Luciano

Daddy's Girl

Maybelle stood frozen on the boardwalk after Charles had left. She could not believe it.

He kissed me. My first kiss.

She thought and let out a small squeal at the memory. Her heart fluttered, her stomach had butterflies and she couldn't stop smiling. She had never felt like this before about a male. She turned around and walked to the phone booth to call a cab.

The cab showed up about 10 minutes later and a man who looked to be in his twenties with pale skin, green eyes, and dark hair was in the driver's seat. He looked at her and greeted

"Oh good evening Miss White."

Unlike most black people at that time Maybelle had never faced discrimination in her life, she had heard of Dr. King who fought for the rights of Negreos but she had never faced the same discrimination her people did on a daily basis in contrary she was treated with special treatment.

She was allowed to anywhere in Atlantic City without any hassle from anyone, she had been never called a racial slur or been physically attacked by white folks as she saw on the news. She knew it had to do with her father, he was a respected man with many political ties. He was well acquainted with the city's treasurer and sheriff so no one would dare to hassle her. She was unsure of her father's occupation but she was sure it was something dangerous, he had a certain aura about him but despite that, she adored her father.

"Hello."

She replied with a small smile as she got in the car. They drove off until they reached a white mansion surrounded by lush trees.

"We're here Miss."

The driver spoke. "Thank you." She spoke while paying the fee and got out. It was only early evening but she knew her parents would be on her case for returning late. They were overprotective especially her father. She walked in the large door and shrugged her coat off before throwing it on the coat hanger.

"Hello!"

She spoke loudly. Her mom quickly came out of the dining area and hushed her.

"Sweetie your father is hosting some of his political friends tonight, I forget to tell you. Your brother is out with friends and your sister is having a sleepover could you head upstairs and stay in your room all night. I'll ask one of the maids to bring your dinner and Stacey's parents agreed for her to sleep over to keep you company. She's coming in an hour or so."

Her mother spoke in a rushed tone. Maybelle licked her lips and nodded.

"Uhm ok." She said softly.

"Goodnight sweetie." Her mother kissed her forehead and she went up the large brown wooden stairs.

Although she was disappointed that she could not spend time with her father, she was glad he was too busy to punish her for breaking her curfew. She sighed as she opened the large white double doors of her room and walked in. To her right was a large bed fit for a princess decorated in pink and white to her left was her walk-in closet filled with designer clothing and also her en-suite bathroom which had a large bathtub, basin, and toilet. Finally opposite her entry doors were the French doors which led to her balcony. The doors were currently open which caused the wind to come in and the white curtains hanging on the door were floating. She quickly went to go close to the balcony doors as a knock rang out. She went to open her door.

"Miss White your food."

A young woman who was most likely 2 or 3 years older than Maybelle spoke. Maybelle took the food and thanked her. She at her supper in silence before deciding to shower. As she was exiting her en-suite with her robe on she had a knock, she opened the door to see the young maid standing with her best friend.

"Mam Miss Stacey had arrived."

She thanked the young maid and gave the plate before closing her door.

"What's with you?" Stacey said.

Maybelle furrowed her brows.

"What." She asked confused.

Stacey grinned. "You have a ridiculous smile on your face, so what's going on." She said as she walked towards the bed.

"I don't know what you talking about," Maybelle said trying to fight off a smile as she walked into her closet to change into her nightwear.

"Uhhh huuh Girl don't lie to me even Ray Charles can see that you on cloud nine. What is it or who is it that made you so jolly. Stacey asked. Maybelle appeared from her closet dressed in a white nightgown with a huge smile on her face. She sighed.

"He's so perfect" She spoke giddily as she walked towards the bed.

Stacey chuckled "I knew it who is he." She asked as both girls sat on the bed. Maybelle smiled at the thought of Charles.

"His name is Charles." She said happily. "Aaand?" Stacey asked."He's handsome, he smells soo good. He dresses well, he has the most beautiful eyes ever! and his voice Stace. Oh, my word he makes me weak at the knees. She spoke longingly. She was utterly infatuated by him but then her smile fell a little when she thought about how her parents would react if they met him.

