Silent Voice

Chapter 3 - Rich People Apartments

The moon hangs low in the midnight-black sky, reflecting off the bay and throwing its light into Claire's room. Claire paces back and forth, her slipper-shod feet leaving an oval track on the soft rug as she walks around and around.

She can't believe that she's going to an autism support group later... she checks the time... yes, today. What if they don't like her? What if they want to get rid of her?

But what if they're really nice? She doesn't want to miss out on a good opportunity! She can't sleep, thinking of it all!

Claire raises her hands up to her head and gives out a muted shriek.

Then she hears a quiet tap on her bedroom door, and it swings open. She sees the huge silhouette of her pop, Patrick Fields, a tall, fair-skinned man with short brown hair. Yawning, he steps into her room in his pajamas.

Claire grabs her phone.

"Hi, Claire!" he says. It must be around 3 am.

"Hi, soda!" Claire types.

Pop grins. "No, I'm Pop!"

"Hi, soft drink!"

He laughs. "I'm Pop!"

"Hi, bubbly!" Claire begins bouncing.

"You're thinking of champagne, silly!" her pop says.

"Icky!"

"Your dad and I love that you hate the taste of alcohol."

"No, icky YOU!" Claire giggles.

"Careful, Claire!" her pop teases. "Insult me too much and I have to disown you!"

Claire's smile shatters. She looks down. She pulls her narrow shoulders in close, arms wrapped tight around her small frame.

"Oh... no, Claire, no, not for real..." Pop's heart feels like there is a fist clenched around it. He can't bear to see his daughter like this. "You're adopted, and that's final. I'll always love you! I only meant to tease you like you teased me. Not make you sad."

He extends his arms. "Want a hug?"

Claire shuffles over to him and curls her hands in his shirt, letting him wrap his arms around her. She's very still.

"I'm very sorry," her pop says. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm tired and I made a bad joke. I love you more than the whole entire world! I'm not leaving you, no matter how much you tease me.

"Other teens say 'I hate you' to their dads. If 'icky' is the worst you call me, I think I'm good. Plus, let's be fair... you've smelled me after I've exercised. Given how stinky I get, I'm lucky that YOU still love ME!"

Claire giggles and lets go of him. Of course she will always love her silly old pop. He always knows how to make her laugh. Of all the fathers in the world, she got the best two.

"Claire, do you know what I found?" her pop asks.

Claire thinks. She has no idea!

Pop produces a cupcake from goodness knows where. "There was a cupcake in your pocket!"

Claire gives a quiet shriek of delight. She never knows how he pulls these stunts off! How could he hide an entire cupcake?

Pop hands over the cupcake and she begins to eat, smearing pink frosting all over her upper lip in her enthusiasm.

Patrick watches his daughter with a smile. Distraction mission successful! This isn't the first time he's found Claire pacing at some ridiculous hour at night. Usually she wakes up because she's hungry or stressed. A snack and a change of subject set her back on the right track.