Looking back at things that Dad and I've shared is something we do now and then. One of the most awful... well, did I say "awful"... days of my life comes to mind as I sit here waiting for Dad to return from town. The story goes like this:
Occasionally, I did something that elicited great praise or great anger from Dad. Good grades were always worthy of new clothes, dinner at my favorite restaurant, and a movie. Overflowing the dishwasher by using liquid soap instead of dishwasher soap was enough to have Dad ground me for two weeks.
And, when I turned eighteen, I pulled the firecracker of my youth. I decided that it was time for me to buy a car. That's right... "I" decided... just like that. And, worse yet, I knew the combination to the floor safe and so I just helped myself to a down payment on a car. I was working at the school library and at McDonald's in the evenings and whenever school was in break, so I knew that I could make a monthly car payment. Without one bit of approval, or even discussion, I took myself to the car dealer and purchased a used Chevy... handed them $5000 of Dad's money, signed the paperwork, and drove my new car home.
Well, la de dah... was I a grownup now! Pleased as punch, I set about making dinner for Dad and me.
All of a sudden the door opened and Dad stood there looking at me with one eyebrow raised higher than the other. "Have company, Sharlann?"
"No, Dad... no company."
"Whose au - toe - moe - beel is that in the driveway?" Dad spoke slowly and more seriously than I'd ever heard.
"Well, Dad... it's MY new car! Aren't you proud of me?"
"W H A T?" "What in the HELL are you talking about Sharlann?"
Suddenly I realized that I'd probably made the mistake of my life. As Dad's face turned redder and redder, and a dark cloud of anger settled over him, I actually began to shake. Oh, what had I done... and what would happen now?
Dad slowly walked into the kitchen and sat down. "Tell me, Sharlann... tell me all about how and why you bought a car... tell me how you did it without my permission... tell me where you got the money... TALK TO ME SHARLANN! NOW!"
Oh brother, this was serious. Shaking, I told Dad what I'd done. No lies. Just facts. Then I waited... not for long, though.