Father of Mine part 5
(Peter's office after incident. Daisy is inside the office pacing. Peter and Sophie are talking with her father, trying to get him to leave. They have been trying for about fifteen minutes, but he doesn't want to leave until he talks to Daisy.)
"Mr. Liponowsky, I think it would be best for everyone if you left for the night. It would give everyone a chance to calm down and think things through." Peter says.
"I want to apologize to my daughter." Mr Liponowsky says.
"Mr. Liponowsky, it really would be better if you left. I'm not sure Daisy can handle any more today." Sophie says.
"No. I have to apologize." He says.
Daisy who has been pacing inside the office and has heard every word, finally walks over and opens the door. Much to the surprise of all three adults. "Apologize for what?" Daisy says, she's angry, but no longer violent. "For what happened? It's gone on for years, Daddy, no need to apologize now. I'm used to it." With that she closes the door and walks away from her father. She walks to the couch and sits down. Peter and Sophie walk in a few moments later. Her father has reluctantly left. She watches him leave from the window.
Sophie and Peter enter the office a few moments later. Daisy is still staring out the window after her father. "I see he finally left." She said in a tine that gave nothing away.
"Daisy," Peter began, walking over to a chair across from the coach and sitting down in it, "I'm not condoning what your father did, but attacking him won't change anything. It won't make what happened go away."
"Yea. Well him saying he's sorry won't make me forgive him." Daisy says still looking out the window.
"Daisy, by staying angry at him, you only hurt yourself. You give him more control over you." Sophie says and sits down on the couch next to her. "What your father did was wrong, but he wants to try and make things better between you two. If you decide to give him a chance, things aren't going to change over night, but they will change." Daisy rolls her eyes to this.
"Daisy, your anger towards your father, only hurts you. It interfers with your relationshio the two of you could have. Daisy you need your father, you said so yourself." Peter said.
"No, I needed my father." Daisy says turning to Peter. "I needed him and he wasn't there for me. And it wasn't just once or twice, but every time. Every time, Peter. How can I expect that he's different now. He's been a drunk for most of my life, he's been sober for less then six months."
"It is hard to trust someone who has hurt you Daisy. Especially if they've let you down a lot, but everyone makes mistakes. He's at least wanting to put forth effort to correct it." Sophie said.
"Whose side are you guys on? He doesn't deserve to have me forgive him or to even give him a chance." Daisy says angrily.
"We are on your side, Daisy." Peter said, reassuringly. "But we also think that you two working out some of your problems would be a benefit."
"Peter, you saw him tonight. He says he's changed so much over the past few months, but the first time we get into an argument, there he is blaming me and wanting to abuse me. How can you think that's good?"
Peter sighs, realizing he is getting nowhere. "Daisy, we're just saying to give it a shot, it's not like your moving home with him, your just going to talk, calmly and rationally. To give him a chance. That's it. Maybe not work so much on forgiveness this time, but maybe just hear what he has to say. Maybe that will be enough for now." He says. Daisy thinks for a moment, but is still unsure.
"All right then," Peter says, " Why don't you think about it over night and we'll talk about it in the morning." Daisy nods and gets up to leave, she's almost out the door when Peter says, "Oh and Daisy, you're on kitchen duty for the rest of the week." Daisy sighs and walks out the door.
"Wow, I didn't realize she was that angry." Sophie says after Daisy left. He looks at her. "Well, I did, but I never saw her act on it." Sophie says correcting herself.
"Her father brings up painful memories of her life, her mother, her family, or lack of family. But if she could just give him a chance, they might have a chance of working things out. As it is now, her anger is preventing her. But maybe in time, they can come to an agreement." Peter says. Sophie nods. It is quiet for a few moments as they both think.
"You know Sophie," Peter says changing the subject, "My father died several months ago, and I have yet to do anything that really honors him. I mean we never really got along, but we we're starting when he passed away." Peter says sadly. He is remembering times with his father. "I was thinking about calling Mark and seeing if he would help me set up a scholarship for Horizon students in my dad's name. I'm not sure of all the details yet, but you never know."
"You could also consider naming the program you and Kat discussed after your father. That program will help a lot of kids. Especially one's like Kat, who leave a sheltered enviroment and then are practically thrown to the wolves." Sophie says. "I mean Kat's doing fine now, but I think her first month off campus would have been easier had she attended the program you want to create."
Peter thinks about it and then nods. "Well, I have several ideas, but the goal is to do something in my father's name."
(Daisy leaves Peters office and heads out of the administration office. But on the porch Shelby and Ezra are waiting.)
Daisy looks at them. "We wanted to make sure you were OK." Ezra said.
"Yea, group was sort of bad. And when your father left he didn't seem to happy." Shelby added. Daisy just stood there for a moment. "So are you OK?" Shelby asked.
"Well," Daisy said and headed over to sit next to them. "Daddy apologized for what happened. Like that will make up for everything." Shelby gives her a sympathetic look.
