Bobert

     Sitting on the donut shaped couch was something I couldn't fathom. I didn't even hesitate to break a piece off and dip it in the coffee that magically appeared in front of me on top of the graham cracker coffee table. I was delighted as the delicious and sugary pastry basically melted in my mouth. Who knew if you mixed a bunch of eggs, sugar, butter and fried it, it would be this delicious? Whoever the person, they deserved to be ruler of the land. They were probably way dead...forever in memoriam. Enter that "I Will Remember You" song right about now.

     The donut was so good. I don't think I've ever tasted a donut that good. Where had it been all life? I grabbed the remote that was conveniently sitting next to me to spend the next couple of hours watching nonsense on TV. But something odd happened. Every time I pressed the 'on' button, it only made a buzzing noise. What? I pressed again, and another buzz made itself present. What? Slowly, my surroundings started to fade. "No, no, no!" I mumbled before opening my eyes, out of my delicious dream and groaning as I rummaged through my sheets to find the culprit of buzzing.

     The phone screen illuminated to tell me Amanda was calling me. I swiped right to answer the call and pressed the phone to my ear to groan and only groan.

"Did I interrupt another food dream?" She said after my noise and I mumbled back.

"Yes. Your timing is impeccable."

"What was it this time?"

"Donuts."

"Oooo, yum. I could go for a donut. Or 5."

"How're you, Manda Panda?" I asked her after yawning a bit and sitting up to talk to her properly. It always brought me joy that she called me before her classes for the day. Things had been quiet in the house ever since she had left for school and she made a promise to call me every morning (or try to) and ensure I woke up and was productive. It had been the slowest year of my life.

"I'm good! Emma C. and I have a few projects due today so I'm a little nervous, but nothin' I can't handle!" She exclaimed confidently and I couldn't help but smile. After thinking about her sentence for a moment, the smile faded.

"Wait. Who's Emma C??" I asked, baffled on how this girl managed to meet so many Emmas in her 19 years of life. I barely met two Johns and here she was with an army of Emmas. She might be able to be in the Guinness Book of World Records as the girl who knows the most Emmas. If that was even a thing...

"Dad! She's been my roommate for a year now."

"Honey, you get where I'm coming from, right?"

"Yeah, yeah. I know. But I haven't talked to Emma P or R since high school. All you need to remember is Emma C is my main chick. Capeesh?"

"Emma C as in Capeesh. Comprendo." I said as I finally made my way out of bed and into the bathroom, staring at my tired face and making a face at my own face....? "You'll do great today, hun."

"Thanks, Dad. You out of bed?"

"Up and in the bathroom to shower, cause that's what people do?"

"Yes. That's what people do. You're gonna do great today too, pops. You write those reviews! Show 'em who's boss!" She exclaimed merrily which caused me to chuckle.

"I miss ya, kid." I said in a softer tone trying not to let my sadness of her absence slip into my voice.

"I miss you too, dad. I've gotta go now. I'll text you okay? Love you!"

"I love you, too. Make good choices!"

     After we hung up, I left my phone aside and let out a sigh. No matter how many years went by, I was convinced I would never get used to Amanda living in the world and being an adult. Without me. While I spent a good amount of time reading up on books on how to deal with your kid fending for themselves, they all said the same thing in the end. It's a matter of understanding we all go through it and accept it. I mean, I could've thought of that myself but whatever.