Hey Dad

Third door on the right, Every single time, A smile breaks across my face and I can see Sully's shadow sniffing at the bottom of the door, knowing I'm almost home. Checking my phone as I grab my keys from my purse, it’s exactly 7:30, I’m early. As I opened the door Sully pushed it closed. Rolling my eyes, “Sully...let me in.” He always does this.

He groans. “I told you, I bought you actual food this time.” He barks. “How many”? I asked rhetorically. Another bark. Resting my head on the door, “I got you 4.” He lifts his weight off the door. Finally, sighing in relief, back to my safe place this sentence flows a little weird, maybe it needs some punctuation of some kind? and staring right at me was my full-grown sully acting all tough as a full-grown rottweiler would.  “Look I’m sorry, I told you we were low on money last month.” He groans as he stares me down. I’ve gotten used to that look. 

Taking a deep breath, and releasing “You know, we had a pretty rough start.” Holding up the grocery bags filled with that fancy little dog food, that he just absolutely loves. He better love it, I thought to myself, these four bags are like 100 bucks apiece. But I put up a smile and said “So let’s start fresh tonight.” He held out for 10 seconds and then he gave in and came wagging towards me.

“Has dad called yet?” I asked him as scratched his neck. He groans. Again rolling my eyes, “Yeah, I know it's 7:30.  Just thought he would call early. You know how he always has trouble with the video chat, even though we’ve been talking like this for like a month and a half.”

 I stare away to the top shelf of the cabinet across the room. A picture of my brother laughing as I just finished telling him this awful joke. For some reason, he thought that joke was so funny, had him crying on the floor laughing. I looked back down at Sully and gave him a little hug.

“Come on, let's get your food ready Mr. Delicate taste,” teasing him.”You do know this stuff is expensive, you don't think that might have been a reason why we were low on money last month.” He barks as he starts to walk with me to the kitchen.

“You know I've been thinking, I don’t think your services are worth this much dog food.” He made a low growl as he got onto his barstool next to the counter. Giving him a look I said, “Yes, I know I’m as important to you as you are to me.” Gave him a small smile as I put the bags away.

“You know how you always say: Don't start nothing, there won't be nothing. We said we’re gonna start fresh so let's drop the hostility, okay?” He blows his nose. As he looks away.

“Big baby.”

I walked past him to turn on the computer and get started on the video call. 7:40. It's still too early. I went ahead to the fridge to grab my Chinese I bought last night. Always been the family tradition for as long as I remember. There isn't much in the fridge anyway, this apartment still feels new, all my stuff is still in boxes, who knew you could take stuff with you when you crossover. I pour my food onto a pan to reheat it. Always hated the taste the microwave left on the food. We need a bit more special occasions, I repeated to myself. I opened one of the cans and served into his bowl and slid it over to Sully.

“Finish one can completely and then I'll give you the next one.” He whimpers. “Oh, now you wanna play innocent. You heard me.  And take it over to the computer so dad can see you too.” He puts his head down and sighs. But gets up and takes his bowl to the desk. The problem was that the desk was short and his stool was tall so he had to eat on the floor first before he could get on. I poured my food onto a plate and grabbed some hot sauce and a sweet tea I saved in the fridge for tonight, grabbed a few cans of Sully’s food. I really do have to decorate whenever I get the chance. I thought as I crossed the living room, It’s starting to kinda creep me out. I got to my desk and opened another can to give to Sully. A minute until 8:00.

“So how did today go? Anything new”? As I pour the food into his bowl.

He barks.

“So the same as always.” Giving him a scratch on his head. “So you said, you can start coming with me by next month”?

He gave a nod of approval, he had food in his mouth. He’s courteous gotta give him that. 8:05. Guess he’s late. Just as I thought it the screen changed and there was my dad. He’s in his forties but life has really taken a toll on him, he still smiles though, it's what I used to love about him. 

“Hey dad, you’re late. Did you have trouble with getting the camera on”?

“Not this time actually,” giving a small smile. 