"Things could be worse." Ezra says trying to be helpful. Both Shelby and Daisy glare at him. He sort of backs away. "I think that's my cue to leave." He says standing up. "I'll see you guys tommorow." He heads off, then turns around. "Daisy I hope things work out between you and your dad." With that he leaves. Daisy scoffs.
"I hope things work out too." She says sarcastically. "You know he just seems to think apologizing chamges everything. And everyone else seems to think so too. I mean Peter, Sophie, Julliette, Scott, all of them are telling me to give him another chance. I've given him many chances and every time, he's managed to screw it up, why should this time be any different?" Daisy says.
"I don't know." Shelby says. "But I thought things would never be different with my step father." Shelby looks down at her hands. " I never thought I could tell anyone about what happened. I thought I could never turn him in, or get out of the life I was in, or fall in love. I didn't think I could do any of that. But I did. Scott and Sophie and Peter and you helped me do that." Shelby says looking at her. "You helped me do that, Daisy. And you managed to get through your mothers funeral. I mean you're a strong person. And I think you can do it. I know you can do it." Daisy looks up at Shelby with tears in her eyes.
"I'm not strong enough to get through this. I can't forgive him Shelby. He's hurt me too much, too often."
"Then don't forgive him." Shelby says softly. "Just listen to him. Just allow yourself to have peace."
Daisy nods. "That's almost exactly the same thing Peter and Sophie told me." She pauses. "But I'm still not sure I'm ready. I'm still not sure. Every time I see him all I can think of is everything that's happened, of all those times he let me down and hurt me. It's like when I see him, it's not him, but everything he's done."
Shelby nodded. "It's hard isn't it?" Shelby said. "But trust me, once you do it, you'll feel better about it. It will give you peace."
"Maybe." Daisy says, staring off into the sky.
Shelby stares at her friend, "Why don't we get back to the dorm. I have to work on that assignment of Jeff's."
Daisy stands and so does Shelby. " You know what you're going to do yet?"
"Well, we can do anything, as long as it fits his two requirements. I thought I might just make a collage or something. But I'll probably end up just writing the essay, it seems easier then coming up with an idea." Shelby answered as the two walked back to the girls dorm. They continues talking about the assignment until they arrived at the dorm. Shelby opens the door and Daisy starts to step inside, but then stops.
"What is it?" Shelby asks.
Daisy looks at her. "Just... thanks." Daisy answered and then walked into the dorm. Shelby smiles and follows her.
(Peter's office after incident. Daisy is inside the office pacing. Peter and Sophie are talking with her father, trying to get him to leave. They have been trying for about fifteen minutes, but he doesn't want to leave until he talks to Daisy.)
"Mr. Liponowsky, I think it would be best for everyone if you left for the night. It would give everyone a chance to calm down and think things through." Peter says.
"I want to apologize to my daughter." Mr Liponowsky says.
"Mr. Liponowsky, it really would be better if you left. I'm not sure Daisy can handle any more today." Sophie says.
"No. I have to apologize." He says.
Daisy who has been pacing inside the office and has heard every word, finally walks over and opens the door. Much to the surprise of all three adults. "Apologize for what?" Daisy says, she's angry, but no longer violent. "For what happened? It's gone on for years, Daddy, no need to apologize now. I'm used to it." With that she closes the door and walks away from her father. She walks to the couch and sits down. Peter and Sophie walk in a few moments later. Her father has reluctantly left. She watches him leave from the window.
Sophie and Peter enter the office a few moments later. Daisy is still staring out the window after her father. "I see he finally left." She said in a tine that gave nothing away.
"Daisy," Peter began, walking over to a chair across from the coach and sitting down in it, "I'm not condoning what your father did, but attacking him won't change anything. It won't make what happened go away."
"Yea. Well him saying he's sorry won't make me forgive him." Daisy says still looking out the window.
"Daisy, by staying angry at him, you only hurt yourself. You give him more control over you." Sophie says and sits down on the couch next to her. "What your father did was wrong, but he wants to try and make things better between you two. If you decide to give him a chance, things aren't going to change over night, but they will change." Daisy rolls her eyes to this.
"Daisy, your anger towards your father, only hurts you. It interfers with your relationshio the two of you could have. Daisy you need your father, you said so yourself." Peter said.
"No, I needed my father." Daisy says turning to Peter. "I needed him and he wasn't there for me. And it wasn't just once or twice, but every time. Every time, Peter. How can I expect that he's different now. He's been a drunk for most of my life, he's been sober for less then six months."
"It is hard to trust someone who has hurt you Daisy. Especially if they've let you down a lot, but everyone makes mistakes. He's at least wanting to put forth effort to correct it." Sophie said.
"Whose side are you guys on? He doesn't deserve to have me forgive him or to even give him a chance." Daisy says angrily.
"We are on your side, Daisy." Peter said, reassuringly. "But we also think that you two working out some of your problems would be a benefit."
