"Where have you been, Lexie?"
It's not easy being a single dad. I hadn't even had time to grow into the role. It was thrust upon me unexpectedly when my wife of one year died in a car crash, leaving me with a 14-year old "daughter." She had no other family, so since then it's been just her and me. Lexie never knew her real dad, and I never had a daughter so we became symbiotic in a way, celebrating our newfound roles. She's always called me
papi
, a Spanish term of endearment for a father, as a gesture of acceptance that made me feel honored.
My little girl is an 18-year-old senior in high school. Lexie had always been a good kid, Catholic school girl, honor roll student, respectful, intelligent β and she's been "
papi
's girl" since I've known her. But lately, things have become a little different between us - tense, perhaps even strained. Lexie clearly remembers the time before she had a male authority figure, and maybe that's where the problems stem from.
Not only is my little girl developing an attitude, she's started to discover that her beauty is a weapon against which men are defenseless. And I'm no exception. She started with little things to distract me, like hugging me from behind to press her full breasts into my back, or bending down in a short skirt to give me a glimpse of her panties. And when she'd catch me looking, she'd give a knowing little smile and flounce away. I'd like to chastise her, but what could I say? "Stop flashing me?" "Quit teasing me - you're turning me on?"
From there, things got more intense. Kisses goodbye in the morning before school became just a little too personal, and the hugs pressed her body to mine just a little too tightly. Even the tone of her voice when she said "
papi
" became all too seductive. Yet any attempt to set reasonable boundaries for her blew up into a power struggle. Teenage rebellion and newfound sexuality have become opposite sides of a coin she was constantly flipping in her hand. When one didn't work in her favor, she'd flip the coin over and try her luck.
Things had been especially bad these past few weeks. I received a phone call from her school one day that left me disappointed and angry - an unwelcome reminder that I'm failing in my duties as a parent and was unable to control my young charge. Something had to give, and I vowed that day to confront her.
That evening, Lexie came home - late as usual. I stopped her as she came through the door, and I think she could tell by the look on my face that I wasn't pleased with her.
"Where have you been, Lexie?"
She set down her backpack and looked at me curiously. "I've been at Laura's studying,
Papi
."
"Studying what?"
"Geometry."
I sighed. Very well, two could play this charade. "Your geometry teacher called me today." She glanced at me quickly, then looked away. "He said you failed the test on Wednesday." I sought her eyes, but she refused to look at me. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It was no big deal; I didn't think you had to know."
"Yeah, after all, I'm only your father. What happened? Didn't all your studying with Laura help you?"
She looked up at me, calculating her answer. If I knew about the test, it was likely I knew that her friend Laura wasn't taking geometry. "Well, you see
Papi
, Laura took geometry last semester, and she's just sharing her notes with me. She didn't do so well in it either, but at least she knows more than I do. She helped as much as she could."
Now I didn't know whether to believe her or not. "Well, I think you've done enough studying with Laura. Until further notice, you'll do your studying at home β and there will be no going out with friends until your next test comes back with a passing grade."
She pursed her lips, biting back a protest. Then her face softened, and she shrugged. I knew her all too well. Manipulative little minx. Arguing now would avail her nothing. She would try to sweet talk herself out of her punishment after I'd calmed down. Not this time, young lady, I thought smugly.
"Fine, whatever β I'm going to my room." And she turned to leave.
"Hold it!" She stopped and faced me with a look of annoyance. "This is not a game, Lexie. Schoolwork should be your first priority. You
used
to be a good student. You
used
to care about your grades. You
used
to respect your father. I'm really getting sick of your attitude and these games you play."
Impatiently, she rolled her eyes. "Is that all?"
"No, that's not all. It's high time to correct that attitude problem. I'm sure your mother never punished you, so you are years overdue for a spanking, young lady." I'm not sure what prompted me to say that. I guess I was just furious from all the months this had been building up, and I wanted to get some kind of reaction from her β fear, anger, anything. I wanted to get through to her, to make her feel the same hurt that I felt.
"You wouldn't dare," she said assuredly β with attitude.
That was the wrong thing to say, to challenge me like that. "Wouldn't I? Come over here." She hesitated, eyeing me warily, trying to determine if I was serious. "It will only be worse if I have to come over there and get you. Right now, Lexie, I'm dead serious."
I could almost see the smoke coming from her ears, but she wouldn't dare to disobey me this time. Scowling fiercely, she walked over to where I sat on the sofa. "I can't believe this," she muttered through clenched teeth.
"You brought this on yourself, young lady. Maybe from now on you'll show a little more respect to your father when you talk. Now, you know what to do. On my lap, Lexie."
She crawled across my lap slowly and perhaps a little fearfully. As her hips settled across my lap, I felt a heady rush of power like I hadn't felt in ages. "
Papi
," she pleaded, "Please don't do this."