Biggest Dream

I’d thought of a million things.

A million things I’d do when I finally saw my Dad.

A million things I’d say.

A million ways he would look.

A million things we would talk about.

A million ways I would be happy.

I’d thought of all the regular things any regular twelve year old who had pined for a father for as long as I could remember would think.

“You’ve got to keep your hopes down, Marjorie,” Mum said walking in to find me looking out the window. “I can see your teeth all the way from the backyard."

“Mom, tell me what he looks like.” Mom gave a stern look.

“Please, I just want to hear it.”

“Baby, you’re already going to see him.”

“Pleaseeee.”

Mom heaved a long sigh. She was super grim this morning and I wondered why. I was hoping she’d be as happy as I was. But I guess she wasn’t looking forward to my dad coming like I was. Probably cause it wasn’t her own dad?

“He’s tall, dark and handsome.”

My face lit up again as I turned towards the window.
Just then, a truck came through our driveway. It was brown and rusty, and the engine spurted fumes uncontrollably like the chimney of a gas industry that had been in use for two centuries. An ugly truck indeed.

Surely that couldn’t be...

But then a man came out of it. Tall, dark and...

I rushed out and came face to face with the man that I’d longed to meet all my life.

He smiled and I stopped myself in motion as I took in his details. He was tall and dark, like Mom said. But he staggered as he walked and his teeth had multiple brown stains on them. I’d read a book the previous week that had described the villain as having an oily smile. Somehow, one look at that man in front of me with his brown teeth seemed a perfect fit.

“Marjorie, come hug your Dad.”

I took a step but realized that it was a step backwards. Why was I moving back? Wasn’t this what all I’d always wanted?
Mom came out then.

“George,” she said. “You’re here.”

“Kristen,” his voice turned stern. “Can I have her now?”

“Well, George, she has to decide that for herself.” Mom turned to me. “Do you want to go with Dad, sweetie?”

I turned accusing eyes at Mom. “You said he was handsome.”

“Marjorie...” Mom became fidgety.

Dad grabbed her arm in split seconds, twisting it. “You saying trash about me, Kristen?”

“Let me go, George!” Mom spat. I saw her wince and guessed this man, who couldn’t be my dad, twisted her arm more.

Just then, I heard a scream. A loud, piercing scream.

It was coming from me. I was screaming at this stranger who was nothing like I thought he’d be. I guess it had effect because he let go of Mom’s arm as quickly as he’d grabbed it and was in his ugly truck in seconds, casting us mean looks as he drove away.

Mom turned to me, hurt and sadness radiating from her eyes, but I ran inside and into my room.

As I lay in bed, questions swam speedily in my head.

A million questions I wish I had the answers to.
What to do when your biggest dream comes and goes?

Inspired by the Freewriter's Daily Prompt: An Ugly Truck.

Jhymi🖤

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