Aloof (standard:drama, 1406 words)
Author: kathyg	Added: Aug 22 2005	Views/Reads: 3595/2423	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A little girl is lost somewhere in the shuffle between what her father thinks is important and what really matters. This story ALOOF shows what might happen when parents and children grow apart.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

“You have kind eyes. I will give you one more chance. Please don't let
me down.” 

She gazes in the mirror and smiles weakly. Taking a deep breath, she
walks to her door and opens it once again. Step by step, she descends 
the stairway. 

“Daddy?” 

Silence. She shuffles further down and knocks at his door. Knocks. And
knocks. 

Silence. Pressing her face to the keyhole, she tries to listen but hears
nothing. She peeks in and sees Daddy with his head on his desk, crying. 


Inside the room, Jonathan's face is pressed against the cool surface of
his desk. My company is going bankrupt. I don't have time for these 
silly games she plays. Doesn't she know how much stress I am under? 
What an important man I am? Why doesn't she just leave me alone? Stop 
that knocking! 

He covers his ears with his hands. A soft knock on the door; he ignores
it once again. 

The surface of the desk is moist from the tears on his face. I have to
stop it. I am a man. I have work to do. 

Reaching in his pocket, he retrieves a handkerchief. He curses the tear
that runs down his cheek. Blasted little girl! The world doesn't 
revolve around you, Dana! 

He gets up from his chair and walks over to the liquor cabinet and pours
himself a whiskey, gulping down enough to save face. 

“Daddy, can I come in?” 

Silence. Sitting at the door, hoping for an answer that won't come, Dana
is rejected again just like she was yesterday and the day before. 

“I won't be here tomorrow, Daddy!” she shouts through the keyhole. “I am
running away. You are a cruel man. I don't care about your papers. And 
I don't love you anymore. Ever!” 

She leaves out the front door with the clothes on her back, into the
woods, and keeps walking until day turns into night. 

Jonathan throws back the whiskey, hoping for a quick fix. He pauses and
listens for knocking. 

Silence. He carefully steps over to the door and unlocks it. “Dana,
Daddy can see you now. Come in child. It's okay.” 

Silence. 

“Oh, come on. Are you playing one of your hide-and-seek games again?
Okay, Daddy is game. But remember, I've got more work to do since you 
messed up my papers.” 

Jonathan heads toward the living room curtains, one of Dana's favorite
hiding places. He quickly draws them back. 

“Here you– oh, wrong again. You are clever, Dana. I have to be more
creative, like you.” 

He searches the whole downstairs, calling out her name but hears
nothing. Climbing the stairs to Dana's room, he silently opens the 
door. 

“Dana, I know you are in here,” Jonathan whispers. He bends down and
turns up the quilt. “Are you under the bed? Where are you?” 

He hurries down the stairs and out the front door. Checking the swings,
he finds nothing. Running around the house, there is no sign of Dana. 

“Dana! For crying out loud, this is not funny! I don't have time for
your games. Come out!” 

Panic grips him and he goes inside to call the police. “911 emergency,
can we help you? 

“Yes! My daughter Dana is missing. I cannot find her anywhere. Can you
send the police to 958 Hanover Street immediately?” 

“Yes, sir. We will send a squad car right away.” 

Jonathan waits on the steps with his face in his hands. A million
thoughts go through his mind. Calm down, Jonathan. The police will find 
Dana. It isn't your fault. You have deadlines to meet. She was being a 
pest. 

A few minutes later, a police car arrives and two officers get out of
the car and approach him. Jonathan shakes their hands. “Can you help 
me? My daughter Dana is missing. I have a picture of her in my wallet. 
Here it is.” 

Looking at Dana's photo, one officers says, “Don't you worry, we will
search the surrounding area completely. Just stay put and wait for our 
call. She might just come back home if she is simply playing 
somewhere.” 

“I didn't think of that,” Jonathan sighs. 

“Just leave it to us,” the policeman says as they walk back to their
squad car. 

“I will.” 

The police find the little girl two days later, drowned in the river, a
note pinned to her coat: I waited for you, Daddy, but you told me to go 
away. So I am going away. Forever. Goodbye, Daddy. You had your chance. 


The father cries for all the times he was cold and bitter. He put his
work ahead of his love for his daughter. He looks up at the sky. “I let 
you down; I was not there for you. I am contemptible. I should have 
been there for you, my darling. I hate myself for being so selfish. Oh, 
God, what have I done?” 

Silence is his answer. 

Kathryn Gabrielle © 2005 


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