TW: Abuse, Alcoholism
Every year on Mother’s Day, Charlotte’s dad picks her up and spends the day with her. It’s a different place every year. One year they went to the park. Another to the movies. Another to the pool. Each year something different, and it was Charlotte’s favorite day of the year. Daddy told her mom that it was a gift to her to be able to get a break, but he told Charlotte it was really her own gift so that she could get away from her mother.
Each passing day brought the holiday closer and closer, and Charlotte couldn’t wait. She didn’t get to see her father that much throughout the year, so it made it even better. Her dad said that he couldn’t see her a lot because of her mother.
Her mother. Ugh, her mother. Charlotte hates her mother. Her mother is always nagging her about everything.
“Charlotte put on a coat!”
“Charlotte don’t touch that!”
“Charlotte don’t eat that!”
“Charlotte finish your food!”
It was so annoying. Charlotte didn’t understand why she couldn’t just live with her dad. Her dad was so awesome he let her do anything she wanted. If she wanted to go on a walk by herself without her coat, he let her. If she wanted to cook on the stove all by herself, he let her. If she wanted to eat only candy all day, he let her. It was awesome.
Mom didn’t like that, and that’s why daddy wasn’t able to get Charlotte as much as he wanted to. That’s what he said.
The night before, Charlotte heard her mother arguing with someone on the phone about how something wasn’t fair, but Charlotte didn’t care. Today was Mother’s Day, and Charlotte was so excited. She woke up to voices, and she ran downstairs. Her dad was there, and he was gripping her mom’s arm and shaking her a bit. Mom must be trying to stop him from taking her. Typical mom trying to stop the fun.
“Daddy!” Charlotte squealed and ran to him. He dropped her mother’s arm, and she jumped into his arms while hugging him tightly. He stumbled back a bit and mom grabbed at him to stop him from falling. He shrugged her hands off and hugged Charlotte to him. He smelled weird, but Charlotte didn’t care.
“Maybe you guys could stay here today,” her mom said hesitantly.
“No!” Charlotte said.
“Yeah, we’re gonna have fun right, babe?” he asked.
“Yeah!”
Her mom looked worried but eventually said, “Okay. Be safe and have her back by 8; she has to take a bath tonight.”
“Yeah yeah,” her dad said while rolling his eyes.
A few hours later brought them in the car on the way home, and Charlotte was nervous. Her dad was drinking some strange stinky drink out of a bottle, and he was falling asleep while driving.
“Daddy?”
“Shut up!” he snapped, “I have a headache” The car swerved slightly as he gripped his head.
Charlotte put her seatbelt on (daddy said she didn’t have to wear it with him) because she was scared.
Eventually, they made it to her house, and she ran into the house, her father stumbling behind her. She was crying as she ran into her mom’s arms, and her mom quickly locked the door before her dad could get in. He began pounding on the door and yelling mean words that Charlotte didn’t really understand, and her mom was talking to someone on the phone. Charlotte began to cry harder.
“Shh,” her mother said, “It’s gonna be okay. Mommy’s got you.”
“Mommy I don’t want to go with daddy anymore.”
“You don’t have to sweetie,” she said as she brushed the tears from Charlotte’s face. Blue and red lights began to flash and the yelling outside got louder before it stopped.
“But then you won’t get your present on Mother’s Day anymore,” Charlotte said, suddenly sad to disappoint her mother.
“Oh, darling, the only thing I want for Mother’s Day is to spend the day with you.”
“I’d like that, mommy,” Charlotte said with a watery smile.