Part 1: In this part, Katie has a big problem. Oh, and it isn't the letter she got from her school.
----Katie----
Well, it was the last week of Summer before school finally started up again. The events of last week were still proving difficult to get over. The side of my chest was still healing, and would hurt if I twisted the wrong way, or put pressure on it. It was a painful reminder of what had happened. Never-the less, I got dressed for bed in a pair of blue pajama pants, and a matching T-shirt. I then did my best to get some sleep.
I woke up slowly the next morning. When I opened my eyes, I noticed several things that were very wrong. The first being that it wasn't morning, as it was still dark outside. Another was that I was in the living room on the couch, and I know I didn't feel asleep here. The third was when I tried to get up I realized that my hands were bound behind my back with rope.
Perhaps this was a practical joke on Dad's part. When I tried to call him I noticed that my mouth had been taped shut as well.
“Dmmmd!” I tried to call, but my gag kept my lips secured very tightly. I tried to force my mouth open, but the tape that was used didn't budge at all. If this was Dad's idea of a joke, I wasn't finding it very funny.
I then heard the sound of footsteps. I saw Dad come down stairs.
“Katie!” He called, and then rushed over to me with a look of shock on his face. This dismissed my theory of this being a joke. He unwrapped the tape from my mouth, and was about to untie me when a new person came into view.
“Hello Jeff,” A familiar voice greeted. It was Henry. I couldn't believe my eyes. This had to be a dream. It just had to be. I saw that angry and crazed look return to my Dad's eyes, as he turned to face his enemy once again. Both men where unarmed, but that didn't stop them from picking up where they left off.
While Dad and Henry brawled, I did my best to get free of the ropes binding my hands. Without Dad's assistance I had little chance of removing the waist rope, and the bonds on my hands offered no slack.
Eventually, Henry broke free, and ran out of the house. Dad was in hot pursuit. I then remembered what I did to get loose in Mister Bennett's house. Our couch had a leg that would be perfect for sawing the ropes off. I got off the couch, and began to saw away, but for some strange reason, the ropes didn't cut.
Dad then came back. I saw he now had a gun in his hand. He then did the unthinkable. He looked at me with those crazy eyes, and pointed his gun at me.
“Dad!” I shrieked. Dad blinked at me.
“You're calling me Dad now?” He asked.
“Yes!” I screamed.
“Henry, you've lost your mind,” He said. It took me a second to register what he just said. He just called me Henry. How could I possibly be Henry?
“I'm not Henry!” I screamed, in utter panic. Dad had finally flipped.
“Save it you monster!” Dad yelled.
“Dad, it's me!” I screamed. “I'm Katie, your daughter!”
“Any last words?” Dad asked, ignoring me.
“NOOOOOOOOO!!” I shrieked.
“Katie! Wake up!” Dad then yelled. It didn't make any sense, but I was so terrified, I didn't care. “Wake up!” He yelled again.
I burst awake covered in sweat. I was hyperventilating heavily too. I looked to my right, and saw Dad in his pajama pants and an old T-shirt looking at me with a very concerned look on his face. Once the shock had subsided, I then saw that I was in fact in my bedroom. I looked back at Dad, and gave him a hug, as I cried into his shirt.
“It's alright, it's alright,” He said, trying to calm me down. He just sat on my bed, and allowed me to just let it out for a few minutes.
“How did you-?” I finally asked.
“I was just leaving the restroom, and I heard you screaming in your sleep,” He said.
“I-I'm sorry,” I sobbed. He then let go of me. “I had a nightmare.”
“Do you want to tell me about it?” He asked. I hesitated for a moment, but then told him about what had happened in the dream.
“You then started calling me Henry,” I said, in a shaky voice. “I tried to stop you, but you would listen.” Dad followed along with everything I had told him while analyzing it as best he could.
“I think it's fairly obvious that something that happened back at that house is bothering you,” He said. “And I'm guessing it's something I did,” He then added. I finally nodded yes, and let him know what was really at the heart of this.
“I've seen you angry, but I've never seen you like that before,” I explained, through teary eyes. “When I saw you and Henry fighting, you looked like you'd lost control of yourself,” I continued. Dad hung onto my every word. “I was afraid, what if it happened again? What if you never came back and-and-” I couldn’t bring myself to finish, and began sobbing into my blankets.
“It's okay Katie. I think I know what you're trying to say,” Dad said. I looked up from my blankets. “You're afraid of me losing my mind, and hurting you. Right?” He asked.
“Yes,” I sobbed.
“Oh Katie, I'm sorry,” Dad said, with guilt in his voice. “When I saw you on the floor in pain with Henry pointing that gun at you, and poor Linda unable to help...I guess I snapped,” He explained. “Last time I hesitated, but after what he did to you, I...I wasn't going to give him the chance to do it again. I lost your mother. I'm not losing you too, and that's probably the best way I can explain it. Please understand that I love you very much, and I'm sorry that I scared you.” I nodded to show I understood.
“I just-I just feel so weak right now,” I said, looking down in shame. Dad scowled at me.
“Oh Katie. Come on,” He groaned. I looked back at him.“You are, without question, the toughest girl I know,” He said, in a firm voice. This did make me feel better. “No one should ever have to go through what you and Linda endured, and yet you came out of it stronger, not weaker. You were outmatched, but you chose to fight anyway. Not many girls have the courage to do that, and I'm glad that you put those lessons to good use.”
