MidReal Story
Whispers of Maplewood: A Father's Journey
Scenario: I am at home with my 18 year old daughter.
Create my version of this story
"Are you sure you don’t want to wear a dress?"
I ask my daughter as I adjust the tie around her neck.
She rolls her eyes at me and I can’t help but chuckle.
It’s not that she doesn’t look good in a dress, because she does, but she’s always been more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.
I’m just glad she’s not wearing her usual combat boots with them.
"I’m sure," she says, giving me a look that tells me I should know better than to ask.
"You’re going to be hot."
I can’t help but point out.
"It’s June."
She gives me another look and I hold up my hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay. You’re right. You’re always right."
Chapter 1
"Are you sure you don’t want to wear a dress?"
I ask my daughter as I adjust the tie around her neck.
She rolls her eyes at me and I can’t help but chuckle.
It’s not that she doesn’t look good in a dress, because she does, but she’s always been more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.
I’m just glad she’s not wearing her usual combat boots with them.
"I’m sure," she says, giving me a look that tells me I should know better than to ask.
"You’re going to be hot."
I can’t help but point out.
"It’s June."
She looks at me with amusement in her eyes.
I know she’s right.
Emily is always right.
"Okay," I say, holding up my hands in surrender.
She grins at me and I can’t help but return it.
"Give me a second and we can go."
"Are you sure you don’t want to wear a dress?"
I ask my daughter as I adjust the tie around her neck.
She rolls her eyes at me and I can’t help but chuckle.
It’s not that she doesn’t look good in a dress, because she does, but she’s always been more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.
I’m just glad she’s not wearing her usual combat boots with them.
"I’m sure," she says, giving me a look that tells me I should know better than to ask.
"You’re going to be hot."
I can’t help but point out.
"It’s June."
She gives me another look and I hold up my hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay. You’re right. You’re always right."
She smirks at me and I shake my head.
"Are you sure you don’t want to wear a dress?"
I ask my daughter as I adjust the tie around her neck.
She rolls her eyes at me and I can’t help but chuckle.
It’s not that she doesn’t look good in a dress, because she does, but she’s always been more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.
I’m just glad she’s not wearing her usual combat boots with them.
"I’m sure," she says, giving me a look that tells me I should know better than to ask.
"You’re going to be hot."
I can’t help but point out.
"It’s June."
She gives me another look and I hold up my hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay. You’re right. You’re always right."
"I’ll do my best."
"You better try your hardest not to cry either."
Emily looks up at me with an amused expression on her face and I smile back at her, trying to hide my amusement as well.
"I’ll do my best."
She shakes her head at me and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear before turning back to the mirror in front of us so she can finish getting ready for graduation.
It’s hard to believe she’ll be starting college in Boston in the fall, but for now, I’m trying not to focus on that too much since it means her mother will have been gone for longer than Emily was alive when we lost her to cancer when Emily was two years old.
"Don’t be late for dinner."
"I’ll do my best."
"You better try your hardest not to cry either."
Emily looks up at me with an amused expression on her face and I smile back at her, trying to hide my amusement as well.
"I’ll do my best."
She shakes her head at me and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear before turning back to the mirror in front of us so she can finish getting ready for graduation.
"Don’t be late for dinner."
"I’ll do my best."
"You better try your hardest not to cry either."
Emily looks up at me with an amused expression on her face and I smile back at her, trying to hide my amusement as well.
"I’ll do my best."
Chapter 2
"Jesus Christ dad! He's gay!"
I laugh at the defensive tone in her voice.
"Okay okay," I say holding up my hands in surrender.
I reach out for Emily’s hand and help her from the bed so we can head out to the car.
I reach out for Emily’s hand and help her from the bed so we can head out to the car.
"So, you excited?"
I ask as we pull out of the driveway and make our way down the street.
"Yeah, I’m looking forward to moving to Boston," she says with a smile.
"How long until you move?"
"A few months," I say looking over at her.
"Excited and a little nervous," I add with a chuckle.
"You’ll do great Dad," she says, bringing a smile to my face.
We pull into the high school and I can see the football stadium in the distance as it peeks out from behind the school.
"Hey, look at that," I say, pointing ahead of us.
The stadium is decorated with blue and gold streamers and there are already people standing outside.
"You want me to drop you off here so you don’t have to walk?"
"No that’s okay, I don’t mind walking," she says with a smile.
"I’m surprised there’s not more people here yet though."
"Well, we are one of the first graduating classes of the day, there are a few after us so there are still a lot of people that need to show up."
I pull up behind a line of cars and put the car in park.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to fight back tears.
"I’m so proud of you."
"Thanks Dad, we did it."
I reach out for her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.
I never thought I would get here.
The first few years after her mom died were pretty rough.
I had thought about selling our house and moving but this small town was all I ever knew.
It’s where I grew up and where I met Emily’s mom, it just made sense for us to stay here.
The people that live in this town are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
Growing up they always looked out for me and treated me as if I was their own.
When Emily’s mom got sick, they were there for us.
They helped me take care of Emily when I was working or running errands and even though they never said it, I knew they were helping me out financially as well.
We pull up behind a line of cars and put the car in park.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to fight back tears.
"I’m so proud of you."
"Thanks Dad, we did it."
I reach out for her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.
I never thought I would get here.
The first few years after her mom died were pretty rough.
I had thought about selling our house and moving but this small town was all I ever knew.