Relativity by Dodd Lauren

Author:Dodd, Lauren [Dodd, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-12-01T08:00:00+00:00

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It’s the morning of prom and Dad and I are headed to complete the grim task of picking out Mom’s headstone. Silly me, I thought all this stuff was behind us once the funeral was complete but now it seems we are left with the impossible task of picking out the perfect rock to memorialize the most perfect woman in the world. Dad offered to put it off, not wanting to put a damper on my ‘special day,’ but I just want to get it over with. Besides, I can’t quite seem to muster the enthusiasm about my night with Tate that I know I should have. If I’m in a bad mood tonight at least I can use this as my excuse.

I know Dad needs to get this over with. He’s had so much paperwork and small details to take care of that we need to just finish this. It’s just a rock. How hard could it possibly be? I’ve tried to help him out by taking on just a few of Mom’s tasks, like grocery shopping, laundry, and kind of cleaning the house. I’m definitely not getting anything done like she would but I guess we haven’t starved to death or worn the same underwear two days in a row so it’s progress.

“How’s school?” Dad asks politely as he makes his way through some light Saturday afternoon traffic.

“The teachers know that the seniors are pretty much checked out so all the serious testing is already done. We’re just there so that the district gets paid. Trust me, there is no actual learning going on.”

“I know you will think this is corny but these really are the best days of your life,” he urges, making a right.

I have no doubt that he believes that and I’m sure for him maybe his last days of high school were his best days, but he also wasn’t dealing with the loss of a parent. But I know he just means the whole lack of responsibility thing and I get that.

“Ripley, would you describe your mother as a secretive person?” he blurts out.

“What? No!” I shout, surprised by his question.

We stop at a red light and he turns to look at me. He just stares at me for a few minutes like he’s trying to gauge my expression. Then, he smiles gently and turns back to focus on driving. Weirdness.

“Why would you ask me that?” I inquire.

“No reason,” he says, flatly.

I decide not to push it since we are pulling into the headstone place. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t been doing and saying weird, random stuff since Mom died.

Dad pulls into a parking space, puts the car in park, and shuts it off. “We’re here,” he says glumly.

I pull myself out of the car while wondering if I will ever see my dad smile again.

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