowl for a woman. He met a woman with an unnatural shade of auburn hair. You know how people have different shades in their hair naturally? Well, her hair was this way, but very dark brown. Then there are random red streaks that you can tell were painted on her head by a hairdresser. She had mean eyes. Dark brown, almost black with meanness. Then there was a glimpse of red in them. As soon as she met me she used her eyes as if she were trying to scare me away. Shoo!! Shoo!! I don't like kids! Seriously, I think she can stare into souls with them. When my father looked at her funny because she was just staring at me, she finally asked, "Well, who's this little girl," sweetly looking at my father. "This is my daughter, Addeline," he replied. "Oh..." she kind of trailed off. Ever heard of love at first sight? This was like the opposite. "Aren't you adorable," she said all happy. The waitress asked, "How many?" We were at Mi Pueblo, my favorite restaurant. "Three," my father replied. "Booth or table?" My father raised his eyebrows at his date. "Booth, please," she told the waitress. "Right this way." The waitress led us to a booth on the right. We sat down and the waitress left. My dad's date looked at me. "You have such pretty hair," she said as she touched my blonde hair. I don't like it when people touch my hair. My hair is blonde, but not the color women dye their hair. It has light brown on the bottom layer, but it's blonde on top. It's soft and has light waves. When her hand left my hair, the section poofed up with static. I flattened it down and combed it with my hand. "Thank you," I said quietly. The whole time they talked, flirting and being all sweet. I sat quietly in the corner shyly until it was time to go. "I had a wonderful time," she said to my dad. "We should do it again," he replied. I spoke up, "I never got your name." She looked at me funny, "What?" Is she deaf? "What's your name? You never told me," I said. "Oh," she said laughing under her breath. "Harriet."