Short Stories

My New Dad

Роза is pronounced as Roza.
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Роза was six at the time, at an early age she was told to keep secrets from her own Mother. Around a year ago during the summer time, Роза’s Dad would bring another woman into the house, telling her that it would be her new other and to not tell her real mom. Роза of course agreed with what her dad said, as she knew this would upset her mother deeply. Her dad and her knew mom would always be upstairs, leaving Роза alone downstairs where she’d read whatever books she could find. It wasn't uncommon for her to read books that weren't meant for children her age, books with the topics of science, fiction, non-fiction, most with no illustration. One particular day her mom came home from a business trip and found out the secret that Роза was supposed to keep hidden. After that her dad packed up his things and moved to the other side of town with the other woman. Luckily for her a few days later hr new dad came to live with them.

    After her new dad, Mark, came to live with her, her dad started visiting less and less as days passed. She had her birthday, no word from her dad, she sobbed, letting her cold tears graze her warm cheeks. Mark then stepped in to comfort the crying girl, rubbing her back and reading her a story to give her hope. The day after her mom got a phone call from her Ex-husband's new wife, giving her news about something. Her mom's expression switched from anger to sadness, tears falling onto the carpet. Роза tried her best to comfort her mom, her mo was there for her during bad times, now it was her turn to help her mom.

Days and nights passed, Роза would sleep with her mom to keep her from crying. That’s when her mom started shutting her out, “Get off the bed Роза.” the small girl was confused as to what was happening, as to what she had just done wrong. She lightly tugged on her moms sleeve, “Go to your room Роза,” Small subtle tears dripped down the girl's face. Mark came into the room and placed his hand on Роза’s head “Let's get you to bed, come on, I’ll sing you to sleep tonight.” She held his hand as they went down the hall, Mark tucked her into bed and sang her to sleep, his low and calming voice sounding like music to the girl's ears. She soon fell asleep, Mark followed as soon as he hit the floor. The next day Mark and the nanny took Роза to the park, buying her three pink balloons, she named all three. One named Jerry, the other named Lydia and the last, Rose. While walking down the dirt path one of the balloons had been struck by the thorn of a rose bush. Jerry had popped, though, Роза showed no emotion.

   

The week after her mom had gotten the phone call she went on a trip to see her Ex-husband. Роза couldn't understand why her mom would do that, since she despised his new wife. Before she left she kneeled down to the young girl's height and ruffled her hair, embracing her in a hug. Her mom left looking like a puppy who had lost their owner.

The day was like any other, the nanny and mark would take her out for a walk, she’d read another book on flora and fauna, then she’d watch a documentary about some type of sea animal. She had finished her dinner and placed her dish in the sink, that’s when mark began to give her ideas. “Hey Роза, do you also miss mom?” the girl nodded and looked at the floor. “Alright I have an idea, let’s go find her tonight,” she jumped out of excitement and ran upstairs to her room. “I’ll wait for you down here then,” Mark called from the bottom of the stairs. Роза placed snacks and an extra pair of clothes in her sky blue backpack, as she placed it on her back she noticed the bear her mom had made for her. She took the bear into her arms and went downstairs, luckily the nanny was sleeping. The quickly and quietly left the house, hand in hand, ready for an adventure.

        Роза waled, thinking about how her dad could just leave her mom for some skunk, her mom was the most beautiful woman on earth. It wasn't bad that she was going through this, the bad part was that she knew exactly what was going on between them, she understood the situation. She mouthed her old dad's name, it left a bitter taste in her mouth. “ Yes Роза, your mom is the most beautiful person in the world,’ she nodded in agreement and continued to walk through the dimly lit streets, Mark and her bear being her only comfort.

        She didn't really understand Mark's personality. He had been her dad for a little over a year now, and he was still a mystery. Rose petals laid across the park floor, winter had been a cruel mistress to the delicate flower, most of the rose bushes withered away. Yet they never truly lost their beauty.  Роза eventually grew tired and decided to rest a while on a bench, a few minutes wouldn't hurt.

Роза’s goal was to make it to the other side of town before the sun rose and the nanny would realize she wasn't home. Mark was her guide as she didn't know where to go or what to do. He seemed to be doing all the right things, that was, until they reached the cemetery.  Mark held Роза hand tightly as they walked through the field a graves and up a hill. Snow, wilted flowers and morning dew decorated the graves. Her shoes got wet as they went up the hill.

“Stay here Роза, I’ll be right back.” He sat her down on a dry patch of grass. The two graves in front of Роза read “Jerry Jewell” the other next to it said “Lydia Mackay” she sat there remembering the situations. Mark came back and handed a rose to her, she looked at it, fully bloomed. She placed the rose on her mother's grave while Mark placed it on her dad's grave. She held back her tears as bitter sweet memories came back. How she wished she could say, I love you.

Her mother had left that faithful day 4 months ago, she wa on her way to her old dads funeral. A car came up behind her and she was launched through the windshield, no survivors. Her dad was killed by his new wife, lamp oil was put in his food, it slowly killed him, he didn't know. She was found guilty and sentenced to death. She had no sympathy for the woman, the two she had loved were gone. Mark held her close and she cried, eventually she fell asleep on the ground next to the graved, curled into a ball with Mark watching over her.

The grounds keeper found her the next morning and called the nanny to pick he up. Mark sat with her in the church, the exchanged looks. “I know you don't want to go home Роза, i know you want to be with your mom and dad,” she only looked at the ground before leaning against him. Life doesn't always bring happiness, where her family comes from, the snow isn't white. Where they came from, the snow was crimson. The nanny picked me up a held his hand. “We're going home back to Marisa,” She knew what that meant, her now mom was home,and she didn't like her new mom. She looked over at mark, knowing things would be okay. She only knew because during the storm, she was the only rose that had not wilted.