May Fever

May 10th 2014

KISSING:

in which a character has a laugh with an unusual family member

~

I sat on my porch, my arms near my chest as I tried to process what happened. For a while, it was going well. I ignored my dad, so did Miles, until he said that he missed all of us. I walked out of the house, and sat on the porch, tears streaming down my face. My mom slid the porch door open and walked out carrying a mug of tea.

"Hi Masie," she said quietly. I wiped my tears and sniffled.

"Why is he back?" I asked her. She sighed.

"I invited him here,"

"Why?" I said angrily. "All he did was cause us pain mom! Why would you want that back in our life?" I didn't look at her as I wiped more tears from my face with the sleeve of my cardigan.

"Masie, he's changed. Last time I checked, he was my husband-I never divorced him. I don't know why. I wanted to, trust me, but something was holding me back. I think it was the hope that he would change, and he has changed." I scoffed and turned my head further away from her.

"You have to try and talk to him," she pleaded. I ignored her. She sighed shakily and stood up, going back into the house. I felt the hot air from the house and thought about going inside, but I didn't.

I sat there and considered walking away from the house, but I just shook my head to myself.

I should have.

My dad walked out, the porch door shutting behind him. I forced myself to keep my eyes straight as he sat down. 

"That was a fun family night," he joked. I bit my lip back, but I found myself laughing loudly at his sarcasm. I quickly stopped and sighed.

"Masie, I really am sorry," he insisted.

"Why are you back now?" I asked.

"Your mom invited me, and I've been thinking about it for a long time," he told me.

"Where were you this entire time?" I wondered, not caring at all.

"I was with your uncle James," uncle James, I thought.

"I went to change," he began. "I had to remember who I was when your mother fell in love with me.

"You and Miles deserved more! You guys deserved love! I was suppose to be there for you guys as you grew up, but I thought about myself. I put myself before you guys. I knew I had to change when Miles declined that basketball scholarship. It was because of me that he didn't follow his dreams. I stopped my own son from following his dreams. I treated you and Miles the same way your grandfather treated me. I shouldn't have.

"But now, I know that I have wronged you two. I was a horrible father but I want to change that. I want to be there for you two while I can, before you two grow up. Although you're one year awar from graduating and Miles has already graduated.

"Masie I'm still growing. I'm still learning but I know for a fact that I have changed. I want to be there for you guys again and do it properly." My dad ended off quickly. I found myself crying while he spoke.