TRAVEL
Alexis groaned as she read her mother’s text, “You didn’t thank your father for the birthday gift. He’s really hurt. Please give him a buzz, and when you speak to him don’t call him Frankie. He hates that.”
Alexis kicked the wall. Her mother seemed to keep forgetting that Frankie was her step-father, not her father and what kind of stupid gift was a family trip to Hershey Park anyway? She was eighteen years old and in college, for heaven’s sake and he was giving her a gift for a ten-year old. She wondered if he picked this gift because her half-sister was still little, and he was really just thinking about her.
Alexis rolled her eyes and picked up the phone to call her step-dad. When he answered she said, “Hi Frankie, thanks for the thoughtful birthday gift.”
Her step-dad bubbled, “I’m so glad you like it. I want you to know I put a lot of thought into what to get you for your special birthday Alexis. Do you remember that first trip we took to Hershey Park when you were eight years old? Mom and I had just gotten married and we wanted to do something special for you. Remember our tour of the chocolate factory when you got a mound of gooey chocolate stuck in your hair? We were all really laughing.”
Alexis sighed, “Sure Frankie, I remember. It was fun.”
“Yes, “He said, “ It was fun, but it was more than that for me. It was on that trip that I really got to know you and I began to feel like your dad for the first time. I gave you this gift because it is the tenth anniversary of when I fell in love with you, and I wanted to recreate, if just for a bit, that special vacation.” He added, “Sweetheart, I hope you know how much I love you and how proud I am to be your dad.”
Alexis began to cry. “I love you too Daddy. This is the best gift ever. I can’t wait to go.”
Alexis kicked the wall. Her mother seemed to keep forgetting that Frankie was her step-father, not her father and what kind of stupid gift was a family trip to Hershey Park anyway? She was eighteen years old and in college, for heaven’s sake and he was giving her a gift for a ten-year old. She wondered if he picked this gift because her half-sister was still little, and he was really just thinking about her.
Alexis rolled her eyes and picked up the phone to call her step-dad. When he answered she said, “Hi Frankie, thanks for the thoughtful birthday gift.”
Her step-dad bubbled, “I’m so glad you like it. I want you to know I put a lot of thought into what to get you for your special birthday Alexis. Do you remember that first trip we took to Hershey Park when you were eight years old? Mom and I had just gotten married and we wanted to do something special for you. Remember our tour of the chocolate factory when you got a mound of gooey chocolate stuck in your hair? We were all really laughing.”
Alexis sighed, “Sure Frankie, I remember. It was fun.”
“Yes, “He said, “ It was fun, but it was more than that for me. It was on that trip that I really got to know you and I began to feel like your dad for the first time. I gave you this gift because it is the tenth anniversary of when I fell in love with you, and I wanted to recreate, if just for a bit, that special vacation.” He added, “Sweetheart, I hope you know how much I love you and how proud I am to be your dad.”
Alexis began to cry. “I love you too Daddy. This is the best gift ever. I can’t wait to go.”
