September 24, 2016

• Looking at Father

  The hospital gown was short on Liz accenting her now very long legs. The daughter she was rushing toward had turned into a woman of Amazonian proportions. For the first time in Liz’s life, her mother was stopped dead in her tracks. She took advantage of the situation by stretching her long arms out and reaching to embrace her tiny mother. Her mother evaded her hug. Turning on her heel and nearly knocking her father over, Mrs. Amanda Fuller fled the room. Liz was stunned. She turned to look at her father. He was looking at the door. Her father was trying to decide if he should go after his wife. He finally turned to look at Liz. A man of few words, he looked her over and his eyes softened. All he said to her was “Liz.” He walked to the bed and gave her the hug she needed. His first words were a statement “So tall.” He held her hand and then ran his palm over her bald head. With a wry smile he commented that without hair her eyes were more noticeable and beautiful. He asked about her job and her friends. He laughed and told her that her mother had bought some clothes that were not going to be suitable. He winked and said it would be good medicine if she spent some time returning them. Liz realized that her father was not unaware of the dynamic between her mother and herself. This was reassuring and also disturbing. She thought to herself that if he had known how domineering her mother was, why didn’t he intervene? Her father patted her hand, commenting on the softness of her palm, before excusing himself to make sure his wife wasn’t getting in trouble.

  • 6:57 am
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