Smiles All Around
“Honey, have a good time, I love you,” was the last thing my mother said to me
before I packed my bags and hopped on a plane with an escort named Missy, to
Salt Lake City, where my dad and his wife, Katharine lived. It had been seven
years since I last saw my dad. My parents divorced when I was five, and I had
been living with my mom since.
I didn’t know much about my dad, so my mom decided that I should go spend
Christmas this year with him. She has been reading parenting books lately and
read that for a healthy relationship a child should always get to know their
parents. Well maybe I don’t want to know him, was what I thought. I was
sixteen and my father had not been in my life for almost seven years. Before he
moved to
I didn’t know what to get my dad and his wife for Christmas so I got them a box of chocolate. I didn’t really want to go see him, but at the same time I felt like I should, it was just for a week, after all.
I sat on the plane listening to my iPod. It was about six o’ clock in the morning, and my escort kept asking if I needed anything and if I was going to be okay by myself. Yes, I am thank you, I reply I am sixteen; I can take care of myself.
During the five-hour plane ride I tried to remember the times my father
and I spent together, but I couldn’t remember much. I was starting to get
nervous. My mom gave me a photo album with pictures of my father, and me, and
some with all of us in it. I looked really young, about two years old. As I
flipped through it looking at all the pictures slowly, no memories came up. I
closed my eyes.
I looked out from the little
windows, everything looked so white because of the clouds. My heart began to
beat fast and my hands were getting sweaty. I was nervous. I closed my eyes and
started to imagine how my father would look like since I haven’t seen him in so
long.
The plane began to land, and I sat waiting nervously. After the plane
landed, I waited until the rush of people trying to get off the plane at the
same time was gone. I saw the excitement in all these people’s faces, and as for
me, I was the complete opposite. I slowly got up from my seat gathering my
things, and the flight attendant came and escorted me to the waiting area where
my dad and his wife were, at least where they were suppose to be. I looked
through the glass windows and tried to look for a familiar face. I didn’t see
him.
“Do you see him?” asked the flight attendant.
“No.” I answered. He’ll be here in a minute I thought to myself, trying
to calm down.
We stood there in the airport for about fifteen minutes looking around
and waiting. No show. Anger started to spread throughout my mind.
What the hell, how can he be late? I
walked to a chair to sit down.
I looked around again. Suddenly I saw a man running and holding a sign
that said “Jenny”. It was be him.
“I think that’s him over there” I said, “The one with the red jacket.”
“Okay,” she said smiling.
We started to walk towards him. Oh no, what do I say? Should I show him that I’m mad right now? What was his name? My mind started to go blank like I have just been brainwashed.
“Hi, I’m Missy.” she said, putting out a hand. “ I was Jenny’s escort for the ride.”
“Hi, I’m Alex,” he said shaking her hand, “ I am so sorry to be late, there was so much traffic on the way here, I don’t get around here that often so I didn’t know, again I am so sorry.” He looks at me, and smiles. “ And you must be Jenny!”
“Well, nice meeting you guys, bye.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I said waving as she walked into the crowd.
“Yeah, its me, hey.” I said half smiling deciding that I was not going to show that I was mad. I didn’t want to start this trip off with a bad impression, and I can understand that he wouldn’t have known that there would be traffic if he doesn’t pass by this area that often. He reached out for a hug. I put the photo album that I was clutching onto the whole time in my right hand and gave him a hug.
“Let me get that for you. Wow, honey, you look so much older. How was the ride here?”
“Thanks, yeah it’s been a while since I’ve seen you. And the ride was good. ”
I wanted to call him dad, but it
wouldn’t come out of my mouth. I wanted to tell him he was an ass-hole for being
so late. But I believe that everything happens for a reason, so I let it go. We
started to walk towards the parking lot. On the way to his house, we talked
about the weather, and the so-called “ Great time I’m going to have in
“Alright, here we are.” He pulls into a nice neighborhood. The houses
were all huge. Wow, why can’t mom and I live in a nice house like this? The car
comes to a stop. I got out the car to admire the neighborhood with the photo
album still in my hands. It was about
“Hello! You must be Jenny, I’m Katherine,” said a women who wore a purple dress, with black curly hair, and a lot of make-up.
“Hey honey, we’re here.”
“Hi.” I said giving her a smile.
We walked into the house. It was warm; I took of my jacket off to hang it on the coat hanger, and so did Alex.
“Let me show you to your room.” I follow her up-stairs. There were many paintings that looked expensive, the abstract kind that I could probably do just as well myself
“Here is the bathroom, and here is your room, I hope you will like it, I
picked everything out.” She said as she opened the door. I followed her in; the
walls were lavender and the curtains matched, so did the bed covers. There was a
TV, and a desk. It was a nice room, it is bigger than my room back at home.
“Thanks, I really like it.”
“I’m glad you do, just let me know if you need anything, dinner will be
ready in about fifteen minutes,” she paused for a quick second,
“Jenny, I’m glad you’re here.”
“Thanks, I’m glad I’m here too.” I replied half -lying.
