Read Online With Wings I Soar by Norah Simone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Norah Simone
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night I managed to get a phone call through and we talked for a little while. I guess he wants to see me now. He said he wanted to see me this whole time but Mom wouldn't let him.”
Katie balked before answering.
“That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Why wouldn't your mom want you talking to your own dad?”
Tabitha shrugged, squeezing back the tears that were threatening to pour down her cheeks. Katie had enough going on right now. She didn’t need to sit and watch Tabitha cry. Not today. Not ever.
“I got into a huge fight with her about it. She said she was just trying to protect me from him. Like, she didn't want me to get hurt like she got hurt. I don't really get it. I mean, he can't leave me twice, right? He already walked out once. A few phone calls aren't going to hurt me.”
“Be careful, Tabby,” Katie warned. “Divorces are tricky things. Sometimes things aren't always what they seem, and sometimes your parents will tell you anything to get full custody of you. I don't know your dad that well and I mean, I can't judge his motives, but I think you should be careful.”
“Why, do you think he's just saying whatever he wants to get me to go live with him?”
“Not necessarily, but even if he gets joint custody of you, there's always the chance that he'll bail on his responsibilities again once something better comes along. Just be careful.”
Tabitha paused before shooting back, “Why can't you just be happy for me?”
“What?” Katie looked surprised at her friend's reaction.
“I finally get to talk to my dad and the only thing you can do is be negative. Why can't you just be glad that I even get the chance to talk to him? You just said that you would give anything to talk to your dad again and have him around. Well, I finally get that chance, and it sure sounds to me like you don't want me to have it. So what, Katie, if you don't get a dad, nobody does?”
A tear slid down Katie's cheek. They had stopped walking by now and were standing in front of a tiny brick house. Smoke blew gently from the chimney and Tabitha could see a Christmas tree sparkling through one of the front windows. She thought briefly that it was a little late to still have a tree up. She wondered why they hadn't taken it down. Just let go already. Christmas is gone.
When Katie spoke, her voice was firm, but she bit her lip between sentences. This told Tabitha that Katie was really, ridiculously upset. Katie only bit her lip in the most extreme of situations.
“That was harsh, Tab. You know me better than that. Of course I'm happy for you. And yeah, I miss my daddy more than anything. The pain is unbearable. Every day I wake up and go to my computer to send him an email before I realize that he's never going to read his email again. And any time I hear a funny joke, I think to myself ' I can't wait to tell Dad. He'll laugh so hard!' but I can't tell him the joke, Tabitha. I can't tell him because he's dead. And he's gone. And I don't ever get to see him again. And you do get to see your Dad and that's great for you, okay? But remember this before you get back on your high horse: your dad left you. My dad didn't choose to die. He died for the good of the country. He didn't die because he didn't love me or because he didn't want to be around me anymore.”
Tabitha stared at Katie. She put a hand on her heart and felt its racing beat even through her thick wool jacket. A bird landed on the road and began jumping down the center lane. Its white wings became muddy and covered in sleet as the bird chirped and hopped. Tabitha stared at it for a moment, her mind burning. Finally, the bird flew away. Tabitha hoped it would find a safe place to hide and rest this winter. Blinking, she turned back to Katie. Tabitha opened her mouth. She tried to speak, but couldn't form the words she so desperately wanted to say.
Finally, she conceded. She knew Katie was right, and she felt stupid for being so mean to her.
“I'm
Katie balked before answering.
“That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Why wouldn't your mom want you talking to your own dad?”
Tabitha shrugged, squeezing back the tears that were threatening to pour down her cheeks. Katie had enough going on right now. She didn’t need to sit and watch Tabitha cry. Not today. Not ever.
“I got into a huge fight with her about it. She said she was just trying to protect me from him. Like, she didn't want me to get hurt like she got hurt. I don't really get it. I mean, he can't leave me twice, right? He already walked out once. A few phone calls aren't going to hurt me.”
“Be careful, Tabby,” Katie warned. “Divorces are tricky things. Sometimes things aren't always what they seem, and sometimes your parents will tell you anything to get full custody of you. I don't know your dad that well and I mean, I can't judge his motives, but I think you should be careful.”
“Why, do you think he's just saying whatever he wants to get me to go live with him?”
“Not necessarily, but even if he gets joint custody of you, there's always the chance that he'll bail on his responsibilities again once something better comes along. Just be careful.”
Tabitha paused before shooting back, “Why can't you just be happy for me?”
“What?” Katie looked surprised at her friend's reaction.
“I finally get to talk to my dad and the only thing you can do is be negative. Why can't you just be glad that I even get the chance to talk to him? You just said that you would give anything to talk to your dad again and have him around. Well, I finally get that chance, and it sure sounds to me like you don't want me to have it. So what, Katie, if you don't get a dad, nobody does?”
A tear slid down Katie's cheek. They had stopped walking by now and were standing in front of a tiny brick house. Smoke blew gently from the chimney and Tabitha could see a Christmas tree sparkling through one of the front windows. She thought briefly that it was a little late to still have a tree up. She wondered why they hadn't taken it down. Just let go already. Christmas is gone.
When Katie spoke, her voice was firm, but she bit her lip between sentences. This told Tabitha that Katie was really, ridiculously upset. Katie only bit her lip in the most extreme of situations.
“That was harsh, Tab. You know me better than that. Of course I'm happy for you. And yeah, I miss my daddy more than anything. The pain is unbearable. Every day I wake up and go to my computer to send him an email before I realize that he's never going to read his email again. And any time I hear a funny joke, I think to myself ' I can't wait to tell Dad. He'll laugh so hard!' but I can't tell him the joke, Tabitha. I can't tell him because he's dead. And he's gone. And I don't ever get to see him again. And you do get to see your Dad and that's great for you, okay? But remember this before you get back on your high horse: your dad left you. My dad didn't choose to die. He died for the good of the country. He didn't die because he didn't love me or because he didn't want to be around me anymore.”
Tabitha stared at Katie. She put a hand on her heart and felt its racing beat even through her thick wool jacket. A bird landed on the road and began jumping down the center lane. Its white wings became muddy and covered in sleet as the bird chirped and hopped. Tabitha stared at it for a moment, her mind burning. Finally, the bird flew away. Tabitha hoped it would find a safe place to hide and rest this winter. Blinking, she turned back to Katie. Tabitha opened her mouth. She tried to speak, but couldn't form the words she so desperately wanted to say.
Finally, she conceded. She knew Katie was right, and she felt stupid for being so mean to her.
“I'm
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