[©2010 BY CLINTON09; ALL CHARACTERS OVER THE AGE OF 18; NO EVENTS DESCRIBED ARE TRUE; FOR AGES 21 OR ABOVE]
[Married daughter helps dad out after his prostate operation; problem is, it was vasectomy reversal and he has to control himself, at least during recovery.]
I knew I could count on my wonderful daughter Arlene to help her old dad out in a time like this. I had just had a 'procedure' done and I wasn't quite up to speed. When I told her that I was having an operation 'down there', she said to say no more. She would be heading to my place to help out.
Me: [at the front door] "Sweetheart, I can't believe that you are doing this. [I kiss her on the cheek.] It is such a relief to have someone like you that I can always count on."
Arlene: "Oh, daddy, you are so silly. Did you think I wouldn't help out? It's no bother; Francis is on another one of his month long tours of Asia to research a book or something, so I am quite available. This should work out perfectly, since a month should be about the time you need to get back to normal." [She puts her things in the guest room; hangs a few dresses; freshens up in the bathroom; comes back out to catch up...]
Me: "My God, we don't talk, you don't write, what in the world is happening in your world?"
Arlene: "To be honest, Francis doesn't let me write you or email you. He lives in his own little world. I know you were against me marrying him, but you did concede that with his family ties, he should be an island of plenty during these hard times. To be sure, we haven't had to struggle to make ends meet. I don't know how he does it, or if he does anything besides collect from the family. Of late, I have wondered about his constant trips. He goes to odd places, like the Greek islands, or Indonesia and Thailand. I don't ask him about what he does there because he ordered me not to ask. One day, however, I saw on his computer that he was part of a club that travels the world [She lowered her head in shame, with her voice choking] for unusual sex with questionable partners. I made a copy of his whole hard-drive—I have it in the car. I am not sure that I want to stay with someone who is so, umm, sick. He will fly to Bangkok to be with an underage male but has no interest in his wife or family. I actually wanted to be with you as much to discuss this as to help you convalesce."
Me: "I am stunned, sweetheart. Even when you date or marry someone for financial stability, you still expect a certain amount of decency. This lizard is below reproach. On the up side, your evidence on him is great. With the right law firm, getting passport records, you will have a field day in court. I will be there with a big tub of popcorn and a six pack of RC. What I want from you during this month before he gets home is an action plan to secure the best divorce in history. I will not let you go back to live with him for even 30 seconds...and that's daddy talking!"
Arlene: [Waving dismissively.] "Oh daddy, you're so funny! I am 28 years old. I think I am a little bit too old to send to bed. Besides, you look strong but I am in better shape than you. Here look!"
I guess I should have pointed out that Arlene had been a gymnast since she was seven. I watched her in high school almost religiously. I never ever thought of her as a woman out there until her senior year. She had just turned 18 and was on the balance beam. For years she had done that, but she always had her thighs wrapped and an ace bandage on both ankles for support. She avoided injury that way but was not exactly hot looking. Sad to say, judges are affected by that too, if only a little. But it's only a little that decides who wins.
When I saw her in the championship, an adult at last at 18, she had on a new suit, with really daring high leg cutouts. Seeing my baby's smooth thighs, gorgeous athletic legs, shapely calves, and lovely smooth feet, all uncovered, tanned, and even sparkling with a few touches of glitter...well...father or not, I got excited. When she hit the balance beam and did those leg spreads, I am ashamed to admit that I got 'inspired' by her...'inspired' to the point of being rock-hard. I never told her that, and hoped that I never had to.
Arlene had told me to look. Remember that I had just had a vasectomy reversal (though everyone thought I had had a prostate operation due to age; for some reason, I found that amusing and didn't want to disabuse them of that.) Anyway, Arlene did a hand stand and then did push-ups. Seeing her incredible body, slim and trim, strong and healthy, it was a wonderful tonic to a proud father. I knew that she deserved better than her last husband. I also knew that I had an ache down there that wasn't getting better watching the fittest woman in the city working out in front of me.
