College girl Missy discovers Mama isn't taking very good care of Daddy and does her best to make him happy! I'm undecided if we should bring them back to see what they're getting up to or not. You let me know what you think! Comments, email and constructive criticism always welcome!
As the scenery rolled past I tried to concentrate on that instead of the stench of the bus. The long haul travelers that needed showers, the unchanged clothes, and the stale mishmash food.
Lucky I could afford the bus home from college, it just so happened that my backwater town in northern Florida had a bus station. It was little more of a lean-to attached to a shack. I stepped of the bus and was slapped with Florida typical hot muggy air. But even that was even refreshing after the stale humidity of the bus.
I had no luggage. Everything important to me was in my small bag, and other than my driver's license, it was more memories. I had clothes at home decided to leave my few nice clothes in my dorm room. The dust swirled around my shoes on the sandy road as I began to look for Mama's new address. Daddy wrote and said they moved and gave the address.
A scholarship got me out of this town and a good job after graduation would keep me out. We were dirt poor. Daddy did what he could, but Mama was a big spender. I always thought she took her favors elsewhere because often she would come home with her peroxide blonde hair mussed, red lipstick smeared and the smell of drug store men's aftershave.
But that's the way it was here in the backwoods. The men that were responsible were worked to death, the others survived on sheer luck and kept a train of unschooled hussies rolling through their beds.
I double checked the street address Daddy gave me. It matched the number handwritten on the siding next to the front door with rusty hinges and weather worn paint. The four pane windows were so filthy there was no need for curtains. I slowly walked up to the house... No, it was a shack. Plain and simple.
I knocked and heard Mama hollering at Daddy, to see who the hell was at the door.
"Missy!" Daddy stepped out and gave me a big bear hug and I was happy to see him again. Even though college courses kept me busy, I missed my Daddy and wished he could be with me.
For as grimy as the shack was, Daddy smelled like new mown hay. His white sleeveless undershirt was blindingly white against the drab gray of the surroundings.
"I'm so glad to see you, Daddy," I hugged him again. We didn't have money for cell phones and I hadn't talked to him since I left for college.
"Come in darlin'. It's not much. I hope you're not disappointed," he said as though he were afraid I would run out the door.
I wanted to. "It's fine Daddy! I'm here to see you anyhow... You and Mama," I added.
"Come on in child and set yourself down," Mama said making no inclination to hug me.
I needed to use the bathroom. Contrary to the living issues, the bathroom was pristine. Old but immaculate as were the towels.
Mama offered me a glass of sweet tea and offered me a chair. We chatted and I was able to surreptitiously take in the rest.
There was a well worn chair that matched the one I sat in. The kitchen consisted of a hot plate next to the sink on a short counter. A small refrigerator made a loud clunk every time it came on. Which was often. My back was to the other half of the area and I knew I'd have to wait to see the bedrooms.
Mama pointed out the incongruous looking big shiny flat screen television that hung on the wall. "I got myself a job so we could get this," she said proudly, and I wondered what kind of job that might be.
She was always proud of her body and took every chance to show it off. "You got 'em, flaunt em, Missy!"
I did inherit Mama's full bosom and shapely hips from her but decided long ago that I wasn't going to use it to get me places as she had. Her faded orange rayon halter top held her breasts like bags of melons. She rarely wore a bra and at her age, they hung heavy. So low that she literally had no cleavage. I waited for the zipper to pop on her shorts, that were at least one size too small.
I was not sure why she dressed that way in front of Daddy if not only to tease him. I remember long ago arguments through the thin walls about her turning him down again and how he was too demanding, or too kinky, or too disgusting to want her to put her mouth on that thing.
It was dusk and Daddy turned on the only lamp in the room. The red shade glowed, not really allowing much light into the room. It matched Mama's other decorative accents that she had found at the local thrift shops and yard sales.
"I think it's about time we turned in," Mama said. I turned and at first glance began to get uneasy.
It appeared there was no bedroom but just a bed in the corner of the same room. I then realized my dorm room was a bigger area than what my parents lived in. I was overwhelmed and excused myself to wash up. I just could not think ahead and knew I'd just have to take it as it came. I was going to be here for two weeks and I had to deal with it the best I could until I could leave.
Mama had changed into a ripped oversize t-shirt and Daddy was already sitting on the edge of the bed.
Mama pulled the faded but clean sheet back and said, "Climb in Missy, and don't hog the bed!" She laughed.
I stared and realized I was to sleep between them, but also we had not had dinner and I was starved. But I slid into bed, careful to position myself in the center. I fell asleep with my stomach growling.
Surprisingly I didn't wake up during the night and by the time I did, Daddy was gone, but Mama was still sleeping. It gave me a good chance to really look around the place.
I knew Daddy had a job from a man that owned an auto dealer in the next, much bigger, town. He worked maintenance for the man's multiple new car sales buildings. I knew he had to be making decent money and Mama was squandering it on herself.
I noticed her manicured nails and pedicured feet were pristine. Of course, she didn't do much around here to damage her nails. I also noticed that no roots showed to display her natural mousy brown hair.
I looked for my bag. The only clothing I had was my nightgown and the clothing I wore traveling. I hoped Mama kept some of my clothes but that would have to wait until she woke up.
There was a pot of cold coffee that Daddy made on the hot plate so I began warming the coffee. It was then I noticed his note...
Good morning Missy. I hope you slept well. I will be home from work at 4:00 and maybe you and me can go to the grocery store.
Love forever, Your Daddy
It struck me all at once and I sat down and cried. I was born into this world, but it now felt so foreign to me. I wanted to go sit at the bus shanty and wait for the next bus back north. But I just couldn't do it. I couldn't leave Daddy. I had to come up with a plan.
It didn't look like Mama was going to wake up anytime soon so I put my travel clothes back on and walked into town. Which consisted of a convenience store, a bar, an insurance office, and one of three thrift stores in this little county.
I went in the store to get an icy cold drink. The glass front case was full of bottles of soda I had not seen since I left. I smiled, thinking this is what I remember. Hanging out here with my friends drinking soda and crunching on potato chips. The company that made them was in a nearby town and many of the folks from here worked there.
"MISSY! Could that be you?" Lost in my memories, I jumped at her voice.
"Mary Beth!" We hugged and jumped up and down like we used to. "How are you?"
