To my readers: Often when I start a story, I have no idea where I'm going with it, things just seem to flow out of my mind. At times it's a jumbled mess and if it confuses you, I'm sorry, I just need to get these stories out of there. At times even I'm not sure how it will end. If you enjoy it, I'm glad, If not, I tried. I have troubles sleeping and these stories are the result. I do appreciate your positive comments and suggestions. That being said, here's one I wrote last night.
Daughter's Best Friend
Since junior high, our daughter Karen has had a best friend, Paula. I swear that I should be able to claim her as a dependent since she spends most of her time here. I'll bet she sleeps here at least 4 nights a week and eats here 5 days a week. They share clothes, shoes and at times boyfriends.
In the spring of their senior year, my wife Tami asked Paula what her college plans were and she said that she had registered for veterinarian classes at the same community college as Karen. The only problem was she just found out that her mother was moving to Texas to take care of her aunt who had cancer. So she was now looking for a job and an apartment.
Now Paula always was quite the helper whenever she stayed here. She'd clean the kitchen, vacuum the floors, help with the laundry and do anything that my wife asked her to. Tami didn't have to think twice and asked, "How would you like to live here and be a live in house keeper. We'll give you room and board and $150 a week. Would that work for you?"
Paula hugged her, tears leaking down her cheeks. That evening when I got home, Tami told me what she had offered Paula. She had this smug look and asked me, "What do you think?"
I said, "Honestly, I think Karen is going to go ballistic when she finds out we're paying her $150 a week."
Tami said, "Well that's just too bad. Maybe if she did something around here, that would be different. Her room is a mess. If Paula or I don't clean it doesn't get clean. She doesn't even do her laundry and bitches me out if an outfit she wants isn't clean. She says she's looking for a job that's why she doesn't have time help around here or clean but almost every McDonalds I see has help wanted signs posted."
True to my predictions, Karen blew up. For the first week or so, she did change her ways but then she gradually slipped back into her old habit. At the end of June, Tami called Paula and asked if she could start the first of July, my wife gladly accepted.
The day that Paula moved in, Karen welcomed her with hugs and open arms. I wasn't sure if it was because of their long-time friendship or the fact that she now had someone that would do her chores for her.
The first week of August was my birthday. Nothing fancy, we just grilled burgers with chips and have an ice cream cake for dessert. After dinner we open presents. I got a couple of shirts from my wife and a movie pass for two from my daughter.
There was a card from Paula. It simply read, "Happy Birthday, Tom, from Paula." 'p.s. I.O.U. β₯ I was puzzled by the I.O.U. but simply closed the card, slipped it back in its envelope, waited until no one was looking and put it in my pocket.
After dinner, we were taking dishes into the kitchen and Karen and Tami went to the bedroom to talk. I was placing dishes in the dishwasher and Paula was doing the same from the other side when she leaned in close and whispered, "Someday, I have a special gift for you." I was puzzled by her statement.
Paula and I were just finishing cleaning the kitchen when Tami walked in with a brochure in her hand. She wasn't looking happy. I asked, "What's wrong, dear?"
Her eyes closed for a minute then she said, "YOUR daughter has NOW decided that she wants to go to college in Sacramento and live with your mother in Rancho Cordova. She wants me to go out there with her and check out the school. I need to make flight and rental car arrangements. Why does she always seem to drop this crap on me at the last minute?"
I called my mother to get a firsthand version of the details. Mom said, "I told them that a rental car wasn't needed because I told Karen my little Buick was available. I know it's six years old but it only has 35,000 miles on it. When I purchased that new Enclave a few months ago, we couldn't reach the right trade-in price so I kept it." Mom also told me that Karen needed a California driver's license and to get that, she needed a proof of insurance with her name on it so she could get resident rates for college.
Karen was all excited and was busy checking out the college online but Tami wasn't all that happy with her going to an unknown to her college. I asked her, "Dear, if you feel that way, why don't you go ahead and fly out there with her and check out the college for yourself. That way you can help Karen get registered and see my mother. You know how much she cares about both of you."
Tami went online and booked tickets for the following week. The two of them were busy packing and readying themselves for a 'girls' getaway while Paula and I held down the home front. Thursday evening we took the girls to the airport. On the trip home Paula sat up front with me as we listened to satellite radio.
Paula was taking summer classes and went to school most mornings at 7:30 and was there until around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon, depending on the day of the week. Then she would come home and clean. I have to tell you our house never looked cleaner. I leave for work at 7:00 and get home between 4:30 and 5:00 depending on traffic. Friday when I got home, I said to her, "How about I take you out for dinner." Paula squealed in appreciation and gave me a big hug.
I asked her, "Anything or any place you care for special?" She got this impish little girl look and asked, "Could we go to the Ivy Fountain?"
I thought for a minute because that place does have some pretty expensive meals but they are excellent and I haven't been there in a long time so I said, "I'd love to take you, if we can get in." I called information, got the number and found we could get in for dinner at 6:30.
Paula said, "Give me 20 minutes to get ready."
Now most people that go there, are formally dressed so I went in and shaved and put on a nice white shirt, tie, slacks, sports coat and penny loafers. I stepped into the hall and Paula was wearing one of Karen's dresses only she filled it out a lot nicer. Her breasts were bulging out in front and the material was clinging so tightly to her body it was easy to see she wasn't wearing anything underneath.
I was now feeling a little guilty taking this sexy young girl out but when she asked, "Are you ready? I am really looking forward to it," I felt like I was in high school again. I took her arm and headed to the restaurant like it was a date. As we walked through the restaurant, we were getting a lot of looks of envy from men and disapproving looks from the women.
After we were seated, the waiter brought over a bottle of wine and asked if we would like a glass. Paula said, "I would like a Riesling, please." The waiter asked,
"May I see your ID?" I just about shit since I knew she was only 18. Then as Paula started to dig in her bag the waiter said, "Ok, since you're looking for it, you must have it." He then asked me what I wanted and I said, "Bourbon and water, tall, please."
Taking Paula's hand I whispered, "What would you have done if he wanted to see your ID?" She grinned and went back to her handbag. She dug to the bottom and pulled out a driver's license. It was a forged one with her facing forward and her birthdate was changed to show she was 21. Everything else was the same.
Shaking my head at her I said, "You are a very naughty girl."
Sipping her wine, she said, "Don't get upset at me, Karen got it for me. She has one too."