A Woman's Game Chapter 14

Frances didn't have to worry about postponing the talk with her father about the Open. He already knew about it and was waiting for her by the time she returned home to the family.

"Did you think you could keep it from me," said Arthur Ouimet from his position sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch.

Chuckling lightly at the accusation, turning around from the front door to face him, Frances said "I wasn't trying to keep anything from you, Papa."

"Your name is in the newspaper," said Arthur Ouimet, waving it in the air as he stood and closed the distance between them, "sneaking around behind my back."

Getting a little defensive, Frances countered "You know that's not the case. I haven't done any sneaking."

"Then why haven't you mentioned this to me," challenged Arthur Ouimet.

Hands on hips, Frances said "You know why. Your golf view isn't exactly encouraging. Now before you go on saying I'm wasting my time let me stop you right there. I didn't apply for the open. Mr. Hastings and the President of the United States Gold Association asked me to try out. It's an honor I couldn't refuse so I accepted the offer and tried out for the U.S. Open. I made it and now I'm officially in the competition. The first run starts tomorrow."

Shaking his head in refusal, Arthur Ouimet said "Not if I can help it. You're going to stop this now. A person needs to know their place and make their peace with it. Yes, you may have gotten in, but they'll never accept you."

Sighing, Frances said "I can't talk about this."

"Then you listen," said Arthur Ouimet, firmly. "This is for your own good. I am trying to protect you."

"Protect me from what, Papa? It's nothing different than what I've had to face my whole life. I can handle myself. I've proven it time and time and again," said Frances.

"Frances, those men don't have to earn for a place in this world. It's given to them. We're not those kinds of people. Now you go tell them that you can't do this," said Arthur Ouimet.

Arms crossed, Frances said "I won't do that. Last time when I made that deal with you I was going to uphold it if I failed. I didn't. I succeeded even though I didn't win. Since then I've been working hard at my job as a clerk for the sporting goods store saving money for myself and still contributing to the household at the same time. Which by the way my boss over there gave me his word in writing that I'll have my job waiting for me when this is done so there's no loss there. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me. I love you, but I'm not dropping it. Not even for your approval."

Stone-faced, giving her an ultimatum, Arthur Ouimet said "Then so help me, when this is over, you find somewhere else to live."

Frances feels like she's being stabbed through the heart after he says this to her. Unfortunately given his disdain for the sport she should've expected this outcome from the start the moment she accepted the invitation to begin with.

"I understand," said Frances, quietly, keeping the silent tears building in her eyes at bay.

Done with his scolding Arthur Ouimet sits back in the rocking chair with Frances now stepping into the house with a broken heart.

What a way to start the U.S. Open, huh?

Authors Note:

I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D

For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.

So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.

I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.