Status: Who really knows...
Four Musicals and a Country Boy
Dear Old Dad
I leaned against the inside of my front door and flipped through the mail from the past few days. It went basically like this: bill, bill, bill, apology card from one of Mom's exboyfriends, bill, bill, child support payment, bill, bill. Yeah, my mom has a lot of credit cards and she loves shopping.
A bark from the mudroom reminded me I wasn't alone. I dropped the mail on the side board for later and headed to let my dogs outside. Percy, a retriever mix, and Lance, a grayhound, were as always ecstatic to see me. After receiving a few loving licks I hearded them out into the backyard.
As I closed the glass door, my phone vibrated. I glanced at the caller ID; it was Dad.
"Hey Daddy, how's sunny California?" I asked gazing out the window. It began to rain gently, and Percy and Lance ran for the cover of a magnolia tree close to the picket fence that seperated my backyard and the rolling blue-green water of the Ocoee river.
"It would be even lovlier if you were here Elise." He just had to guilt trip me, didn't he? I sighed, it wasn't Dad's fault. I was eight when he and Mom split up. The judge decided who I would live with, and Mom had a really good lawyer.
"Did you call just to make it rain, or did you have another reason?" I asked as I wandered through the spacious living room toward the kitchen.
"I called about the Julliard Scholarship. I know it's probably bad luck to talk about it, but I just can't get it out of my mind kiddo." I smiled; it was nice to know at least one of my parents actually cared about my dreams.
"Don't worry Daddy. I already opened it, and I made it through!!" I couldn't help but gush the last part.
"I am so proud of you Elle!!" my dad enthused over the phone, "so what happens now?" The question seemed to hang in the air in front of me.
"Well," I said, "reps from Julliard will be coming to see my next four plays, and if my plays are better than any of the other semi-finalists, then they'll give me a full scholarship. And I'll be one step closer to Broadway!"
"So you're sure you don't want to be a dentist?" I knew my orthodontist dad was proud of me, but he just couldn't give up hope his only daughter would follow him into the practice.
"Yes Daddy, I'm sure. But I bet you could convince Sawyer to be a dentist." My four year old half brother worshiped the ground Dad walked on; he'd be an easy sale.
"I am really proud of you kiddo. You knew what you wanted, and you didn't let anyone stop you from getting it. I know you'll be the best they've ever seen."
"Thank you Daddy," I whispered wishing for about the millionth time that he wasn't on the other side of the country.
"I've got to see a patient now Elise. I'll talk to you soon. Bye sweethheart."
"Bye Daddy." I ended the call and spun myself around on the barstool I was perched on. It was time...
A bark from the mudroom reminded me I wasn't alone. I dropped the mail on the side board for later and headed to let my dogs outside. Percy, a retriever mix, and Lance, a grayhound, were as always ecstatic to see me. After receiving a few loving licks I hearded them out into the backyard.
As I closed the glass door, my phone vibrated. I glanced at the caller ID; it was Dad.
"Hey Daddy, how's sunny California?" I asked gazing out the window. It began to rain gently, and Percy and Lance ran for the cover of a magnolia tree close to the picket fence that seperated my backyard and the rolling blue-green water of the Ocoee river.
"It would be even lovlier if you were here Elise." He just had to guilt trip me, didn't he? I sighed, it wasn't Dad's fault. I was eight when he and Mom split up. The judge decided who I would live with, and Mom had a really good lawyer.
"Did you call just to make it rain, or did you have another reason?" I asked as I wandered through the spacious living room toward the kitchen.
"I called about the Julliard Scholarship. I know it's probably bad luck to talk about it, but I just can't get it out of my mind kiddo." I smiled; it was nice to know at least one of my parents actually cared about my dreams.
"Don't worry Daddy. I already opened it, and I made it through!!" I couldn't help but gush the last part.
"I am so proud of you Elle!!" my dad enthused over the phone, "so what happens now?" The question seemed to hang in the air in front of me.
"Well," I said, "reps from Julliard will be coming to see my next four plays, and if my plays are better than any of the other semi-finalists, then they'll give me a full scholarship. And I'll be one step closer to Broadway!"
"So you're sure you don't want to be a dentist?" I knew my orthodontist dad was proud of me, but he just couldn't give up hope his only daughter would follow him into the practice.
"Yes Daddy, I'm sure. But I bet you could convince Sawyer to be a dentist." My four year old half brother worshiped the ground Dad walked on; he'd be an easy sale.
"I am really proud of you kiddo. You knew what you wanted, and you didn't let anyone stop you from getting it. I know you'll be the best they've ever seen."
"Thank you Daddy," I whispered wishing for about the millionth time that he wasn't on the other side of the country.
"I've got to see a patient now Elise. I'll talk to you soon. Bye sweethheart."
"Bye Daddy." I ended the call and spun myself around on the barstool I was perched on. It was time...
♠ ♠ ♠
This chapter just isn't working for me. I have too much back story in my head that I can't get to translate into words.Gah!! Oh well, comments make me smile.