Me: "Honey, baby, that is very impressive. You are incredibly fit. I envy your next husband; you are going to wear him out. On the other hand, after my operation, I am not sure the doctor would want me getting up so soon."
Arlene: "OH, GOD, I am sorry. I had no idea that you would find your own daughter very se...well, I am sorry. Do you want me to dress like a nun, or what?"
Me: [laughing] "No, sweetheart, that's not necessary. I just wasn't prepared to see someone so incredibly fit, with such a fantastic figure, working out in person. Any man..."
Arlene: "Francis never said a word or even noticed!"
Me: "I was GOING to say that any man that can call himself a MAN would see that and get really stiff. The more I hear about your Francis I think the less I want to hear about him. I am no psychologist, but it sounds to me that he preferred younger or more masculine company to you. But, who among us is perfect, anyway?"
Arlene: "Oh, daddy, you ARE silly. I will confess that since our honeymoon, Francis and I hadn't done much of anything in the bedroom. We might have had ten 'meetings' there over seven years of marriage. These were when I was really in my cycle, if you know what I mean. He always seemed distracted and when he erupted, it was pathetic. It was a tiny outpouring from a tiny little spout. I always blamed myself for settling for this worm just for financial security. I knew that if my daddy knew all the details, he—I mean you would have been enraged."
Me: "All I know is that is all over now. Come here, baby. [I kissed her gently on the forehead.] From this moment on, you will not spend even a moment away from someone who appreciates you. For now, it's your pathetic, broken down old dad. Hopefully, we can find some young buck that is equally as loving as this old dad. I will see you tomorrow at breakfast. Feel free to wake me up."
We went to our respective rooms. I had to redo the bandage down there. Gosh that thing looked bad. The discoloration was normal, the doc told me. Still and all, it looked strange. I tried to go to sleep. I heard a shuffling in the house; the still night air allowing me to hear noise from the guest room. I got up and moved oh so slowly to peep on my baby. I got quite a shock.
Arlene, my precious daughter, was working out...in the nude! My heavens, she was 28 and obviously at her best. She still had her gymnast perfect body, five foot four, say 110 lbs., not exactly Pamela Anderson up top, but just like Bo Derek everywhere else. And toned! Doing a perfect split, she easily touched her pretty little toes, her feet pointed in fine form. I could only watch her for so long before I got that itch and pain from the operation. Lord knows how pent up I was getting from all of this.
The next day my daughter had to go shopping (HAD TO? Since when did anyone HAVE TO go shopping?), leaving me alone to round up a good divorce lawyer for her. I also woke up sore down there from watching her work out, so I had to be careful. I already made several mistakes: I put on the Fitness Channel where a line of gorgeous babes were doing yoga...ouch...I turned for news...oops, it's THAT channel, with infobabes sitting on stools. And here's the news tonight: I got a bikini wax, as you can see....ouch...better turn to the weather channel—THAT will be safe! Yes, the weather...ah...wait, no! The new weather babe is wearing a skin tight dress...now she's pointing to the central part—of her! I presume it IS warm and damp there, yes I have visited that region before, thank you. You don't have to keep pointing to it. Is there NO channel a man can watch that has to be careful about getting 'up'? Besides Sesame Street? I could try Friends, but the TV guide doesn't warn you whether Jennifer Anniston is wearing a bra in this episode; better stick with The Golden Girls. Ah, what a relief. Now to wait for my daughter to get home for dinner.
Arlene: "I am sorry I am so late. I will get to dinner in a second. I just bought a whole new wardrobe from the money you gave me. If I am to start a new life, I have to have new clothes, don't I? I will show you some of them, if it's ok?"
Me: "Sure thing, honey." [I really preferred dinner to seeing how much of my money she spent, not to say wasted, on clothes she will wear once, at the most.]
She came out in a grey wool pantsuit for that professional look (I guess.) I applauded, to her amusement. Next was a secretary's type of dress, like the pantsuit, but with a flirtatious skirt, say eight inches above the knee. Ouch. Then a sun dress, floral, yellow, with a bare midriff, very short skirt, nice. For the beach, a Catalina one piece, a bikini, and then a thong bikini. Double ouch. I actually winced.