ATHENA’S POV
Enjoying the view of where we were at, I felt a bit happy and I was certain to keep the moment to myself to reminisce, if the need for it came.
I sat on his bed, looking at a few pictures on the wall.
“So, do you have anything to say or to ask me? I’m open for any conversation.” I said, with a smile.
I was trying my best to make this a good moment, knowing that my foster father was going to get him arrested, tomorrow.
“Well, I am not sure I have anything to say.” He said, with a smile as he also looked around.
I didn’t want us to be quiet and not to say anything at all. This wasn’t what I had planned in my head. It wasn’t going to be nice to leave with a boring memory. Then I sighed, racking my brain and thinking of what to do to make him have something to say or I myself to have something to say.
“Well, I do have a question.” He finally broke the silence, which made my heart jump in excitement.
“Alright, go on. What’s that?” I asked, impatiently, but tried not to let it show.
“How was your childhood like? I hope you do not mind, telling me about it?” He said, with his gaze, fixed on me.
It wasn’t a bad question from him, anyways and It was a topic which would make a good conversation.
“Well, I grew up with my father, but I had no mother.”
“How was your father like? I have heard of people whose mother died and the father couldn’t bear the heartache and didn’t take care of the child. How was your father like?” He asked, with curiosity, written all over his face.
I paused and sighed, with tears filling my eyes up.
“I’m sorry if you do not want to talk about it.” He said, probably thinking it was too sensitive to share.
“No, it’s fine.” I sniffed.
I had many memories with my father and I was going to tell Luciano, some of the memories I had. He had asked for it. And besides I hadn’t revisited my childhood memories in a long time..
“Hey dad! I’m going to get you.” Little me screamed happily as i was having fun with my dad in the house. We were playing pretend. I held my water gun and was aiming at my dad who also had his water gun and was dodging the attacks from me. I had actually begged my dad for us to play, before we ate and he agreed. He was always ready to do anything, to make me happy.
“Oh, come on, Athena! You can do better than that.” My father laughed at me, as I kept missing my target.
I got frustrated and sat down on the floor, with my hands crossed, and my head bowed down. My father smiled and joined me.
“Oh, Athena, you shouldn’t give up easily, or you won’t get things done.” My father said, trying to make me feel better.
“I didn’t give up.” I said as i looked up, smiled and shot my dad with the water gun. Then I stood up and ran around, feeling victorious.
My dad then lay on the ground acting wounded, then I shot him again and then my father dropped his hand on the floor, acting like he was dead. I jumped up with joy, feeling like I had won.
“Yes! Yes! I won.” I ran around, feeling on top of the world and like I was the smartest kid the world will ever know of.
Then i went back and saw my father sitting up and smiling.
“You cheated, Athena.” My father laughed.
“No dad. I’m too young to cheat.” I laughed as well.
“Why don’t we go to an iced cream store?” My father suggested as he ruffled my hair.
“Yaaay…. Let’s go.” I screamed in joy.
We went to my favorite iced cream store and then when we got there, my father bent down to me. I wondered what he wanted to say to me, with that serious expression he wore on his face, but I hoped that it wouldn’t be because he forgot the money or he wanted to tell me that we wouldn’t be able to get it today.
“Hey Athena, I’m with just 2 dollars, okay! So, when I get you a cone for you and I, make sure you hold yours tight because I didn’t bring any other cash with me.” My father explained, with a smile on his face.
“Okay, dad.” I said, with a smile, feeling relieved that he didn’t say any of what I thought could be the reason he bent down to me, just before he got into the iced cream store. We got into the iced cream store and my eyes widened at the different colors, and how they arranged each of them. I wanted all of them, but it was certain that I couldn’t get them all.
I picked the one which caught my eye and my dad also bought the same for himself and then we went out of the store, walking back home.
“Athena, can I have a bite?” My father asked, with a bright smile on his face, that looked suspicious.
“No, dad. You had your own already.” I said, as i was obviously enjoying my iced cream.
There was no way I would want to release it to anyone else. I couldn’t get more if I wanted to as he had already told me that he brought only 2 dollars.
In the blink of an eye, my father snatched the iced cream from me and finished it off. I looked at him with teary eyes and wanted to scream out loud in anger.
“Why did you do that?” I asked, feeling pained.
“That’s called cheating, my dear, Athena. Now, how does it feel to be cheated on?” He asked me, with his two hands on his waist.
“Awful.” I replied him, with a sad look.
“I want you to know that it’s not a good thing to cheat. Think about the person you’re cheating on and how they would feel about your actions.” He said, keeping a straight face.
“You felt bad when I cheated you the other time we had a gun fight?” I asked, feeling remorseful as I got the sense in what he was trying to tell me.
“Not really. You’ll understand better how things work.” He said, with a smile as he ruffled my hair.
That day was one of the many best days I had experienced with Dad.
“We have had many good times and I miss him every day of my life. There were times when I had trouble with other kids at school and he didn’t hesitate to come fight for me in school and I didn’t mind if I was called, daddy’s girl, because I was glad that I had a father and a good one at that.” I said, with tears, rolling down my eyes.
“Your father was a really good father and a rare one to come across.” Luciano said, sympathizing with me.
“Thank you. There was a particular time that I wasn’t able to go for the school’s excursion, because he didn’t have enough at that period. It was closing and everyone was getting prepared for the wonderful excursion, but I had to go home, because I wasn’t going to go, but when I got home, he actually surprised me.” I said as I cleaned my tears.
“With what?” Luciano asked me out of curiosity.
“He created our personal excursion. He took me to the sea on a speed boat and I was happy on it. I was able to touch the water and take nice pictures with him and then the next day, when I went back to school, guess where they took the other kids to?” I chuckled, waiting impatiently to reveal it to him.
“Where did they take them to?” He asked as he chuckled as well.
“A museum which bored them out. Although, a museum helps them learn about a few things, but I was at sea, learning about the sea and having the fun of my life with my dad and my classmates envied me.”
Memories assailed me and I closedy eyes, relieving the moment.
We were at home and my dad served me dinner and as he sat down at the dining table with me, I stared at him with love.
“Dad?”
“Yes daughter.” He said as he poured chilled juice into my cup and his.
“I love you.” I said, with a smile that revealed my little teeth.
He looked up at me and smiled back.
“I love you too.”
“How did he die?” Luciano asked and the memory vanished.
“Someone killed him. He was murdered.”
“Who killed him?”
“Uhm… can we talk about something else?” I said as I adjusted myself on his bed. Pretending to be fine was going to be harder than I thought.