Independent
674 Words
“Mother, it is not the end of the world because I wanna find my own place to live,” Kat proclaimed over the phone as she cooked lunch.
“I just think you’re rushing things, doll.”
“I’m not rushing anything. I did it for two years in Australia, Mother. It’s not exactly new to me.”
Rebecca sighed, “Sometimes you remind me of myself so much. I have to let you grow, I guess. You turning into an adult just happened so quick. I wish I had more time.”
“Are you tryin’ to make me cry?” she laughed.
“No no. But I do need to get off this phone. My boss is gettin’ on my case. I’ll call you back.”
“Okay. Bye.”
Not too long after she hung up the phone, she heard knocking at the door. She turned off the stove and went to answer.
“Hey, Kat.”
Her eyes must have been playing tricks on her. She couldn’t possibly be seeing who she thought she was seeing.
“What are you doin’ here, Claudio?”
“What. No Hello. Nice to see you?”
“No, cuz it isn’t nice to see you. The sooner I find out why you’re here, the sooner you’ll be gone. Now, what do you want?”
“I want to see my daughter.”
“Your daughter?
“Yes, I am the father of our child,” Claudio reminded.
“Our child?”
“Is there an echo in here?”
“I’m the only parent the child of whom you speak has ever known. So as far as we are both concerned ... I am the mother. I am the father. And you were just ... there. Ooh, wait. I’m sorry. You couldn’t even do that!”
“Aww, let’s not go through this again.”
“Oh, no. Let’s! Do you even know our child’s name? Hmm?”
“Of course I know lil Claudia’s name!”
“Lil who?”
“Claudine?”
Kat stood silent.
“Claudette?”
She remained silent.
“Claude?” he guessed getting frustrated.
“She is not named after you, dumbass.”
“She’s not?”
Kat shook her head in answer.
“What’s her name then?”
“Meralei.”
“Mary who?”
“Mare ... ruh ... lee!”
“Like Row row row your boat gently down the stream, merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream Meralei?”
“Wow. Did you really need to go through all that to get the picture?”
“What kind of nursery rhyme bullshit is that?”
“It’s the name I gave her!”
He scoffed, “Well, I know she’s got my last name. I mean, it’s the law.”
“Like hell! She’s a Brazilson.”
“What?” he exclaimed.
“The only way my daughter’ll be known as a Felix is if I’m dead and buried.”
“But she’s my daughter!”
“No, she’s my daughter. You are nobody to her ... or me. Now go away!” she screamed closing the door.
Claudio began pounding on the door.
“Open up! I want to see my daughter!”
“Would you like me to get the police involved?” she questioned from inside the apartment. “I know how much you love them.”
He stepped back and walked to his car. He wasn’t trying to go to jail ... but this fight was far from over.
“You want a war, Kataleena? You got one. You ain’t heard the last of Claudio Felix.”
- Writer
