The day started just as all of the others had the past few months. Oh yeah, except of course that Dad was coming to town today. Great... I woke up, rustled through my drawers for a morning soundtrack, something somber maybe? Nah, but I did decide to switch things up when I came across a dusty mixtape in the bottom of the drawer. Funny how it was named "Untitled" Haha Haha… Ha. Sorry. Well, I threw the disc on and jumped in the shower, I didn't recognize the song, at first. But after a crazy guitar rift opened up to a unmistakable vocal riff, it was obvious. It was Dad's. I was already wet so I couldn't turn it off. Anyways, I hadn't heard the track before so it must've been leftover from Mom's stuff. As the song went on what I thought was his typical "Drugs, Sex, and Alcohol!" song, shifted into something I hadn't heard from him before. He was singing about Mom and the good times, and honestly seemed happy. Not once in my life had I seen him as anything but selfish and heartless.
You know what, hell, if even my loser of a father can enjoy other people, then what's stopping me? Who better to start with than the old man himself? I overreacted the other day, and maybe if I gave him a chance I could see this other side of him. If only I hadn't broken that damn phone, I could've called him, but I settled on his manager's number. I dialed it up. "Hey its Marshal, Marshal Mecher"
"Oh hey bud, its been a long time," he responded with refreshing sincerity, "Your Dad was hoping you'd call, I'll put him on."
"Thanks."
After a few moments, a different voice answered "Hey, I understand if you are mad at me, but-" I interrupted, "Stop, apologies aren't helping anyone anymore. All my life I didn't have a father, and I'm done hating you." I didn't want his pity to change my mind. "If you can, I can head out to breakfast at Alice's?"
"Well, Marshall, um, I was supposed to have a meet up in a couple of minutes..." for once I could see the pain in his voice.
"Oh, well, another time then-"
"Nah, screw it! Let's do it, a family emergency right?"
I hopped down to the garage and took off down Maine St. towards Alice's. I got there early, but I walked in anyways. As I crossed through the doors I ran straight into a familiar face. One that I had been avoiding for years. Bess Prescott. We had a history, she was the girl that got away. Hell, if I was trying to talk to people, she's one hell of a start.
"It's been a while," I gulped out, "How've you been?"
"Good," she lipped.
"Hey, I know we weren't on the best note last time we talked, but I'd love to catch up?"
She prodded, but seemed interested, "Do you mean, like a date?"
"No no no no, not yet," I did my best impression of confidence, "Unless of course that's what you wanted?"
She gave me the side eye, so I backtracked, "Just lunch then."
"That sounds good to me," she agreed as I walked her out of the restaurant. We stood by the curb for a few minutes and talked. Somebody near us pointed out a silhouette on the roof of the Maitland, she spun around to see and her phone flew out of her bag and landed face up on the road. "Don't worry," I said, I'll grab it," still looking towards the Maitland I strolled over to the phone. "Not a scratch," I yelled over, but she was still glued to the building.
I started back across the street, but I heard the blare of a car horn, quickly spun around to see my father in the front seat of a speeding taxi. Almost in an instant I was thrown into the air by the screeching car, then it was silent. There was nothing. Just black. The sad thing is that it didn't feel so odd this time.
After what felt like an eternity a steady beep started to fill my darkness. Light started to stream in from thin slits, and then I was back. I couldn't move. My eyes darted around a bright box. They settled on the worried eyes of Lamar, what a relief, I was alive. I must be in the hospital, but there was no other sound than that constant tone. Flanking him was Bess, tears still wet her cheeks. The last man in the room was pacing back and forth across the floor. He turned towards me and I could see my own eyes glaring back. Dad smiled and my eyelids fluttered shut. Beep, beep, beep, and I slipped right back out of consciousness into the deep, dark space
