The Father and His Daughter

   It was a beautiful sunny California morning. Everything was just how I remembered it- My bright pink bed sheets from the eighth grade, My trophies from soccer all lined up by date, collecting dust, my shoes and clothes I hadn’t taken with me perfectly hung and lined up. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this room- ever since leaving for college, I thought I would never want to come back, but after graduating, I’d felt more homesick than ever before.

  

I heard the door open, and my father called “I’m Home!” I hadn’t heard his voice sound like that since the day I graduated high school- He was really excited. I walked down the stairs to see my father and mother having what looked like a two-person party. “What’s all the fuss about?” I yelled over all their hooting and hollering. “We just won the lottery!” My little brother exclaimed. “Are you serious? No you're so joking!” I said as I joined their party. I was happy- the kind of happy you get when you buy a new pair of shoes and want to show them off to everyone, the kind of happy you are when you get a new puppy, all that times a million.

-The Next Day-

I looked in the mirror. I looked for a while focusing on very little detail-My hair was lighter brown, because of the California sun, my eyes were a hazel shade, specked with green around the edge, my freckles stood out against my lightly tanned skin, my lips a light pink. I hadn’t really looked at myself in a while, I was happy with my appearance. I took a look at my clothes. Plain and bland. I wore a white t-shirt with a small soccer applique in the top left corner with my name stitched underneath. My jeans were ratty, considering I’d had them since senior year- all my clothes were from senior year. I think It was time for a little...shopping.

“Father, with all this new money, do you think I could possibly go get some new clothing?” I asked him softly.

“Let me talk to your mother.” He said. A few minutes later he handed me some money and said “Don't spend it all in one place!” as I rushed out the door.

  

I was so excited for all of the new clothing I had bought- I’d spent 700 dollars on practically a whole new wardrobe. I loved everything and couldn't wait to show it all off the next time I go out.

   The next day, I wore my new dress and boots. The dress was a light floral pattern and the boots were dark brown with a small buckle on the outside.  

I sat down on my bed, noticing how my bed was so creaky, and old. The paint was chipping at the edges, the springs were so creaky, the mattress had plenty of water damage from a previous flood, it was bad. I took a look around my room. I had noticed the same chipping and wearing on my desk and dresser. I felt like I was unsatisfied, so I went to find my father, hoping he would give me more money to buy some new furniture-I mean we had won the lottery, right?

“Dad! Dad!” I called. My voice echoed through the house.

“In here!” he called. I followed his voice and found him sitting at the island on one of the swivel stools in his robe and slippers drinking a mug of coffee reading the newspaper.

“Dad,” i said, putting my puppy dog eyes on, “ I love everything I bought, but the furniture in my room is so old, I mean I’ve had it since I was in the eighth grade, do you think I could get new furniture that will suit me?” I asked, hoping for a response that would make me happy.

“Let me talk to your mother” He replied. A few moments later, He came back and said “Mom said go ahead and order some new furniture.” I smiled, gave him a hug and ran to my computer to search for new furniture.

    -A few Days Later--

  I had ordered all my furniture, and I was almost finished setting everything up, I just had to put the last screw into the shelf. I absolutely loved my room and how it was set up. I thought to myself ‘I am 23 years old, I need a space with more privacy, more space for myself and all the things I wanted.’  My Furniture was amazing, but I was still unsatisfied. I wanted more, more, more. I went through the house as I called for my father. I found him in the living room reading the newspaper.

“Father, I love all my new furniture, but do you possibly think I could get my own living space? I am a grown woman, I need my own space.” I said hoping for an answer that would make me happy.

He replied with “let me talk to your mother.” and dismissed me.

I waited upstairs, until my door creaked open. I looked up from my laptop-it was my father “Dear, mother has a perfect space for you, her friend just moved out and they are willing to help you move in.” He smiled.

“Really?” I said smiling ear to ear. He nodded and left the room. I couldn’t wait.

-A month Later-

   I was all moved in to my studio apartment and I loved it. My phone lit up and began to vibrate- My father was calling.

“Hello Dad!” I chimed into the speaker

“Daughter, I have to talk to you. With all of these bills on your apartment, our house, the cars, and trying to keep up with three kids, is extremely tight with money I know we have won the lottery in all, but that money is gone, and you were being greedy with it, not thinking of us and our needs. I am sorry, but you need to give up your luxuries and come back to us. We need the money back. We are in terrible debt.” He said truthfully into the phone. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe this.

-A few days Later-

   I was back to my same room, same sheets, same old clothes. I had barely anything left. I was so sad, and I began to realize how greedy I was, and I was sorry, although I do miss all the luxuries I had. I realized that being greedy and selfish never ends up well.