Country Mile

COLD AND DISGUSTING

Monday morning came all too soon for Genna. She tossed and turned all night, dreading the meeting between her father and her teacher. When the alarm clock sounded, her hand was quick to silence it. She rolled out of bed and mindlessly went through the motions of dressing into the clothes she had set out the night prior, all the while conjuring up possible scenarios in her head. Rehearsing different conversations that might come up, and how she would respond.

She put on a white long sleeve top and black skinny jeans. She stepped into her black ankle boots, and finished with a mustard yellow cargo vest. She pulled her brown wavy locks up into a high pony as she went to the bathroom. Once she finished, she washed her hands, face, and brushed her teeth. Quickly scooting back into her room, she sat at her vanity and applied makeup. She put on some foundation and gave her face a light dusting of bronzer. She put a bit of deep brown eyeshadow on her eyelids and a couple coats of mascara to complete her look. It was simple.. the way she hoped the meeting would go.

Heaving a sigh, she gave herself a once-over in the mirror. Satisfied, she scooped up her book bag and passed Delilah in the hall who was still in her pajamas.

"You look cute today," Delilah smiled.

"Thanks!" Genna took in the girl's well worn shorts and tee with a torn neckline. "Are you going for a hobo chic look today?" she teased.

"Hah-hah, very funny. Tell Daddy I'll be down in ten."

"Kay," Genna smiled and rolled her eyes, knowing full well that ten minutes to Delilah actually meant twenty.

She padded down the stairs and was met with the inviting aroma of fresh, hazelnut coffee. She placed her bag on the floor beside one of the chairs at the table and made her way over to the heavenly brew. Standing on her tip toes, Genna tried to reach the top shelf of the cabinet to retrieve her favorite mug. It's rose gold sparkle peeked over the edge but her fingertips barely brushed it. Suddenly a large hand reached over her's and passed it down to her.

"Thanks," she murmured.

"Welcome," Adam replied, his morning voice deep and gravelly. It sounded gruff, but she could tell there was no malicious intent behind it.

As Genna poured herself a mug full, he waited patiently beside her. Neither spoke as not to upset the other. There was still a tad bit of tension lingering from the night prior when Genna tried again to make Adam reconsider the meeting.

At first, she started out calm. She did her best to convince him of how unnecessary the meeting was as they put away the dishes, but he refused to see things her way. Despite his warnings for her to lower her voice, her calm —and eventually several kitchen chairs— were flipped upside down. With his leg propped up on the seat of a still standing chair and Genna dangling over his knee, Adam quelled her outburst with an impromptu spanking right there in the kitchen.

Neither of them thought she would be in that position so soon, but it was clear to Adam that the closer they grew as father and daughter, the more comfortable Genna became with expressing herself. The safer she felt, the more she let go. Of worries, of barriers, and of her temper. She was no longer afraid Adam would turn his back on her, so she no longer feared holding back from him.

Adam no longer struggled with controlling his own temper. He no longer held her to impossibly high standards. He allowed leeway and plenty of chances for her to correct her own behavior, but he drew thick lines in the sand and if crossed, they both knew he wouldn't hesitate to assist in correcting her.

He was giving her the responsibility to shape up on her own, and she was finally accepting the fact that he would step in if she couldn't. When she had laid in bed still feeling the warmth radiating from her bottom, part of her regretted accepting his parenting. But as her thoughts drifted to how she screamed and threw chairs in frustration, the bigger part of her knew she needed Adam. For the longest time, she thought of his chastisements as him standing up to her, but now she could see he was stepping in for her.