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"It's almost 9 o'clock," Mike Mason announced from his recliner in the living room he shared with his wife, Jen. "When is she supposed to be home?"
"Any time now," Jen answered. "She texted me a few minutes ago and said she's almost here. You know it's a long drive, a good four hours, from her dormitory to our place."
Mike and Jen were understandably eager to see their beautiful 18-year-old daughter, Haley Ann. Haley had just finished her first term at State College and was returning home for the first time since starting school. Always a good girl, Haley would be home on break for several weeks.
Jen had given birth to Haley, her only child, when she was 20. At 38, Jen was still very attractive, slim, with nice proud boobs and shoulder-length blonde hair. People often said it was obvious that Haley inherited her mom's good looks. Haley's perky tits were slightly smaller than her mom's and her blonde hair reached halfway down her back.
Mike was fairly good looking too, although he had gotten a little pudgy at the age of 39. Mike was a nice guy, but a trifle prejudiced toward other races and nationalities, something for which he made no apologies.
"I'm home!" Haley shouted as the front door flew wide open. Jen and Mike were overjoyed as they leapt to their feet and rushed toward Haley.
Haley's rose
"It's so good to have my baby girl back home!" Mike gushed as he squeezed Haley in a big hug.
"It's good to be home, Daddy!"
As their embrace loosened and Haley slowly pulled away, Mike exclaimed, "What the hell is that on your arm?!"
On the underside of Haley's left forearm, there was a single rose in red and black ink, about four inches long.
Haley tried her best to act casual. "Oh that. It's my tattoo. I got it my first week in college."
Mike was mad. "I thought we agreed that tattoos were for white trash and that you were never going to get one!"
"No Daddy," Haley said in a rare act of defiance. "You said they were for white trash and that you'd never let me get one. But I turned 18. I'm an adult and I can have a tattoo if I want one."
It was never hard for Haley to "turn on the water works" and conjure up some quick tears, which she did.
"I'm sorry that you don't like it," she sobbed. "I can get it lasered off, I guess, if it bothers you that much."
Mike was a soft touch where his daughter was concerned and he embraced Haley again, just to comfort her. "Well, I'm a little surprised that you would do something that you knew I didn't like, but I guess you can keep it. Just don't get any more!"
Trying to lighten the mood, Mike asked, "So how was the ride home? Your mother and I were surprised when you said you knew someone else who lived nearby and you could ride home with her."
"The ride was fine. Traffic was light. But it wasn't a her. I caught a ride with Dwayne. He's a good driver."
"What?!" Mike blared for the second time in two minutes. "You traveled 200 miles, alone in a car with that nigger-boy?!"
"Daddy!" Haley fired back. "Why do you have to be such a bigoted old caveman?! Dwayne and I have been friends our whole lives. You don't have to call him names."
Mike regretted his outburst a little, and to help redeem himself and get back in his daughter's good graces, he said, "Well, we have a little surprise for you. Since you've gotten such good grades, and you haven't gotten into any trouble, your mom and I are going to let you drive your car back to college. You won't have to head back to school with us, or with Dwayne."
Jen's eyes lit up, she grinned from ear to ear, and she threw her arms around her dad in another big hug. "Oh, thank you Daddy! It'll be so great to be able to drive again and get around campus without having to take the bus or bum a ride from somebody!"
As the hug ended, Mike got another close-up look at Haley's tattoo and he winced, but did not say a word. The little family sat around, gleefully gabbing and listening to Haley's funny stories about college life and learning to live on her own. At 11 o'clock, Mike said he had to get some sleep so that he could get up for work in the morning. Jen kissed him goodnight and said that she was going to stay up a little longer to talk to Haley. Jen often stayed up past her husband's bedtime, except for once or twice a week when they went to bed together for some "empty nest" lovemaking.
It was well after midnight when Jen and Haley finally decided it was time to turn in. They hugged once more and gave each other goodnight kisses on their cheeks. As they broke away, Jen looked Haley in the face and said, "Don't ever tell your father I said so, but I really like your tattoo."
Clearing the air?
On the day following Haley's return, Mike surprised Jen by getting home from work almost two hours earlier than usual.
"Oh, hey Honey," Jen said as she shared a customary smooch with Mike. "You're home awfully early. Haley is out with her friends but she promised to be home for dinner at seven."
"Good," Mike said. "She's kind of the reason that I'm home early. I've been thinking about it all day and I decided that I'm going to pay a visit to young Dwayne's father to just sort of clear the air and set things straight where his son and our daughter are concerned."
Dwayne's father, Delbert, operated an auto repair shop that Jen and Mike had used for 20 years. They were on good terms with him, and although they never socialized, they considered him a friend. Plus, they had known Dwayne since he was born, just a few weeks before Haley. They didn't know the details, but were aware that Delbert's wife had abandoned him and their infant son, leaving the humble mechanic to raise Dwayne alone.
Jen told Mike that she would go with him to Delbert's garage, to make sure that he held his temper and to add her two cents to the discussion.
When they arrived at the shop, Delbert approached them, smiling and wiping the grease from his hand, which he cordially extended to Mike. The garage was a converted gas station with three service bays and a glass-enclosed office in the front. They all migrated to the office.
Delbert was friendly and cordial as ever. "It's good to see you, Mike, and it's been a while." Turning his attention to Jen, Delbert said, "and it's always a pleasure to see you, Jen. You're looking lovely as always."
Jen blushed and Mike smiled. "She has held up well, hasn't she?" Mike said with pride. "She's held up better than my '99 F-150, although you've helped to keep that old truck on the road."