“Yeah, but - I don't know if I'll have the same level of confidence as before,” I said. Dad smirked at me.
“Katie, I know you very well. You will,” He said firmly, but also gently. I smiled at him.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Why don't you try to get some sleep now,” Dad suggested, and got up off my bed. I nodded, and crawled back under the covers. “And Katie?” Dad asked.
“Yeah?” I asked back.
“I love you more then anything else in this world,” He said, and then left my room. I took a few minutes to think about what he told me. At least I now knew that he was just an angry father protecting his child. With that I was able to drift to sleep again, and this time, my sleep was nightmare free.
* * * *
I woke up to a dull and gray Sunday morning. I also took notice of that fact that I was actually in my bed this time, so that was a good sign that things were back to normal. I turned to look at my clock, and saw that it was a few minutes past ten. With a groan, I got out of bed, grabbed a towel, and headed for my bathroom to take a shower.
Once I was done in the shower, I blow-dried my hair, and combed it out. I then went back to my room to get dressed. I decided to go with a pair of gray sweat pants, and a navy polo shirt that had long sleeves. The shirt was made from pima cotton which is very soft and cozy. As usual, I left two buttons undone, and made sure the collar looked nice. I then tucked my shirt into my pants. Now all that was left was my hair.
With the aid of my trusty folding mirror, I brought my side bangs behind my head, and used a barrette to hold them into an ornamental ponytail. I finished by making sure my back hair was brushed behind my shoulders. Satisfied with my outfit and hair, I left my room, and headed for the kitchen to get some breakfast.
As I rounded the kitchen, and saw Dad standing by one of the counters making waffles. Oh, and these weren't the waffles that you get in the Frozen Food section. These were home made. (Thank you Lucy for the recipe.) Dad was dressed in a pair of shorts, and a Camouflage T-shirt that reads: “Ha! Now you can't see me.”
“You feeling any better?” He asked.
“Yeah, I guess,” I sighed, as I sat down on one of the stools by the island. Dad then snapped his fingers.
“Oh, now that you're here,” He said, and then reached across the counter to grab a piece of paper. “School sent this. It's about the uniform policy.” I let out a moan. Now, to be fair, I should point out that Richmond Academy is a private school that is really good. The classes are always kept interesting by teachers who have a sense of humor, and they are very good about helping students learn in a variety of ways.
The only drawback is it's uniform policy. It was very strict. Skirts had to be the precise length. Everyone was dressed in the same colors. We all had to wear neck ties, et cetera, et cetera. I hate wearing neck ties. Hell, I don't even like having the top button on my shirt done up, as I've demonstrated before.
“What is it now? Tuxedo's?” I asked. Dad just snorted.
“Nope. They've taken out the uniform, and implemented a dress code,” He said. I perked right up.
“Really?” I asked.
“Listen to this,” Dad stated, and turned back to the paper. “While we still want our students to look academically professional. We also want them to be able to express a sense of individuality as well," Dad read aloud. Already I was liking this. Dad then continued. "Okay, uh...Shirts: All students will now be required to wear a polo, or oxford style shirt in any one solid color of their choosing. All shirts must have collars, buttons, and sleeves, (long or short),” Dad announced, and then looked over at me. I looked down at the shirt I was currently wearing, and then back to him.
“This could be a real problem,” I said, in a sarcastic tone.
“I know. The twenty that you have just might not be enough,” Dad said, in his own sarcastic tone which made me laugh. That cinched it for me. Trading sarcasm was a sure sign that things were back to normal between us. “Sweaters in the colors black, blue, or white may also be worn over school shirts if students so desire to,” Dad read.
“That's nice,” I said. Dad then continued.
“Okay, Boys. We can skip that...Alright Girls: Girls may also wear blue jeans, as well as pants, skirts, and shorts in black, khaki, or gray colors. All skirts must be no shorter then two inches above the knee, and may also be paired with tights or leggings in the before mentioned colors,” Dad announced.
“This is almost the way I dress on a standard basis,” I said, as Dad pulled out a plate to set the waffle on now that it was done cooking.
“It's not much different then most dress codes in schools nowadays,” Dad said, and then continued to read. “Here, listen to this: Also, on Fridays, Students may dress in whatever fashion they choose.” Casual Fridays? That's perfect.
"So on Fridays, I can wear my camouflage pants. Cool," I chirped.
"It would seem that way," Dad said, as he folded the letter back up, and put it back in the envelope.
“Was there anything else?” I asked.
“Nothing that applies to you,” Dad said, as he then buttered the waffle.
“What does that mean?” I asked, as I got up off the stool to fetch the blueberry syrup from the refrigerator. Dad then set the waffle down on the island in front of where I was sitting.
“Do you have tattoos?” He asked. I shook my head no. “Do you have body piercings other then your ears?” He asked.
“Oh, gotcha,” I said, as I now understood what it was. It was the list of accessories that weren't allowed. I usually wear a belt for color, and maybe a wrist watch. That was pretty much it. So yeah, he was right. I didn't have to worry about it. Overall, I was very pleased with the change. I smiled, as I poured some syrup on my waffle, and began to eat.