Marigold

Chapter two

Dad and I got home late, I didn't have a watch on my wrist but the sky above spilt all the beans. It seemed like every other night I and dad come back from the studio but something about this evening made it different. The street lights on the road well are all now lit giving the road a lovely glow while giving some light to a few neighbours packing in their valuables after an unsuccessful garage day and giving light to those who were working out late. Going down the hill was perfect as I could almost feed on the magic that allowed the lights by the sides of the road to look more satisfying than it was probably meant to be. The night could've been perfect if dad didn't just lose his entire life work leaving him as silent as ever. Normally we would either be talking about some guy we both found very hilarious at work or just juggle random topics between voids of silence as we drove home but from the looks of it, today hit more than it probably should have.
As dad parked in front of our lifeless-looking house, I wondered what mom would say if she was around. She might have given dad a pep talk about cheering up and all those motivational stuff but all I can do now is dream about him just lighting up all of a sudden. After I helped clear the trunk from the old workpieces of stuff that wherein it, I was now heading for my room with no plan whatsoever.
That's when my dreams came true!
Dad called me in a surprisingly enthusiastic manner. "Lola, downstairs" he yelled, dragging my name longer than it should be. At first, I was worried something bad had happened till I calmed down and asked him what happened and he answered me "you've finally done it" making my legs wobble unnaturally.
"Done what dad?" I cautiously asked him trying not to show signs of fear with my words.
"You made it into summer camp! I'm so happy for you" he said hugging me, "quick, go pack your suitcase you are going tomorrow, you can meet new friends, and..."
"Dad, I'm not going" I finally cut in. I didn't know if that was right of me to say because I noticed the air around quickly get ticker than it should be. Me going to camp seemed to bring him joy but why I'm I trying to break it all apart because of some stupid anxiety?
In my confusion, I ran upstairs to my room and just crashed down on the bed. I can't go to a camp away from the solitude I have been enjoying at home, I just can't. Not just that but there's no way I wouldn't be forced to open my mouth and talk to random strangers I don't know against my will and to be honest, I think I have social anxiety or I'm one of those people who can't have conversations normally if not ever.
Right there on my bed, my sanity was being tested and I was one kick away from coming off as a crazy person to our neighbours when I had a thought fly into my head telling me to call mom and tell her everything. Dad aside, she's the one I talk to and she's good at handling bizarre decisions like burying myself in crowds or not, all those stuff. The problem was this, I didn't own a smartphone because I suggested to dad that'll it'll be useless if I can just own a landline instead which I kept downstairs. I didn't want to get dad's attention in any way so I slowly tiptoed to the stairs and slowly slid down the rails. Using my legs on the squeaking stairs would've been a disaster!
Dad wasn't even in the living room drowning me in a pool of my stupidity, come to think of it, I couldn't hear any sound of him anywhere in the house giving me the thought of him possibly not in the house.
"Hello mom, it's Lola"
"Who?" She replied with clear uncertainty of who was on the other side of the phone. I forgot Mom only knows me to by my middle name for a moment there
"It's Grace, your daughter" I replied.
"Oh, how are you dear it's been so long," she said,
Yeah, no kidding...
"Mom, should I go camping? Dad thinks it's a great idea but I'm having second thoughts" I said out loud.
"You should go, it will give you a chance to finally mix up with different personalities"
"It's too hard, mixing with dad should be enough why do I need more?"
" ...Because you need someone your age, someone who can relate your experiences with you"
I just sighed exhaustedly
"Look, do me a favour and go to that camp okay? Now I have to go, be safe dear". She dropped the call before I could even say anything else.

At least we know what being at home is like right?
Next Chapter will let us see what the camp is like.