"Peter, you saw him tonight. He says he's changed so much over the past few months, but the first time we get into an argument, there he is blaming me and wanting to abuse me. How can you think that's good?"
Peter sighs, realizing he is getting nowhere. "Daisy, we're just saying to give it a shot, it's not like your moving home with him, your just going to talk, calmly and rationally. To give him a chance. That's it. Maybe not work so much on forgiveness this time, but maybe just hear what he has to say. Maybe that will be enough for now." He says. Daisy thinks for a moment, but is still unsure.
"All right then," Peter says, " Why don't you think about it over night and we'll talk about it in the morning." Daisy nods and gets up to leave, she's almost out the door when Peter says, "Oh and Daisy, you're on kitchen duty for the rest of the week." Daisy sighs and walks out the door.
"Wow, I didn't realize she was that angry." Sophie says after Daisy left. He looks at her. "Well, I did, but I never saw her act on it." Sophie says correcting herself.
"Her father brings up painful memories of her life, her mother, her family, or lack of family. But if she could just give him a chance, they might have a chance of working things out. As it is now, her anger is preventing her. But maybe in time, they can come to an agreement." Peter says. Sophie nods. It is quiet for a few moments as they both think.
"You know Sophie," Peter says changing the subject, "My father died several months ago, and I have yet to do anything that really honors him. I mean we never really got along, but we we're starting when he passed away." Peter says sadly. He is remembering times with his father. "I was thinking about calling Mark and seeing if he would help me set up a scholarship for Horizon students in my dad's name. I'm not sure of all the details yet, but you never know."
"You could also consider naming the program you and Kat discussed after your father. That program will help a lot of kids. Especially one's like Kat, who leave a sheltered enviroment and then are practically thrown to the wolves." Sophie says. "I mean Kat's doing fine now, but I think her first month off campus would have been easier had she attended the program you want to create."
Peter thinks about it and then nods. "Well, I have several ideas, but the goal is to do something in my father's name."
(Daisy leaves Peters office and heads out of the administration office. But on the porch Shelby and Ezra are waiting.)
Daisy looks at them. "We wanted to make sure you were OK." Ezra said.
"Yea, group was sort of bad. And when your father left he didn't seem to happy." Shelby added. Daisy just stood there for a moment. "So are you OK?" Shelby asked.
"Well," Daisy said and headed over to sit next to them. "Daddy apologized for what happened. Like that will make up for everything." Shelby gives her a sympathetic look.
"Things could be worse." Ezra says trying to be helpful. Both Shelby and Daisy glare at him. He sort of backs away. "I think that's my cue to leave." He says standing up. "I'll see you guys tommorow." He heads off, then turns around. "Daisy I hope things work out between you and your dad." With that he leaves. Daisy scoffs.
"I hope things work out too." She says sarcastically. "You know he just seems to think apologizing chamges everything. And everyone else seems to think so too. I mean Peter, Sophie, Julliette, Scott, all of them are telling me to give him another chance. I've given him many chances and every time, he's managed to screw it up, why should this time be any different?" Daisy says.
"I don't know." Shelby says. "But I thought things would never be different with my step father." Shelby looks down at her hands. " I never thought I could tell anyone about what happened. I thought I could never turn him in, or get out of the life I was in, or fall in love. I didn't think I could do any of that. But I did. Scott and Sophie and Peter and you helped me do that." Shelby says looking at her. "You helped me do that, Daisy. And you managed to get through your mothers funeral. I mean you're a strong person. And I think you can do it. I know you can do it." Daisy looks up at Shelby with tears in her eyes.
"I'm not strong enough to get through this. I can't forgive him Shelby. He's hurt me too much, too often."
"Then don't forgive him." Shelby says softly. "Just listen to him. Just allow yourself to have peace."
Daisy nods. "That's almost exactly the same thing Peter and Sophie told me." She pauses. "But I'm still not sure I'm ready. I'm still not sure. Every time I see him all I can think of is everything that's happened, of all those times he let me down and hurt me. It's like when I see him, it's not him, but everything he's done."
Shelby nodded. "It's hard isn't it?" Shelby said. "But trust me, once you do it, you'll feel better about it. It will give you peace."
"Maybe." Daisy says, staring off into the sky.
Shelby stares at her friend, "Why don't we get back to the dorm. I have to work on that assignment of Jeff's."
Daisy stands and so does Shelby. " You know what you're going to do yet?"
"Well, we can do anything, as long as it fits his two requirements. I thought I might just make a collage or something. But I'll probably end up just writing the essay, it seems easier then coming up with an idea." Shelby answered as the two walked back to the girls dorm. They continues talking about the assignment until they arrived at the dorm. Shelby opens the door and Daisy starts to step inside, but then stops.
"What is it?" Shelby asks.
Daisy looks at her. "Just... thanks." Daisy answered and then walked into the dorm. Shelby smiles and follows her.
