Ariel sits on her bed holding her cell phone and staring at the screen. The screen displays a single word and a number under it. The word is "Dad", and the number is her fathers. She is nervous to be calling him. It's been a couple of weeks since she last talked to him. Her ex did well to keep her from talking to her father. She knew her sister had spoken to him many times and had even spoken of her new relationship, but this would be the first time she would tell him about it herself.
She sighed as she clicked the green phone icon, which started the phone ringing. A few moments later it was picked up.
Dad: Hello? Whos this then.
*There is a moment of silence*
Ariel: Dad. It's me.
Dad: Oh Ari. Sweetheart, I'm glad you called. I miss you.
*Another moment of silence*
Ariel: I'm sorry I haven't called as often as Brigid. I've been so busy with school and....
*She is interrupted*
Dad: Yer boy yeah? I knew that. I been hearing some bad things about that boy, to tell you the lords honest truth. You know yer sis seems to think he is trouble. Doesn't speak too kindly of him at all.
Ariel: Yeah... So I've heard.
Dad: But I suppose that's all part of growing up then in it? Just so long as yer not irresponsible and get pregnant or nothin like that.
*A longer moment of silence passes*
Dad: So, hows you been love?
Ariel: I... *Sound of a sob can be heard, followed by a silenced bleat*
Dad: Oi, whats this bout then. Yer not in trouble are you?
Dad: That boy, he didn't do nothin did he?
*Silence*
Dad: Ariel? Sweetheart, are you there?
Dad: Whats going on?
Ariel: He hurt me dad. He hit me and hurt me a lot. *Sobbing as she speaks*
Dad: Did he now? That weasely little wanker. Listen, honey, I'm going to...
*She interrupts him*
Ariel: Dad, I'm Pregnant!
*There is a loud crash from Ariels dad's end. He has clearly dropped what he was doing in shock*
Dad: What?
Ariel: I'm Pregnant. It's his kid.
*Silence. Muffled movements can be heard*
Dad: Yeah? But are you sure it's yers?
*Long Silence.*
Ariel: Dad? You-You cant seriously be asking that?
Dad: No. But It sounded like you needed a chuckle
*Ariel makes a sobbing laugh*
Dad: I had a feeling, a worry. I just hoped it... well... I mean...
Ariel: I'm sorry.
Dad: Now listen here. You don't say sorry.
Dad: If what I erd is true. Then this ain't yer fault fer a single second.
Ariel: But...
*Is interrupted*
Dad: Now you listen here. I know yer smarter en that. I can't say I'm impressed. But I know in me heart that you weren't in a position to make a choice.
*Ariel begins sobbing again*
Dad: sweetheart. Take a breath yeah?
*Sobbing slows down, and breaks into silence*
Dad: There. Now relax. Aint nothin can be done now yeah? You know I don't believe in them choice options.
Dad: And I ain't gonna have a grandbaby that is born outta hate either.
Dad: So all that's left is fer you to be the best you can. Rise up.
Ariel: Dad... I don't know if I can do this. It's not what I wanted.
Dad: Really? You can sit there n tell that to me? You think I was looking to ave kids after me wife passed? Last thing on me mind.
Dad: But, Then the good lord saw fit to bring you n yer sister to me. And I did what I had to care fer the two of you.
Dad: And It was the greatest gift I have ever received.
Ariel: But...
*Is interrupted*
Dad: I didn't know if I could do it, or even if it was right. But I did because the good lord wouldn't have brought you too if I couldn't handle it.
Dad: Same here. He brought you a gift. You may not see it now, but in time, when yer wee one grows up, you'll look back and you'll know it was right.
Dad: Circumstances don't make love. Circumstances don't dictate family. You know this. I thought you n yer sister this.
Ariel: But how can I do anything now?
Dad: It won't be easy. That I can tell you. But hell if you ain't got the greatest big sister to help you. N you know she will.
Dad: This is not what I envisioned fer you at all. But, it happened. We can't change that one bit. All we can do is go with it.
Dad: I'm sorry this happened. But I am proud of you.
Dad: Where is this boy now? Yer not seeing him now are you?
Ariel: *Sniffles* No... He's.... Hiding. The police are looking fer him.
Dad: Good. Let's pray they catch him.
Ariel: Dad. I'm scared.
Dad: Good. Fear will keep you on yer toes. It's ok to be afraid. It means yer heads on straight.
Dad: You know I love you very much. No matter what.
Dad: I'm proud of you. Look at what you've done. You've gone on to college overseas. I ain't ever been. I never will. Yer only 19 and you've already outdone me.
Dad: You have a heart of gold, and a good head on yer shoulders. What more could I ask fer in a daughter?
Ariel: A daughter who isn't pregnant?
Dad: I don't want to hear you say that again.
Dad: I am proud of you, and I will continue to be proud of you.
Dad: I taught you how to be good, you will be a good mother. You know how to do this.
Ariel: No I don't.
*Silence for a moment*
Dad: Just do what I did. Work hard, and always remember yer family. You'll do well.
Ariel: Dad?
Dad: Yes sweetheart?
Ariel: Thank you. I love you
Dad: I love you too
Dad: Now you make sure you call me more often yeah?
Dad: None of this waiting two weeks nonsense.
Ariel: Ok
Dad: Now look. I gotta go clean up the mess I made before yer dog comes n eats all me dinner.
Dad: Why don't you call me back tomorrow and we can talk more. Give yer nerves a chance to calm yeah?
Ariel: Ok. I'll call tomorrow.
Dad: If not, yer sister will, N I'll get her to hand you the phone.
Ariel: *Small laugh* I'll call you tomorrow.
Dad: That's a good girl.
Dad: I love you, sweetheart.
Ariel: I love you too.
