January 2: Resistance

Letter: M

CD Number: 15

Track Number 13

Song: “Resistance” by Muse off the album Resistance
Hear it here

DAUGHTER

And that’s why I can’t clean it.

DAD

I am not sure I understand…

DAUGHTER (rolling her eyes)

Fine! I’ll try again. Listen this time, ok, Dad? You know Jeremy, right?

DAD

Sure. The short kid.

DAUGHTER

He’s not short!

DAD

Honey, he’s 4 feet tall, maybe.

DAUGHTER

He’s…average. Or almost average. Just…just don’t call him short.

DAD

Bu—alright. The…kid from school that was here last week to borrow your book?

DAUGHTER

Right. So, you know that I love him.

DAD

Do I?

DAUGHTER

I so told you that!

DAD

You did?

DAUGHTER

Yes! He was here and after he left I told you I thought he was cute. Remember?

DAD

The short one?

DAUGHTER

Dad!

DAD

Right. Sorry. Not short. Almost average. And you love him now?

DAUGHTER

Very much. Just…so much! He’s like Sterling Knight and Jaden Smith. Combined! But funny.

DAD

I don’t know what most of those words mean.

DAUGHTER

Oh, Dad…that’s just sad.

DAD

Is it?

DAUGHTER

I think so.

DAD

Where are we going with this again?

DAUGHTER

I love him.

DAD

Are you sure?

DAUGHTER

Yes!

DAD

Even though you are 15?

DAUGHTER

You and Mom went to elementary school together.

DAD

Sure. But I slep— I mean, yes, that’s true. But that was a long time ago.

DAUGHTER

And?

DAD (stalling)

We didn’t have the internet yet?

DAUGHTER

Dad, what does—

DAD (backpedaling)

Nevermind. Not important.

DAUGHTER (excited)

Oh. And Romeo and Juliet!

DAD (confused)

I’m sorry?

DAUGHTER

They were in love and teenagers. I think Juliet was 13!

DAD

You know that play ends with them killing themselves, right?

DAUGHTER

Well, sure, but I wouldn’t do that part of it!

DAD

A relief. So, you love Jerry?

DAUGHTER

Jeremy.

DAD

Sure. Let’s say you are in love with him—

DAUGHTER

Because I am.

DAD

—what does that have to do with the kitchen floor?

DAUGHTER

I don’t have time to do the floor.

DAD

Because you are in love with Jeremey?

DAUGHTER (relieved)

Yes, exactly!

DAD

I’m still not sure I understand.

DAUGHTER (exasperated)

So, I love J—

DAD

This part I remember. You love Jeremy.

DAUGHTER

It is what I do.

DAD

And you can’t do it while washing the floor?

DAUGHTER

I need complete concentration.

DAD

Maybe you could call and ask him if it was alright if you took a half hour off from loving him to do some chores?

DAUGHTER (perplexed)

And tell him I love him? That would be so embarrassing!

DAD

So he doesn’t even know?

DAUGHTER

Not yet. I am waiting for him to ask me out first.

DAD

Which he’ll do?

DAUGHTER

Soon.

DAD

And you know this?

DAUGHTER

Dad, I occupy the top 5 percentile, in terms of attractiveness in our class. It is inevitable. It’s basically math.

DAD

But, until then, you can’t wash the floor?

DAUGHTER

Definitely not.

DAD

And you feel pretty firmly about this?

DAUGHTER

Uh-huh.

DAD (walking away)

Well, if you feel strongly about it.

DAD (popping his head in a moment later)

I just remembered something.

DAUGHTER

Good?

DAD

Great actually. See I remembered, I’m your father.

DAUGHTER

Right.

DAD

And you are my daughter.

DAUGHTER

So you and Mom tell me.

DAD

And that means I get to tell you what to do. And I get to ground you if you don’t do it?

DAUGHTER

No, Dad, you aren’t serious, are you?

DAD

Just as serious as you could imagine.

DAUGHTER

So I have to do the floor still?

DAD

Oh yeah.

DAUGHTER (getting off her bed, heading towards the cleaning closet)

I was never really in this one, was I?

DAD

Not for a second kiddo. I think it is just great you are in love though.

DAUGHTER (heavily sighing)

Thanks, Dad.

DAD (speaking over his shoulder as he walks away)

It does not make me feel old at all. Not a bit.

DAUGHTER (giggling a bit)

Happy to help!

So, what do you think? Enjoy it? If so, feel free to follow me on Twitter (@UnGajje) for various bon mots and links directing you to the newest updates on this site as well as my other various writing gigs (Marvel, Complaint of the Week at the Living Room Times, and New Paris Press, set to debut shortly although information may be available before then here).

Feedback or questions? Offer them up here or drop me a note at the aforementioned Twitter account, tim[dot]g[dot]stevens[at]gmail[dot]com or Facebook. I am especially looking for messages with song suggestions for the four "fan guided" posts.