Talks

“My father always had these talks with me,” I told Meleia.  “I keep thinking I will grow out of this phase, but here we are.” 

I watched Meleia put on her makeup and only wished I could get away with it.  Being that it was only my dad and I, he kept a tight leash on what was going on in my life.  I knew he couldn’t help it, but I needed him to loosen up a little bit.  He wanted to know everything going on, who I was with, who my teachers were.  Everything.  Now that I am eighteen and heading off to college, I’m not sure what he will do. 

I can’t wait to be able to leave home without being checked and rechecked for what he considers to be contraband.  I do sometimes worry as to what he will do at home when he is all by himself.  To my knowledge, he has never lived by himself.  He went from his parents house, to the dorms, an apartment with friends, then had immediately married my mother.  I don’t think he knows what to do when he is home alone for a few hours. 

“What is the first thing you are going to do when you get to school?” Meleia asked, finishing her makeup.  As I heard the creaky board in the hallway shift, I knew what my father wanted to hear.  I phrased it exactly as he wanted so I would no longer be his prisoner.