Narrow Steps

Narrow Steps: Chapter Two

   When I come home my father is still at work, today was his first day, I hope everything went over well with his boss and co-workers. I decide I'm now hungry so I go into one our cabinets and grab a nutrient bar to hold me over for dinner. I hope my dad brings home Chinese again, I really don't feel like cooking, I have too much to do.

   I walk up the stairs with all my school books I received in the last week and threw them down on my desk then I allowed my body to collapse in the chair; I hope this few moments of relaxation would make up for this day full of stress. After a few moments I muster myself together and get to work.

   I have a two page report due tomorrow on the effects of the Cold War in American History, a five paragraph essay on dinosaurs, don't  ask, this teacher's literally insane and he expects us to have zero mistakes on this paper. Thank God for Auto Correct because I really don't feel like trying tonight, I'd rather be writing in my journal for fun rather then doing these essays.

Eight o' clock came just in time, just as my father was pulling into the drive way I was just putting the finishing touches on my American History Cold War project, re reading and editing. I jumped up from my computer desk and ran to the window on the left wall, adjacent to my bed to see if he had any kind of food. At this point I'm so hungry I could care less what it was. Yes, I could've went downstairs to the kitchen to make me a sandwich but I would've hated to ruin my dinner. By the time I reach the window he is already shutting the door behind him. Dang it, stupid slow reactions. I do a little upsetting humph and blow a streak of my beach blond hair that is pinned back into a skank bun, just the way I wore it to school because I don't care what people think, call me a skank all you want, I don't care.

   I walk down the staircase to greet my father, Bub, at the doorway of the sort of kitchen sort of dining room that looked like it was painted in the 60s with the bright yellow cabinets and green tile. In my opinion it should completely re-modeled. He hit me with the upsetting news as soon as I walked in the room by asking, "What's for dinner." I did my signature humph and did a little groan while opening the out of date refrigerator.

   "It depends, what do you want and do we have it?"

   "How about some fried chicken with masked potatoes and green beans just the way your mo-" m made it. I could finish his sentence for him. His face got red like he was holding back tears. I know he misses mom, I do even. "How about sandwiches?" He changed his mind.

   "No! No, you're not doing this to me and yourself! If we didn't make everything mom made we would be starving! We can't deprive yourself for her stupidity, that would just signify she won! We must prove to her we can live without her," I screamed. After a few moments of silence and after a few tears rolled off my fathers fat, chubby cheeks I decided to break the awkward silence by saying in the calmest voice ever, "I know how to cook fried chicken, do you mind setting the table?"

   "Of course." he acted as if nothing had happend just as I did. "Where are the plates, I forgot? Sorry, bad memory if you remember." Of course I remember because he has always used my good memory to his advantage. I guide him with my index finger to the cabinet all the way to the left.

   I got the chicken breast from the deep freeze, a can of green beans from under the sink and the potatoes next to the fridge. I peel the potatoes, cut them up, boil then and mashed them. I put milk, butter, salt and pepper and also fried the chicken.

   I brought all of the food over to the four person table that my father sat and called him into the kitchen from the living room. When he walked in I realized he has already un-tied his tie and slipped off his shoes revealing his black socks.

   "Looks delicious hun, thank you. I appreciate it, I really do," he didn't even look at me while saying it but instead was already scooping food onto his plate but a meaningful thank you from my father is a lot and I'll take it. My father likes to put on a I'm big, which he is, bad, mean person who has no feelings but in reality he can be the biggest teddy bear if you catch him at the right time.

    "So," I started, "how was your first day?" He really doesn't get along with people so I can only hope for the best.

   "Great! Actually I made a few friends." This really surprised me. He continued to tell the story as if he came home from his first day of kindergarten, "I was on the phone with one of my new clients who wrote this magnificent piece of work and I honestly think this could be the one!" Don't get the wrong idea, my dad can not write at all. He actually slaughters the American language he just enjoys reading just as myself. "Anyways,  my phone went out and she called the company back but got directed to John. I was telling about it at lunch and John spoke up and actually gave her back to me. This is my first author I'll ever be mentoring."

   Mentoring, I wonder what that is like, having a mentor. My dad has always had that, what some call, tough love attitude. I have never had anyone help me with any of my writings. Yes, I am jealous but I don't know if I would want anyone to help. I wouldn't even allow Jamie to look at my journal, what makes me think I'll let someone change it?

   The rest of dinner I played with my greens because I'm honestly not hungry because I ate two pieces of chicken. Hey, I like food, I'm human. My dad and I back and forward about small things like the wheather which is always the same, precipitation that accumulates. We finish our dinner and I wash the dishes, take a shower and finish getting ready for bed. The last thing on my mind is Jamie, would I mind if he was my helper, maybe a co-author? The mention of his name gives me the butterflies. I dream of good things.

A/N This chapter was more of a fill in chapter. It's mainly to show Bub, Haley's father and to get to the next day of school. It's what I call a lazy chapter. Before I go and post the third chapter I am going back and editing the first two. I've read though them and they are sort of sloppy and I'm sorry. I am writing on my phone with my huge thumbs. Thanks for the reads and views!

-NS-