reunion

Marvin left stating his mother was done yelling by now, leaving you, Tom, Moose, and Floppy to find your family. Once again you saw the angry and disappointed look upon your father's face as you drew nearer to him. Even in your wedged heels, your dad was still a head taller than you and most obviously when he was staring down at you like he was now. "I'm sorry. For everything."

He breathed heavily through his nose like a release valve on his anger before speaking, "I'm just glad you're okay."

You stood flabbergasted. before he would have ranted for twenty minutes about how stupid you were for running into traffic like some child. "I..."

"Dad!" Kyle yelled from inside a game store. "Bring money!" You and your dad both smirked and walked into the store.

For a while it seemed almost normal, your dad was his usual frugal self and didn't want to buy Kyle the new ****-man game. Until Kyle begged and promised he'd do extra chores and make a good grade on his next test. Dad relented and passed him off to Erin. "Meet us at the bookstore in a bit."

"Sure." Erin took an excited Kyle back out into the mall while your dad took you up to the side.

"Can we talk?"

"Sure."

"Alone?" He looked at Tom who stayed in the store looking over a game.

You hesitated, "Sure." you tapped Tom on the shoulder, "Can you give us a minute?"

"Are you sure?"

"He IS my dad." Tom eyed him suspiciously, "I have my phone on me if I need you."

"Okay." He relented kissing your forehead. "I love you." He whispered in your ear.

"I love you too." Tom slowly walked away. You walked to your dad at the counter as he paid for the game.

"Don't tell Kyle." He winked mischievously.

"But..he hasn't done the work yet."

"He will, just like you got better grades when you wanted your car." Your face couldn't hide your shock, he rode your ass about getting your grades up for months! "I always knew you could do it. You just needed the push."

"I didn't need you yelling at me about it though." You bit your lip, a little too late. It was hard to not still be angry even after everything.

"I know. I can't change our past but I really want to change our future, that's why I want you to come home."

The anger crept into your mind once more like snakes wiggling over every groove of your brain, how easy it would be to give in and pay back every nasty word he ever said and all it would take is to deny him one thing. But you already lost one parent to anger and ignorance, was it worth it to lose another who at least was trying to be better?

"Da-..I-"

"You don't have to come home tonight...just for now? For dinner?" You never heard him sound so ****, he had once told you that begging was the act of a man with no options left.