“Better get on a plaque so you can hang it on the wall “first-time dad set up the video call without any help,” now we got something else to celebrate.” As I raised my glass of sweet tea up. “Also, Happy Thanksgiving dad. You got your Chinese food”?

“That’s why I was late, actually. There was heavy traffic and there was a line to get my order, even though I called ahead. Can you believe that”? He said as he was getting his food from the take out bag. That sure looked better than reheating day-old Chinese food,  as I looked down at my plate. Chinese food is still great. 

“I can believe it, especially if you’re getting your food from the same Chinese spot. That always gets busy around the holidays, although the traffic is surprising. I would’ve expected empty streets.” As I put some hot sauce on my shrimp with fried rice. 

“Yup, still go to the same one, Janet asked about you, and was wondering how you’ve been doing.” He takes a bite of his food. He gets the same thing, fried chicken with shrimp fried rice and 2 egg rolls. Same as I wonder where I got it from. That thought actually made the corner of my mouth curl upwards. We do need more special occasions. 

“What did you tell her’’?

“I told her you’ve been doing a lot better. Ever since your brother.” He lowered his voice when he said that. I suddenly feel Sully rest his head on my thigh. He looks up at me and blows his nose. Gave him a smile and gave him a scratch on his head. I mouthed the words, “You want another can?” He snorts.

“How’s Sully? Is he there, haven’t seen him in a while.”

“Yeah, he’s here, you know he has to eat on the floor, he just loves that stool of his.” As I tell my dad this I  start pouring the can into his bowl. “He’s always sat on that ever since he was a puppy. I swear if he could fit on it he would be sleeping on it as well.”

“I do remember that.” He said as he was taking another bite of his food. “Always kept an eye on you when you were asleep. Even as a pup he was very loyal to you, staying by your side every time.” He moves his food around and finally asks the question,” so how have you been doing”? He puts his fork down and looks at me, to show me he’s paying attention. It’s odd to see him do that, so unfamiliar.

I let out a sigh and lifted my eyes to the screen, “It’s a work in progress,” as I said that, my gaze went towards Sully eating. I guess I'm looking for approval from him. Did I do good? He was busy chowing down on his food. 

“Hey, Dad”? I asked while still staring down at Sully.

“Yeah”? With a mouth full of food, I could actually barely understand him but at least I know he is responding.

“Why are we naming this new family tradition “Happy Thanksgiving”? Hasn’t really been so “happy” in these months, has it”? I looked at him, and I could actually see him, Like as if he were real. Family tradition has always been to celebrate a special occasion with Chinese food. Really it was just an excuse for us to just go get some Chinese food...even if the occasion wasn’t really special… I just liked that for a few moments we didn't fight.

He actually looked like he was thinking it through. 

“Well, weren't we always grateful on thanksgiving? Why just leave it for one day a year when we can celebrate anytime we want.”

 It almost sounded convincing I thought to myself. I let out a small sigh, barely noticeable.

 “Besides we do have a special occasion, you’ve got 2 months down already.” Raising his glass of soda. 

If only he just kept drinking soda, things probably would have been so bad.

“You see, That's gotta be an accomplishment, Right”? Again he starts eating.

Giving him the smallest smile, “I guess so, dad.” Then my head just wandered down and looked at Sully, he had his head rested on my thigh.  He looked like he was dozing off as I massaged his head. “Hey,” I said softly. Moved his head to the side to look at me with one eye open. “I’m not carrying you to bed, so wake up.” he groaned as he closed that one eye of his. 

“Well dad, I still got like 2 or more years before I can move on out of here.” I would like it to take less. I leaned back in my seat and looked at the fan. Leaning forward, I laid my chin on top of my folded arms, on top of my desk, and stared at the screen. “ But time sure does fly by, so 2 years would probably be by tomorrow, so don’t worry dad. I” ll be out of here soon enough, I just gotta take care of things, and then we can move on.”

“That would be nice, May.” And he gave that smile. 

That smile that I believed in.