Katherine left the room. She seemed like a nice person, she must love
purple, and she needs to cut down on the make-up. And Alex, he must be a clumsy
person. I unpacked my suitcase and took out the photo album from my purse. I
took a quick glance around the room and there was a picture of Alex and
Katherine at a beach, Katherine looked awkward, sitting in a chair like her back
was broken. Alex didn’t look much different, maybe just a little white hair now
here and there. I placed the photo album that I had in my hands into a drawer in
the desk. I’m ready to talk, no negative thoughts I tell myself, I quickly
washed my hands and I slowly walked down the stairs, and into the dining room.
Alex greeted me from the entrance to the kitchen and told me to sit
anywhere, and I did. I took a glance in the kitchen and Katherine was moving to
the grove of music coming from the TV and Alex was humming to it. The room was
nice -- everything was in place, the chandelier must have coasted a fortune.
While I looked around the food was all placed out before I noticed. We said
grace and began eating.
After dinner and the long conversations about school and what we were going to do, I said thank-you and walked back into the room. That wasn’t too bad, Alex was a nice person and so was Katherine. All of a sudden my phone rang. I walked over to my bag and tried to find it with so many things in it. I saw it, mom it said. I answered. “Hey honey, how is it so far? I miss you.” I told her everything that happened from the plane ride and the long wait at the airport to the dinner. “Great I’ll see you soon, call me if you need anything,” she said. I will I replied and clicked “end call”. From the phone call I just had, it reminded me that Mom did spend a lot of money for me to get to know my dad and I don’t want her money to waste, so I decided to go down stairs.
They saw me and greeted me with big smiles once again. They were in the
process of making coffee; I sat down in one of the big comfy couches in the big
living room. They walked in with coffee and cookies. We talked for hours. It was
a good start.
The next day I woke up to the smell of bacon, eggs and pancakes. I was a
bit late waking up it was already
“Did you sleep well last night?” asked Alex, placing the cups and a plate
of eggs onto the table.
“It was good, the bed was very comfy. What are we going to do today?” I
replied.
“ Lets decide after breakfast,” said Katherine placing the bacon and
pancakes onto the table next to the eggs.
“What would you like to do? We can go ice-skating, watch movies here at home or at the theaters.”
“ Or we can go shopping,” Katherine said interrupting Alex and gave him a big smile.
“ And that too,” said Alex smiling back.
“ A movie sounds good, I haven’t seen one in a while.” I said.
“ Sounds great, do you want to watch it at home or in the theaters?” asked Katherine.
“ You guys have a big TV here, I say here.” I said after my last piece of bacon.
“ We have a lot of movies on the self behind the couch, you can go pick one out if you would like,” said Alex pointing to the couch.
“ Would you like more eggs? Another cup of orange juice?” asked Katherine.
“Well, seems like everyone is done, how bout you and Jenny go pick out a movie from the shelf while I wash the dishes,” said Katherine to Alex.
“ Are you sure honey.”
“I can help too.” I said.
“No, no its okay. You two go pick out a movie,” Katherine said placing
one plate on top of another to carry into the kitchen.
Alex and I walked to the living room.
“ So, how are things over there with you and your mother? Is she okay?”
said Alex.
“Uh…She is good, she works at a clothing store now down the street.” I
answered startled that he asked about my mother.
“ That is really good to hear. So you like the weather here? I know its
nothing like
“ Its good, I’m starting to get use to the cold and especially the snow.”
“ Maybe we can have a snow ball fight later today”
“ Yeah, that sounds fun, lets do it after the movie.”
We picked out the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and waited for Katherine to get done with the last two plates.
For the next few days, the same thing happens, brunch at
On Christmas day we woke up early to open presents. I gave them the box
of chocolate, and apparently it was their favorite kind. It made me feel happy
to hear. They both gave each other theirs; Katherine got Alex a few sets of
clothes and some kind of tool that he really liked for the yard. And Alex got
Katherine a really pretty diamond necklace and a gift-card to the spa. How nice
I thought and finally it was my turn. I took the last wrapped box. It was heavy.
I slowly opened it and it was what I have always wanted, a laptop. It was pink
and shiny; on the bottom right-hand corner it had my name engraved in it. I gave
them both a big hug. Wow, they got me a laptop. I got my camera from the purse.
“Lets take a picture together.” I said placing the camera on the table and
setting is on timer so that the three of us can be in the picture together.
The week passed by fast. A few day after Christmas and it was time for me
to go home. Half of me felt good to go back home, but part of me felt like I was
going to miss them. Although I didn’t spend a lot of time with just my dad, I
felt like spending time with Katherine and him were just as good.
Once again, dad did not know the time it takes to get to the airport, and
I was almost late for my flight. They walked me to my gate.
“I’m
going to miss you, promise to come back again,” Katherine said, with a big hug.
“Thanks, Katherine, I will, and I will miss you too.”
“I
had a really great time with you honey and I will miss you so much,” dad said
reaching out for a hug. “ Oh, and before I forget, here is the picture from
Christmas.”
“Oh wow, Thanks. Thanks for making it fun, and I will miss you too dad” I
say while hugging him. I took out the photo album from my purse and found a spot
on the last page. “Perfect!” He looked at me and smiled, a different smile, one
that I have never seen, and it was a special smile from my dad.