The Perfect Daughter by Joseph Souza

Author:Joseph Souza
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-02-18T16:00:00+00:00

KATIE

MY FATHER CAME AND SAT WITH ME THIS MORNING IN THE LIVING room. Said he cleared his busy schedule in order to keep me company. Lucky me. It makes absolutely no sense that I should like having him here next to me. Ever since I was a little girl, he has always made me feel special. He used to pick me up in his arms and swing me around, calling me his little crabby girl, because I loved collecting crabs in my yellow bucket whenever we went to the beach. He used to give me piggyback rides all the time and took me sledding in the winter. Most of my best childhood memories are of time spent with him.

I curl the blanket under my chin and snuggle my head against the pillow. I do this while he takes out his guitar and strums a few tunes from his repertoire: Elvis, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly. I love when he sings me these old songs. And he has a really good voice. Most of these songs I know because of him.

Something about him looks different today. From worry? Concern? He typically radiates confidence and charm. I can’t ever remember him raising his voice or becoming visibly upset. Despite all the problems in this crazy family and my mother’s frequent complaints about him, my father lives each day as if it is his last.

Needless to say, I have a complicated relationship with my father. I love him to death but understand the kind of person he is. He’s never been someone we could rely on, and he consistently tries my mother’s patience with his frequent absences from home and his inability to provide for us. Deep down, I know all this about him. I know his behavior betrays his good nature. And yet I still love him. I certainly don’t absolve him of his many sins, and I can understand why my mother gets so mad at him at times. So I ask myself, Why did she ever marry him? Then I spend time with him and think, Who could not fall in love with Ray “Swisher” Eaves?

Maybe this is a character flaw of mine. I consider myself a good person, moderately smart, and hardworking. I’m generally kind and respectful to others. I have volunteered my time down at the nursing home and the local rescue shelter. Some boys even think I’m cute in a nerdy sort of way. So why am I so drawn to exciting, reckless people, like Willow and my father? Do I take after my mother in that regard? Am I hoping that whatever glow they possess rubs off on me? Or am I merely basking in their limelight?

It makes me sad to know that I’m drawn to these types of people, because I don’t consider myself a shallow person. I know most of my father’s shortcomings, and yet I refuse to take sides against him. My mother, despite her mood swings and temper, is my hero and always has been.

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