I've been married to my wife, Becca, for twenty-four years; for the most part, pretty happily. Together we have two children, eight-year-old Martin and eighteen-year-old Clara. We're your typical suburban middleclass family, meaning we've all got our own lives we focus on; however, I pride myself on being a part of every member of my family's life.
Martin is obsessed with baseball. From the professionals to his own team, which he is the pitcher for, everything in his world revolves around the sport. Becca is an account manager at a P.R. firm; she makes decent money, loves being in charge, and rarely complains. As for myself, I'm a psychologist, with my own in home private practice. That leaves Clara. She's different. She doesn't let me in. We'll talk and it's very artificial; I know no more about her than I do my neighbors, but it wasn't always like that. I hate that it's like that now.
Today started off like any other day. We had breakfast as a family, went off and did our own things. I made dinner. Martin and Becca came home after school. Martin and I laughed and talked about sports and the upcoming game we're going to see next week. Clara moved her carrots around her plate and politely nodded or said a brief word when absolutely necessary. A few hours after dinner, when the kids were doing their own thing, and I was in my office working on a paper, I see Becca's car beam lights pull up to the gate. I'm sure she'll eat, then take a shower, put the kids to bed, then go to sleep herself. Life as usually.
Only today, there was a knock on my office door.
I check my watch, half past one in the morning. Everyone should be asleep. "Come in." Slowly the door opens and Clara sticks her head in, "Hey Dad, can I talk to you?"
As if she'd need to ask, I practically jump up from behind my desk, "Of course Sweetie." I gesture towards the couch I have for my patience, she takes a seat and stares at the floor. I lean against my desk and wait.
After twenty minutes of silence, she finally looks at me. "Daddy, do you think I'm attractive?"
This was no where close to where I thought she was going. Clara has never presented any signs of low self-esteem or body issues. Completely taken aback I answer without thinking, "Of course."