Growing Up Nelson: Fatherly Advice

Blast From The Purple Past

Regan squatted down on the floor as began rummaging through a big box full of photos, stuffed toys, vinyl albums, tour books, and other interesting things as I watched in wonder.

  "Girl! This is just small dose of what you fear old dad would send to me when I was in college. Every semester I would get a package of something cool. Tour pins, pictures of the guys that no one has ever seen before, even mixtapes and recordings of them practicing." Regan replied happily.

She pulled out a black silk handkerchief and tossed it to me quickly with a big smile on her face. Catching it in my hands the faint scent of lavender graced my nose. Pulling it closer to my face the scent grew stronger and it sent a warm sensation of security all over my body.

  "Dad....it smells like.....YOU!" I exclaimed.

Daddy gave a small smile as he shook his head.

  "Mouse must we do this out here? I don't want anybody seeing anything that I used to do come out of that box."

Regan looked up at my dad with with a smirk on her face and judging by that look I can tell this conversation was not going to be meant for my ears.

  "Oh buddy. You don't have to worry about that. I'm already out of the box anyway!" Regan giggled.

  "REGAN! C'MON!!!! THE GIRL IS STILL HERE!!!!" Daddy shouted as he covered his blushed face.

  "Dad. Need I remind you? Bedroom? Housekeeper? Flavored condom? 2 years ago?" I joked.

  "Don't! Please! Don't! I can only imagine what ungodly things you'll get yourself into when you get to Spellman." He whined.

  "Prince relax! Carlyn is an adult and will make good decisions for herself. I trust her to do the right thing and you should try to do the same. I have faith in my girl!" Regan replied as she should from the floor and placed her right hand on daddy's arm.

  "Yeah dad come on! I'm a good girl and you've taught me well! Nothing will go wrong. Beside Tre will be on the campus not too far from me so I'll be very well protected."

  "Protected HOW?!?!?!" Daddy shouted as his face began to twist in disgust.

  "Prince! Gross!" Regan huffed.

  "Yeah dad get your mind out of the gutter! Just nasty! And I thought you were a man of Jehovah. For shame."

As hard as I tried to keep my giggles to a minimum seeing daddy squirm was enough to make me erupt in laughter.

  "Carlyn I will pack up and move to Atlanta! And you know I would!" Daddy sneered.

  "Oh Prince stop! Let the girl live her life. We all know you lives yours. His Royal Raunchiness." Regan giggle with a wink.

"That's exactly why I will move wherever she goes. I don't want her following the same road I did when I was her age." Daddy said sternly.

"C'mon dad you got to do something wild and crazy with your life! Why can't I do the same thing? It's not like I'm really gonna be doing much of anything but studying and maybe a few campus parties here and there but no drugs or nothing like that. I might play around of beer pong or two."

"Carlyn Alexandra Nelson I don't ever want you engaging in any type of under age drinking on campus do I make myself clear?!?!?" Daddy hissed at me.

"Calm down it was just a joke. Don't be such a crab cake." I huffed back as I crossed my arms angrily.

"Yeah Prince what's gotten into you?" Regan asked as she picked the box up from the floor and made her way to the living room.

I followed behind her and didn't dare to look at my dad. Ever since I graduated from high school he's been a mess of emotions and he's been very vague about why. I know he's worried about me but I think there's way more going on than what he told me the last time we sat down and tried to have a conversation.