Stacey saw her friend's expression. "There's but isn't there," she asked. Maybelle bit her lip. "He's kind of older."

"How much older"

"uhm 31". Stacey's eyes widened

"Oh my God Maybelle. Noo!.". She shook her head.

"Is there anything you want to add," Stacey asked in concern. Maybelle bit her lip and looked down.

"May.."

"He's white". She quickly cut her friend off. Stacey's eyes were wide and her mouth was open wide.

"What!" She shouted causing Maybelle to jump and hiss.

"Stace keep it down please". She said softly. "Keep it down.

"You're running around with some old white man and you want me to keep it down."

"It's not like that"

"Than what is then."

He accidentally bumped into me causing me to fall and he bought me a milkshake to apologize and then we chatted."

"That's it?." Stacey asked with a stern expression. Maybelle sighed a smile forming on her lips.

" He kissed me." She squealed.

Stacey rolled her eyes."Urgh!..". She sighed loudly.

"It was not anything serious just a peck on the mouth. oh, Stace please don't be upset." Maybelle pleaded.

Stacey looked at her friend and sighed. "You really like this guy don't you?." she asked.

Maybelle smiled and put her hand on her chest. "Oh, Stace. He's so swell. If you would meet you would what I'm talking about." She spoke longingly

"Clearly he is by the way he has you wrapped around his finger". Stacey replied. Maybelle giggled and sighed at the thought of Charles.

"He's so great Stace. His voice is like a spell, so deep, so strong and so masculine and don't me started on his cologne oh Stace he's the definition of a man..." She spoke thoughtfully and staring into space, just then the ringing of her telephone interrupted her speech.

She picked up the receiver from the small bedside table. " Hello." She wondered who could be calling at this time it was past nine in the evening.

"Hello miss White you have a call I direct it to you now", one of the maids answered.

"Hello, Maybelle?". A deep voice asked. "Yes." She furrowed her brows in confusion.

"It's me fancy face. It's Charles." Her heart started to beat fast. A large smile formed on her face and she held the receiver tighter.

. "Oh, Charles. How are you" She said softly. Stacey moved closer to her and put her ear on the receiver so she could hear.

"I'm good fancy face. I just called to make sure you got home safely." Stacey raised her brow at the nickname.

"Oh umm. I'm okay." Maybelle replied giddily causing Stacey to roll her eyes.

"That's good. What are doing." He asked.

"Oh. I'm having a sleepover with my friend." and he laughed.

"What. You don't do sleepovers." She jokingly asked. He chuckled.

"Sweetheart, I'm used to a different kind of sleepover. Adults only."

He said causing. Maybelle to blush while Stacey gasped. She found him to be crude.

"Alright, I have to go now." He spoke. "Goodnight Charles."

"Sweet dreams fancy face."

Maybelle put the receiver down and squealed. "Oh my god, Stace. He actually called me." She said excitedly and squealed again.

"Okay okay, we get it. Fancy face?" She said the name in a questioning tone.

"That's a nickname he gave me. " Maybelle replied. "How romantic. " Stacey said in a monotone voice.

"Stace.." Maybelle pleaded. "Okay okay whatever," Stacey said defeatedly.

Maybelle smiled and stared into space. " He said I was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Can you believe that Stace? A man like him surely his met the most gorgeous women." she said.

"and when he kissed me oh I swear I was floating even though it was just a second for me it felt like a like time. It's not like I am going to marry the man or something he's my first crush and it' fleeting. He made me feel like I was the best thing in that restaurant and that's all a girl could ask for, he was so perfect" She breathed out. Stacey looked at her friend in concern.

"No one is perfect Maybelle," Stacey said. Maybelle looked at her friend. "I know but he is well at least in my eyes for now."

"You seem really infatuated by him." Maybelle smiled.

" He's really great once you meet you'll what this whole fuss is about."

Stacey looked at her friend with a worried expression. "I really hope he is as great as you say he is." She said softly.