Abigail sits aimlessly, scrolling through some Facebook posts while waiting for her dad to arrive. The coffee shop is buzzing thanks to a local school's rugby team having chosen Arthur's to stop over for a quick early Saturday morning hot beverage before leaving for their out-of-town fixture. Abby pays little attention to the noise their enthusiasm and excitement creates while, in contrast, anxiously checking the time literally every few seconds.
It's now ticked over to thirty minutes since the WhatsApp signal broke and her dad's location went of radar just outside of town. She checks his profile again. He still hasn't read any of her last ten messages. She then glances at the entrance door for the umpteenth time just as Andrew rushes in. A world of welcome relief besets her as she rises to embrace her father, holding him tightly for several moments while trying to keep her emotions intact.
Andrew is clearly equally tearful as they finally take their seats. It's been ten months since they've last seen each other and there was enough catching up to be had.
"I'm sorry I'm so late my Angel. Something happened on the freeway and traffic was backed up"
" It's okay Daddy. You're here safely now and that's all that matters."
Abigail can't help but finding the sudden silence that fills the coffee shop, eerie and turns to see why all the bubbly rugby boys had suddenly gone so quiet, only to find them all strangely staring at her.
"Have I turned into a troll all of a sudden?" She asks jokingly as she turns her attention back to her dad.
Just then a commotion erupts to break the silence as someone storms frantically through the entrance doors. Abigail recognizes the voice, screaming her name as that of her best friend and grade ten classmate, Zena. She jumps up in shock to turn and face the horrified girl rushing her way. Zena's face is soaking wet as she stops in front of a bewildered Abigail. While surrendering to the last bit of her resistance Zena barely manages to get the message out.
"Abby !!...You have to come quickly, your dad's been in an accident!"
Abigail grabs her hysterical friend by the shoulders.
"Zee, calm down, my dad is right here" she says with a sigh of relief and turns to point him out.
Andrew's empty seat does nothing less than wiping Abigail's mind, heart and soul clean empty.
" Dad??" She starts mumbling, looking around in total confusion.
"He was just here !!"
"Daddy ?????"She sets off hollering towards and into the men's room only to return, her face as pale as the cloth that covers their deserted table.
"He was just here!" she repeats herself in sinking despair.
"We hugged .... and I felt him... and I smelled his deodorant.... and we talked Zee????"
YOU ARE READING
BIRTHDAY DATE WITH DAD
PovídkyWhen Abigail and her Father's earthly relationship tragically comes to an abrupt end, they both decide to cling on to the few minutes the after life is prepared to offer them. But can it last for ever?
