The Preachers Daughter

Chapter Five

"You haven't touched your food", my father said to me from across the table. We hadn't spoken all week since he decided to slap me across the face. I was completely fine living out the rest of my time here being silent and staying to myself. He decides today to cook a "family meal" so we can sit and eat like a "family". I didn't know family meant anything to him anymore.

"I'm not all that hungry", I lied. 

"You haven't said much to me lately".

"You slapped me. What all do you expect me to say right now?"

"Do you expect me to apologize? Because I won't. You're still a child under my roof and what you felt comfortable enough to say was disrespectful. I will not tolerate disrespect in my house. Have I made myself clear?"

"Crystal".

I looked down at my plate and played around with the peas that I'm sure were cold at this point. Every time I'm near my father I get sick to my stomach, so this dinner thing should come to an end. We won't get anywhere with it so he needs to just stop trying. 

"Have you spoken to your mother?"

"Have you?"

"Zoyanna listen, it isn't-"

"Poppa, I really don't care to have this heart to heart anymore, okay? Whatever you want to do in life is your business. Leave me out of it. I don't want to nor need to understand what transpired. I just want to focus on school and be done with it all".

He placed his fork down on his plate and nodded. I feel like he finally realized there was no convincing me of why he did what he did. In my eyes, no matter the reason, he was wrong. He will always be less of a man to me and nothing can change that. Not even God himself. 

"What are your plans for today?", he asked me. 

"I'm going over to Annie's. It's her birthday, remember?", I said with more venom in my tone than I intended there to be.

"I never understood how you two befriended each other".

"Because she kept it real with me. Something as a father you must not know how to do".

I got up from the table before he could say anything else. Last thing I need is to be around Annie with a funky attitude because of my father. It's her day and I don't want to be the one to ruin it. 

Every year Annie has this party in her apartment for her birthday. And every year something crazy happens. Last year her brother started having sex with one of his girlfriends in the middle of the floor. And the main chick was there the whole time watching them. Annie lost her marbles and her mom did too when she came home. I don't see how Annie can be the only girl living with that many boys. They must driver her bat shit crazy. Hopefully this year though, everything can go successfully. 

I know Annie would flip if I got her an expensive gift, which is why I'm not coming out of pocket for her. I drove to her place and text her to come downstairs. I could hear the music from her floor from all the way down here so I knew everything was jumpin' already. She came out the front door in a halter jumpsuit that clinged to her body in ways I never wanted to see again. I kept it simple with just some shorts and a 90's style t shirt, and seeing her makes me feel extremely under dressed. 

"Happy birthday Annie!", I said giving her a tight hug.

"Thank you rabbit! Now, what was the reason you had me come all the way down here? You know I can't leave negros unattended".

"I wanted to give you your birthday gift".

"Zoyanna! You know how I feel about gifts!"

She always switched to my government name when she wanted me to take her seriously.