Their Little Princess

Their little dark-haired and brown-eyed princess was all grown up and leaving the nest for the first time to go away to college in the Big Apple and pursue her major in Fine Arts. It wasn’t going to be easy for either one of her Christian, overprotective parents, so their daughter Marcy made the conscious agreement to always call and stay in contact while she was away from them. Her parents hoped and prayed their good girl would be safe and stay on the right track in her life. Only God knew all of the circumstances.

Freshmen Year

Sunday

“Hello, Mom?”

“Hello, Marcy, is that you?

“Yes, Mom. It’s me. I just got into my dorm room.”

“That’s good. How do you like it?”

“Well, it’s a little small with my roommate, but it’ll have to do I suppose.” Marcy fumbled through a cardboard box. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s outside getting some yardwork done. You know, him, he always has to get his hands busy doing something.” Mom laughed.

“Can you put him on for a minute?”

“Sure, sweetie.”

A long moment of silence filled the line.

“Hey, Princess.” Dad chuckled.

Marcy beamed and giggled. “Hey, Dad. How are you?”

“I’m fine, but sweaty. It’s a hot day today.”

“Uh-oh. Don’t overdo it, okay? I don’t want Mom to have to carry you to the hospital with that weak heart of yours.”

“I won’t. You like your dorm room?”

“Yeah. I’m unpacking now.”

“All right. I’ll let you get situated then. Talk to you later, princess.”

“Bye, Dad. I love y’all.”

“We love you too, sweetheart,” her parents said in unison over the line.

Marcy sighed with nostalgia, pressed the end-call button, and studied the home screen image of her gap-toothed, seven-year-old self, holding a stuffed, purple cat in the middle of her parents at the county fair on her iPhone. It was going to be a long four years.

Sophomore Year

Monday

MARCY: Good morning, Mom.

MOM: Good morning, princess. Whatcha doing?

MARCY: I’m heading to psychology class with Logan.

MOM: Okay. Be good and keep up with your studies.

MARCY: I will. Love you. Tell Dad I said hi.

Wednesday

DAD: Marcy, what’s up? Your mom’s been trying to call you.

MARCY: What? I’m fine.

DAD: We’ve been worried. Please answer us.

MARCY: Sorry, I’ve just been busy with college work.

DAD: All right. But please, don’t do this again.

MARCY: Okay, bye.

DAD: Bye, princess. Take care.

Friday

MOM: Marcy, what are you doing?

MARCY: I’m hanging out with some friends.

MOM: Where are you?

MARCY: At the bar.

MOM: Have you been drinking?

MARCY: Just iced tea.

MOM: You should be in your dorm room.

MARCY: Chill, mom. I’m not a little kid anymore.

MOM: I’m praying for you. Please, be safe.

MARCY: I will, Mom. Good night.

MOM: Goodnight, princess. Love you.

Junior Year

Wednesday

“Hello, Dad?”

“Hey, princess. What’s up?”

Marcy sighed. “Well, I was wondering if you could give me some money.”

“Money? I thought you had a job at the Cheesecake Factory.”

Marcy sighed again. “I did, but I lost my job.”

“Lost your job? Now, how did that happen?”

Marcy rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. It’s a long story.”

“What do you need money for?”

Marcy leaned back on her pillow on her bed. “What do you mean? I’m living on campus, Dad. It’s not like I’m going to use it for drugs or something.”

Her dad’s tone shifted to a stern volume. “I just want to make sure I’m not wasting my finances. You’ve been acting differently ever since your sophomore year.”

“Listen, you don’t have to give me money, if you don’t want to, okay? I’ll find another way.”

Dad sighed. “No, no, no, how much do you need?”

“Just fifteen hundred.”

Dad scratched his brow. “All right. I’ll wire it to you.”

“Okay. Thanks, Dad. Bye.”

“Goodbye, princess. Your mom and I are praying for you.”

“I know. I love y’all.”

“We love you too.” Dad ended the call and let out a slow breath, his heart sank with troublesome worry.

Thursday

MOM: Marcy, how’s your day going?

MARCY: It’s okay.

MOM: Whatcha doing?

MARCY: I’m studying in my dorm room. I have a psychology exam tomorrow.

MOM: Oh, I hope it goes well for you. Get a good night’s sleep, okay?

MARCY: Sure, mom. Good night.

Monday

DAD: Hey, princess, where are you? Your mom and I have been trying to get in touch since last weekend.

MARCY: Stop worrying. I’m okay, Dad.

DAD: What’s going on? Have you been seeing someone?

MARCY: Relax, it’s just a guy from my Psych class.

DAD: What guy?

MARCY: Jason.

DAD: Jason who?

MARCY: Just Jason. I don’t know his last name.

DAD: Marcy, your mom and I don’t know who this Jason guy is. Please, stay away from him and don’t hang out with him anymore.

MARCY: Why? He’s nice and I’ve been helping him to study.

DAD: I don’t care. I forbid you to see him.

MARCY: I gotta go. Bye, Dad.

DAD: Princess, wait...

Senior Year

Wednesday

MOM: Hey, Marcy. Whatcha doing?

MARCY: I’m about to go to work. I got another job!

MOM: What kind of job?

MARCY: I work at a hotel across the street from the university. It pays pretty well.

MOM: That’s great.

MARCY: I also got an A+ on my portfolio project.

MOM: That’s wonderful, honey. I know you’ll make a great artist someday.

MARCY: Thanks, Mom. After work, I’m going to art class.

MOM: Okay. Keep focused on your studies. And please, stay out of trouble.

MARCY: I will. Bye, Mom.

MOM: Bye, princess.

Saturday

“Hello, is the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Baker?”

Dad cleared his throat. “Yes, it is. Is something wrong?”

“I’m afraid so. There’s been a drunk driving accident. Your daughter’s been killed in a collision with a parked car.”

Silence remained on the receiving end, followed by a beeping dial tone.

“Sir, are you still there? Sir?”

THE END