1.6.2 There Was Something About the Way He... R.D.

There was something about the way he greeted me like an old friend the first time he met me.
There was something about that tipsy smile that I couldn't get enough of.
I felt so privileged when he let me sneak sips of his wine cooler, making me feel cool cuz I was "drinking".
There was something about the smile he wore saying "you're just too damn cute".
There was something about the messages he sent online that made me feel so special.
And the day he came to see the silly little high school play to take photographs because I asked him to.
And then after words he let my friend play with his camera while he and I talked privately.
There was something about the glimmer in his eyes when I agreed to give him my phone number.
And then he called me to give me his, but I got confused and he laughed when I answered the call.
There was something about the way he greeted me the first time I went to his place;
He wrapped his arms around me before he ever closed the door and kissed me,
Then pulled away, just enough, and asked how I was.
There was something about the way his voice sounded on the telephone - deep and seductive, always wanting more than I could give due to the miles between us.
There was something about the way and the timing when he apologized for all the wrong he'd done towards me.
I almost fell for it, but...
There was something about his tendency to blow me off.
There was something about the way he liked to disappear.
I miss him sometimes, but I know ultimately I am better off.

1.1.2 Overheard Conversation R.D.

"What did you think of our school?  Best thing you ever saw, huh?"
"Yeah, it was nice."
I don't mean to be petty but:  dad and daughter, indulging in frozen yogurt, talking about the small tings in life; it breaks my heart.
It's not the same as being the third wheel to a couple who can't keep their hands off of each other, but it is just as distracting.  This is the first time I've ever been really, truly envious of someone's relationship with their dad.  Not because I can't do those things with my dad anymore, but because I couldn't be bothered to try when he was around.
We spend our adolescence hating or being annoyed by our parents instead of taking any time out of our days to appreciate them and whatever it is they do for us - even the annoying things.  Like the day my dad drove to the school the day of a dance and called me because he was convinced he left his cigarettes in my car and needed me to come and unlock it.  Instead of laughing at my dad's quirkiness and being flattered by his concern, I was annoyed by his inability to trust me.
Maybe if I had asked dad to spend some time with me outside of the shop he would have felt more appreciated and maybe things could have gone differently.  Thank God mom pushed us to do the dancing thing, even if it didn't last very long because I got bored and lazy and denied the sparkle in his eyes when he was dressed and smelled of cologne and was ready to go.  I denied so much, and took so much for granted, which I guess is always true.
This girl is gonna regret one day that she talked more than listened to her dad on their "daddy/daughter" dates, and she'll never realize just how much these little things mean until she doesn't have them anymore.  That's how things are when it comes to life and death, even when someone can envy what you have, it is still never enough once you know you can't have it anymore.
I miss you dad.