The Choice

She’s three feet tall and we get on like a house on fire. She wakes me up dancing on the bed and she never starts the day without some cuddling. I take her to school at seven... I know it’s early. I don’t have a choice, I need to be at the factory at seven thirty.
Her friend’s mother comes to pick her up and she has lunch there. They don’t mind, they’re good people and understand that a single father needs all the help he can get. I don’t know why she did what she did. She’s usually such a precious... never a fight, never an argument. Yeah you’re right, she may be just growing up. I don’t know. It still scares me that she took that money. Oh no, she knows we’re poor and she seems okay with it.
When she’s older and will want preppy clothes, well, I’ll be in trouble then. But she never shows greed towards other kids’ things. If she does, I didn’t notice. Yeah it’s possible that I didn’t notice after all. We’re together one hour in the afternoon and that’s all, when I get off work and before I go to school.
I’m trying to talk the dean into letting me off some classes, but how many undergraduates study at home? But at least I’d be with her... How can you say it’s not my fault? It’s all my fault. Everything here is my fault! Yes... you’re right... her mother shouldn’t have dropped her on my doorstep. I don’t blame her though. Most kids aren’t that stupid, but we were. She just couldn’t face it and that’s okay, and... well, I *have* to face it. But it’s not a burden. I mean, look in my daughter’s eyes. She’s absolute perfection. Yeah then she shouldn’t have stolen, I know. What? Miss Warren, are you kidding? I never hit her.”

“There are times when a father needs to be stern. I’m against spanking too, but even just once, when she’s still little... It’s not between you and her, it’s between her and life. You need to place a limit that she’ll respect, and not just for fear of punishment. It’s your duty as a father and hers as a daughter.”

“I guess that makes sense. But I... she... She’ll hate me.”

“I’ve seen her a minute ago, and what I’ve seen is a little girl who’s scared to have disappointed you and ashamed of herself. Now it’s up to you.”

“I guess. I want to take her home, now.”

“I’ll let her in.”

“Aww... don’t cry, honey. C’m here.”

“I’m so sorry, daddy!”

“I know baby. Let’s go home now, daddy needs to have a talk with you.”

Somehow she knew what that meant.