"Aw, come on, Nikki," my mother whined. "Between the two of us, we could cover the store in half the time."
I didn't really know what to say to her. I started to stammer, trying to think of an excuse, but I was still too distracted to think properly. I finally glanced over at Daddy, hoping he would come to my rescue.
"Honey, she's tired," he said to Mom. "Let her relax after such a long drive."
Mom sighed, but nodded in agreement and picked up her grocery list from the kitchen counter. With a wave of her hand that made her car keys jingle, she disappeared out the back door.
I stood there and watched through the window as the family mini-van backed out of the driveway. Once it was safely out of sight, I around turned and grinned at Daddy. He was certainly able to think on his feet, although he wasn't actually lying. After driving home from school for two hours, I definitely needed to strech out and relax.
During my first year of college I had started coming home for one weekend every month, mainly due to homesickness. But now, in my second year, it was more out of habit than anything.
I had only been home a few minutes when Daddy pulled me aside, and we had been having quite a little talk before Mom interrupted us. And if the subject we were discussing was any indication, his ability to handle Mom like he'd just done would come in awfully handy in the future.
"So..." he began, drawing out the question while he put a hand on my shoulder. "What do you think?"
To be honest, I wasn't sure what to think. Mom and Dad already gave me a monthly allowance so that I wouldn't have to worry about buying food or books or that sort of thing. Combined with the money I made from my part-time job at the campus bookstore, it was more than enough to live on.
But an extra three hundred a month would be fantastic! I could quit that stupid job and still have money for clothes and CDs. Not having a job would give me more free time, which would lead to better grades if I actually used that time to study. No matter where I looked, I couldn't see a downside. I would have to be an idiot not to take Daddy up on it.
Still, though. What he was asking for WAS pretty strange, considering that I'm his daughter and all.
"Um... Daddy, I... I don't know..."
"Okay," he said calmly, as if he'd been reading my thoughts the whole time. "Four hundred."
Four hundred dollars! Four hundred fucking dollars! God, strange or not, I wanted to say yes. I had to say yes! But if Daddy has taught me anything over the years, it's that you always renegotiate.
"Five," I said flatly, folding my arms.