Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Two

Negotiated Terms, a Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Two, Update

“Kayleigh, do you mind explaining this?” Drake Golden said, cornering her upstairs in the bedroom she shared with Hayleigh and Regina. Kayleigh smiled as she took the magazine from him.
“We took a Selfie together after he asked if I would consider being his girlfriend.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s a nice picture. He is just so thoughtful and kind. We’re friends. I feel honored he wants me to be his girl.”

“You know how I feel about fame. It’s a sleazy, slimy unreal lifestyle where nobody has to account for their behavior.  No rules, no morality. Anything goes. Now, Erik may be a fine, Christian young fella, but he’s up to his eyeballs in this lifestyle. Girls fawning all over him. How long do you think he can resist? I don’t care what his parents think of him. Nobody is that committed.” Pointing that long forefinger at her face, he said, “I forbid you to see him ever again. I won’t have him dragging you down that licentious path.”

“Daddy, really, how little you think of me.” Due to Erik’s timely text, Kayleigh had prepared herself for such a conversation. She turned her back on her father, placing the magazine in the top drawer of her dresser, which she slid closed, quietly. Shrugging, she turned back to him. “Well, as much as I would like to comply with your wishes . . .”
“That wasn’t a wish, that was an order.”

“Oh, yes, and I’m to be the perfect, little soldier. Forgive me, that somehow slipped my mind. And I suppose it’s all Erik’s fault, too. Really, Daddy. How did you get to your age being that naive. That cynical. Both of our families attend the very same church, and you dare judge us?”
“Mind your tongue, daughter.”

“I am minding my tongue, it wants to be unleashed. I’ve had quite enough of your tyrannical ways. You, sir, are overbearing, bombastic and difficult to love. I’m almost sixteen. Now, it’s my turn to make a demand. I’m going off to university very soon. And as it would happen, Erik and his siblings are all going to university, too.”

“Let me guess. Britechester-U?”

“Oh, it’s worse than that. It’s a fairly large campus as you know, so avoidance might be possible. But, you see, we’ve all drawn the very same dorm assignment. We’ll all be in Wyvern Hall together. Now, that will surely make it next to impossible to comply with your order ---- unless you want me to fail. Remember, it was your idea I attend Britechester-U, in the first place.

Wyvern is the nicer of the two dorms. Tell me. Which is more important to you? That I get a degree or avoid my Rock Star friend? And his unfortunate Paparazzi entourage. I do promise to be very diligent in my studies. I promise I won’t let his fame interfere. I got all A’s in high school, which enabled me to graduate early and I was accepted at Britechester. Which is it, Daddy? You’re curiously quiet.”

Drake reached for her cell phone; she snatched it out of his hands. “No, you’ll no longer invade my privacy. I’m old enough to attend university, I’m old enough to handle my own business.” Conscientiously she avoided using the word, ’affairs.’

“He coached you on what to say, didn’t he? In many ways you sound as defiant as he did. He’s trying to take you away from me. How dare he!”

“No, he’s not.  He’s actually very family oriented. He believes in the Fifth Commandment. ‘Honor your father and mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.’ You’re the one driving me away with all of your invasive rules, orders, demands. When are you going to realize my sisters and I are people, too. God gave you and Mom custody over us. But, we are just borrowed. That’s what grandma always says. We are just on loan.”

Drake shot her a glance, his eyes smoldering. Kayleigh for the first time in her life felt slightly empowered. Is this what it means to be heading off to university? To be growing up? The thought was at once frightening and freeing. Overwhelming. Now that I’m up here what if I fall off of this trapeze? Shaking it off in the next instant, she went on,

“So, I expect you and Mom to understand, that while I’m fifteen, soon to be sixteen, I will still need some guidance from time to time, but you must let me conduct my life from here on out. Otherwise, I simply will not attend university, nor will I reach for that degree you want us all to get. The choice is yours. I’m allowed to make and have friends for once in my life, attend Britechester-U as planned to which I promise I won’t let Erik’s fame distract me. I’ll study hard and get good grades. It’s a win-win. Deal?”

“You want me to just let you do what you wish? I can’t allow that. I can’t just let you go off on your own to step in it.”
“We learn by doing, Daddy. I have to make mistakes. If I don’t, how will I learn?”

“But with him?”
“Daddy, did it ever occur to you, I may be his saving grace? He is still trying to get used to all the fame he accrued in such an incredibly short time. He’s an unbelievable talent. He writes and sings his own songs. He just placed his tile on the Avenue, which was so exciting to witness.”

“You were there?”
“Of course I was, he’s my friend. And you have no idea how good it is to be able to call someone that. I have a friend. Watch and you’ll see what a good friend I can be with little to no experience.”
“Not a friend with benefits. He’s already admitted to kissing you.”

“Daddy, can you really know so little about me? I’m so offended. After that homily Father gave last week, chastising the teens in the parish to remember who we are and to not just talk the talk, but to actually walk the walk. Warning us of the pitfalls. Erik made that clear to me upfront. He’s not having woohoo until he’s married, and he hoped I felt the same way. Which, of course, I do. Such activity can really muddle up a relationship.”

“He teach you that, too?”
“No, mother did. So, do we have a deal or not?”

 Drake let out a slow disgruntled sigh. “Oh, all right, but one slip up, one bad grade, one more compromising photo, and the deal is off, understand?”

Reaching out Kayleigh took her father’s warm hand and shook it. “Deal. I love you, Daddy. Thank you. I just hope one day you’ll come to see Erik for who he is, and not what you think he is.” Kayleigh hugged her father tight.

All for now. Thanks for reading!