by Writing Shark
Alice and Elise get in trouble at school
“So James, what can we do for you?” Men among themselves. Good humor, laughter, fairness, teamwork. No women present so there’s no banter, no tricks, and especially no rules of conduct. Here, a simple joke can’t cost you a career.
Not that you have that problem. You keep your department free of women and your supervisor, like his supervisor, are both successful businessmen with families similar to yours, though not as… controlled.
But you don’t care about any of that. Today, you’re being celebrated.
“You know what I want Phil,” you say good-naturedly to your boss. He laughs happily and slaps you on the shoulder in a chummy manner.
“We can hardly justify a private jet in the budget.” Then his boss intervenes.
“But here’s your obligatory award.” Everyone laughs, including you. A photo is snapped. You shake hands. More laughter, good humor. No stripper, the people know you’re happily married after all…
Maybe I’ll take Hellen and let her show the guys what stripping is.
Then your cell phone rings and the good mood is over.
“What’s going on?” you ask Mrs. Hoover who is waiting for you outside the school.
“It’s about Alice Mr… James,” says the woman and leads you into a meeting room. Even outside the door you hear angry girls screams but as you enter the room, silence falls. There sits Mr. Hoover, the principal, and his daughter, Valerie. And Alice and Elise.
Elise is holding her cheek and has tears in her eyes. Valerie holds a handkerchief in front of her face and stares bloodily at Alice who looks as if she is about to explode. Mr. Hoover tries in vain to keep his cool and stares at you in bewilderment for a moment as the dynamic in the room changes towards you.
“Come here girls,” you say and your daughters jumps up and hugs you “What happened?”
“Valerie that bitch hit Elise!” Alice hisses angrily and you put a hand on her shoulder.
“Both of you sit back down!” orders the principal, a round, short, feeble man. Your girls ignore him. But you sit down in the chair across from him, Alice and Elise at your side, under your protection.
“I guess there was a little argument,” Grace says to you in an attempt to calm the situation. Unlike her husband, she knows you. You don’t look at her.
“Show me your cheek, Elise.” The girl obeys and you rub over the scratch that surely came from fingernails. You yourself have had such scratches many times. “How did that happen?”
“We’ll discuss that when her mother gets here,” the director says.
“I speak for Elise,” you say coldly and the man across from you nods immediately before he understands what is going on. Your newest daughter presses herself against you and presses her lips together to keep from moaning. You know how much she needs you.
“Very well. It seems Alice has attacked Valerie.”
“She started it!” shrieks Alice. “Father, Valerie insulted Elise in class! And in the schoolyard, too!”
“That’s because she’s skipping school! Just like you! That’s forbidden!”
“Valerie please” her father tries to calm her down.
“No!” snaps the girl. “I didn’t do anything wrong…” Then she sees your expression and forgets how to speak.
“My daughter doesn’t lie,” you say icily and no one dares to contradict you. “What did she say?” Valerie gets small in her chair and crosses her arms sulkily in front of her small breasts.
“She said we were skipping school” Alice explains in a calm voice. She knows you’re there. It’s all good now.
“And she said no one would miss me” Elise adds.
“And that we were lesbians”, Alice says without betraying herself. “Elise wanted to hit her, missed, Valerie hit her and then I snapped and punched her on the nose.” You stifle s smile.
“And you let your daughter get away with that?” you ask the principal coldly.
“We’re here to sort that out” he defends himself. “We…”
“That’s not what I mean,” you interrupt the man. Grace looks at him pityingly. She knows they don’t stand a chance against you, especially when it comes to your family. “Why is your daughter spreading lies about these girls? Girls I consider as mine. Last time I checked, Alice was above Valerie in the performance review. Or am I mistaken?”
“No,” Grace Hoover says quietly.
“Mom!”
“Shut up.” Your finger makes Valerie shrink even more, as so her father. “Mr. Hoover, if my Alice should have a love affair with Elise then I support the girls in that. There’s nothing wrong with the two of them getting along and pursuing a common interest.” You feel Alice put her hand on your shoulder… and then Elise too. Now you too must be careful not to give yourself away, you being the common interest you speak of. “These girls are under my protection and I will not allow false information and hatred against minorities to be spread at their school.”
That it would be you who would pull out the oppression card almost makes you burst out laughing. But the tactic works, even though you could have challenged the poor man in front of you to a fistfight in the schoolyard.
“I expect an apology from Valerie to Elise” you demand with all the authority you have and take the room all to yourself. The girl is already opening her mouth but you stop her. “For portraying Elise as worthless. For attacking the liberal values of this school. And for hitting Elise.” You sit back. “And Alice is going to apologize to Valerie. Won’t you, dear?”
“Of course, father,” says your daughter seriously.
Nothing happens for a while and you wait, wondering why they pulled you out of work for this shit. Mr. Hoover doesn’t dare say anything, after all it’s his daughter he’s betraying right now. There was a fight between you and it’s not going to be you stabbing Alice or Elise in the back. Never.
“Apologize, Valerie.” It’s Grace Hoover who bows (which doesn’t surprise you) and sides with you against her family (which also doesn’t surprise you).
The door to your car slams shut. You’ve agreed to take the troubled girls out of school so they can calm down. But your two daughters are loaded for entirely different reasons.
Like a cat, Alice climbs between the seats onto your lab and kisses you deeply and long.
“Thank you daddy. My God you’re so fucking good.” You stroke her hair.
“Are you okay Elise?” you ask worriedly. The girl hasn’t said anything for a long time. And you’re not surprised when she bursts into tears. She looks so lost in the back seat of your car, wrapping her arms around you and the seat.
“I love you daddy!” She sobs loudly in your ear and you hold her arms tightly. “I love you so much! Thank you for being there! No one has ever been there for me before! And it hurt so much that I couldn’t tell Valerie that you’re my daddy! And I want to be lesbians with Alice for you! And I love you so much!” Then she breaks down and you caress and kiss her arms that are trying to strangle you. Next to you Alice has climbed on her seat, also has tears in her eyes and looks at you in love while Elise slowly calms down.
“The time will come Elise,” you say softly. “You are not alone anymore. And someday we will show the world that you are my daughter.”
You look at Alice. She looks at you expectantly. Today has hurt her. She doesn’t like it when people she loves suffer. Neither do you. To prevent this, there is you. The decision is made.
“And we’ll start with Valerie.” Alice smiles. And Elise stops crying.
Writing Shark 