Ariel hung up the phone and smiled to herself as she lay back in bed. Some how, talking to her dad always made her feel better. He was pretty smart, and always knew what to say to make things just a little better. She was less scared now, though still uncertain as to what the future actually held.
She sighed as she clicked the green phone icon, which started the phone ringing. A few moments later it was picked up.
Dad: Hello? Whos this then.
*There is a moment of silence*
Ariel: Dad. It's me.
Dad: Oh Ari. Sweetheart, I'm glad you called. I miss you.
*Another moment of silence*
Ariel: I'm sorry I haven't called as often as Brigid. I've been so busy with school and....
*She is interrupted*
Dad: Yer boy yeah? I knew that. I been hearing some bad things about that boy, to tell you the lords honest truth. You know yer sis seems to think he is trouble. Doesn't speak too kindly of him at all.
Ariel: Yeah... So I've heard.
Dad: But I suppose that's all part of growing up then in it? Just so long as yer not irresponsible and get pregnant or nothin like that.
*A longer moment of silence passes*
Dad: So, hows you been love?
Ariel: I... *Sound of a sob can be heard, followed by a silenced bleat*
Dad: Oi, whats this bout then. Yer not in trouble are you?
Dad: That boy, he didn't do nothin did he?
*Silence*
Dad: Ariel? Sweetheart, are you there?
Dad: Whats going on?
Ariel: He hurt me dad. He hit me and hurt me a lot. *Sobbing as she speaks*
Dad: Did he now? That weasely little wanker. Listen, honey, I'm going to...
*She interrupts him*
Ariel: Dad, I'm Pregnant!
*There is a loud crash from Ariels dad's end. He has clearly dropped what he was doing in shock*
Dad: What?
Ariel: I'm Pregnant. It's his kid.
*Silence. Muffled movements can be heard*
Dad: Yeah? But are you sure it's yers?
*Long Silence.*
Ariel: Dad? You-You cant seriously be asking that?
Dad: No. But It sounded like you needed a chuckle
*Ariel makes a sobbing laugh*
Dad: I had a feeling, a worry. I just hoped it... well... I mean...
Ariel: I'm sorry.
Dad: Now listen here. You don't say sorry.
Dad: If what I erd is true. Then this ain't yer fault fer a single second.
Ariel: But...
*Is interrupted*
Dad: Now you listen here. I know yer smarter en that. I can't say I'm impressed. But I know in me heart that you weren't in a position to make a choice.
*Ariel begins sobbing again*
Dad: sweetheart. Take a breath yeah?
*Sobbing slows down, and breaks into silence*
Dad: There. Now relax. Aint nothin can be done now yeah? You know I don't believe in them choice options.
Dad: And I ain't gonna have a grandbaby that is born outta hate either.
Dad: So all that's left is fer you to be the best you can. Rise up.
Ariel: Dad... I don't know if I can do this. It's not what I wanted.
Dad: Really? You can sit there n tell that to me? You think I was looking to ave kids after me wife passed? Last thing on me mind.
Dad: But, Then the good lord saw fit to bring you n yer sister to me. And I did what I had to care fer the two of you.
Dad: And It was the greatest gift I have ever received.
Ariel: But...
*Is interrupted*
Dad: I didn't know if I could do it, or even if it was right. But I did because the good lord wouldn't have brought you too if I couldn't handle it.
Dad: Same here. He brought you a gift. You may not see it now, but in time, when yer wee one grows up, you'll look back and you'll know it was right.
Dad: Circumstances don't make love. Circumstances don't dictate family. You know this. I thought you n yer sister this.
Ariel: But how can I do anything now?
Dad: It won't be easy. That I can tell you. But hell if you ain't got the greatest big sister to help you. N you know she will.
Dad: This is not what I envisioned fer you at all. But, it happened. We can't change that one bit. All we can do is go with it.
Dad: I'm sorry this happened. But I am proud of you.
Dad: Where is this boy now? Yer not seeing him now are you?
Ariel: *Sniffles* No... He's.... Hiding. The police are looking fer him.
Dad: Good. Let's pray they catch him.
Ariel: Dad. I'm scared.
Dad: Good. Fear will keep you on yer toes. It's ok to be afraid. It means yer heads on straight.
Dad: You know I love you very much. No matter what.
Dad: I'm proud of you. Look at what you've done. You've gone on to college overseas. I ain't ever been. I never will. Yer only 19 and you've already outdone me.
Dad: You have a heart of gold, and a good head on yer shoulders. What more could I ask fer in a daughter?
Ariel: A daughter who isn't pregnant?
Dad: I don't want to hear you say that again.
Dad: I am proud of you, and I will continue to be proud of you.
Dad: I taught you how to be good, you will be a good mother. You know how to do this.
Ariel: No I don't.
*Silence for a moment*
Dad: Just do what I did. Work hard, and always remember yer family. You'll do well.
Ariel: Dad?
Dad: Yes sweetheart?
Ariel: Thank you. I love you
Dad: I love you too
Dad: Now you make sure you call me more often yeah?
Dad: None of this waiting two weeks nonsense.
Ariel: Ok
Dad: Now look. I gotta go clean up the mess I made before yer dog comes n eats all me dinner.
Dad: Why don't you call me back tomorrow and we can talk more. Give yer nerves a chance to calm yeah?
Ariel: Ok. I'll call tomorrow.
Dad: If not, yer sister will, N I'll get her to hand you the phone.
Ariel: *Small laugh* I'll call you tomorrow.
Dad: That's a good girl.
Dad: I love you, sweetheart.
Ariel: I love you too.
Ariel hung up the phone and smiled to herself as she lay back in bed. Some how, talking to her dad always made her feel better. He was pretty smart, and always knew what to say to make things just a little better. She was less scared now, though still uncertain as to what the future actually held.