Father-Daughter Day

Whataburger
Gulf Breeze, FL
Monday, July 15, 2024

It was weird, sitting in the corner booth of the restaurant, the restaurant nearly empty except for a mom and her van-load of kids at the counter. I watched as Dad stood at the pick-up station, smiling politely as the woman looked at him sheepishly as her kids bounced around her. For once, Dad was dressed somewhat casually, in a black polo and slacks as opposed to his usual black suit. I guess it was his way of trying to not stand out. If it was, then he was failing miserably. After all… black pants in 90+ degree heat?

Our food finally arrived, and Dad turned to carry the tray back over to our booth as the woman at the counter finished placing her order. Dad paused just long enough to give her a quick nod before walking toward the booth. As he sat down, I heard a quiet chuckle force its way out.

Stella: Something funny, Dad?

Dad shook his head. He set the tray down in the center of the table, placing my Double Meat Whataburger Jr. in front of me, a side of fries, and a Coke Zero. His own meal – a Grilled Chicken sandwich on a Brioche bun, a side of apple slices and an unsweetened Iced Tea – remained on the tray.

Seriously, Dad? Brioche? I’d have gone for the Texas Toast, but whatever.

Nathaniel: No, Princess.

CRINGE! Why does he have to call me that? Bad enough I get shit like that from Tom Carradine.

Nathaniel: I was just remembering when your brother was a child.

I smirked as I opened up the wrapper to my burger, lifting the top bun to make sure everything was as I’d ordered.

Good… they didn’t fuck it up.

Stella: I can’t picture Mom ordering inside a fast food joint. If we did fast food, she ordered through the drive-through and then did her damnedest to get out of there before anyone saw her.

I shook my head as I took a bite of my burger, then tore into the two ketchup packets that had been included with my meal. I squeezed them both out onto the burger wrapper before going back to my burger.

Nathaniel: It’s true… your mother wasn’t much for that sort of thing. When we were still together, we would drive by a McDonalds, and your brother would take one look at the Playplace and want to go in. Your mother would have none of it, though.

Stella: Wait… really? He doesn’t seem like the type...

Dad stopped mid-bite to cut me off. He sat there with his sandwich in his hand, and a half smile on his face.

Nathaniel: You’d be surprised. He was quite the handful as a boy. And as a teenager...

He shook his head, his eyes wide with exasperation.

Nathaniel: We had to get a separate phone line just to handle the high volume of girls that kept calling.

I scoffed.

Ladies man, eh, Big Brother?

Stella: Hmm...

Nathaniel: What is it?

I grabbed a fry and shoved it into my mouth, washing it down with a quick drink of my Coke Zero.

Stella: I wonder if that’s why he’s always brow-beating every guy I talk to… or even LOOK at, for that matter.

Dad took a swig of his tea to swallow the bite in his mouth, pausing to clear his throat.

Nathaniel: Starr… your brother, in his own way, is just trying to make sure that anyone that comes into your life is doing it for the right reasons, and not for...

He arched his eyebrows and gave me a look of “you know what I mean.”

Right… the money.

I nodded in acknowledgment.

Stella: I suppose that makes sense. But shouldn’t I be the one to determine who’s in it for the right reasons?

He tilted his drink cup toward me as if pointing at me with the straw. Inside, the ice rattled softly.

Nathaniel: Absolutely, you should! But at the same time, this is a learning experience for your brother as well. Eventually, there will come a time where he will cross this very same bridge with Arista. Maybe if you help him to see that you’ve been raised with enough confidence to show good judgment, he’ll be less inclined to act like an ogre when Arista comes of age.

I sighed as I dipped one of my fries into the puddle of ketchup I squeezed onto the open burger wrapper, then put it into my mouth.

Nathaniel: But just between us… ISthere someone that’s caught your eye?

I slammed my hand on the table, narrowly missing the ketchup puddle. I could feel my face turning beet red.

Stella: DAD!

Dad smiled the sort of smile that a father gets when he knows the exact answer to a question when his child doesn’t really want to answer. And I didn’t.

Nathaniel: So there IS someone. Anyone I know?

I cleared my throat.

Stella: Have I ever mentioned how GROSS cold french fries are?

I grabbed a few fries and swiped them through the ketchup, shoving them into my mouth. I mean, it’s rude to talk with your mouth full, right?

Nathaniel: Fair enough… I can take a hint. Perhaps I can talk to your brother and maybe get him to cut you a little slack in that regard.

I shrugged, taking a drink of my soda. Thankfully, he dropped the topic, and we were able to finish our lunch in relative peace.



Dolphin Football Field – Gulf Breeze High School
Gulf Breeze, FL
Later that day

With the schools out of session for the summer, a high school track would be the perfect, quiet place for a run. After all, I needed to burn off that burger from lunch. As my dad watched from the stands, I pushed myself through the heat of the afternoon sun, eventually finishing my final lap around the track as he waved me over.

Nathaniel: Excellent… I do believe that’s a new record!

Stella: If you say so, Dad.

He smiled as he handed me a bottle of Strawberry Banana Body Armor. I quickly popped the cap and drank nearly half the bottle before he put a hand on my arm.

Nathaniel: Easy there, Princess.

Ugh… not again!

Nathaniel: Don’t overdo it.

I sat down on the front row bleacher, grabbing the towel he offered to wipe the sweat from my forehead. Taking a moment to catch my breath, I pulled my phone out of my bag to check the time.

Stella: You know me, Dad. I don’t like to half-ass anything.

Dad gave me an approving nod.

Nathaniel: You’re a Basch, after all. I’d expect no less from you.

I smirked.

Stella: No pressure, eh Dad?

He chuckled.

Nathaniel: Of course not! Perish the thought!

He laughed for a moment, but was interrupted by a phone call. The ringtone – the intro to “Devil” by Shinedown – could only mean one thing. It was my brother.

Nathaniel: Hold on… let me go see what your brother wants.

Stella: Take all the time you need, Dad.

I watched as he walked off, his phone pressed to his ear.

Great… now to handle my business.

I shoved my own phone back into my bag, then took another swig from my drink.

Stella: You gotta love summer, eh? School is out… kids all over the country are out and about and enjoying their time off...

I paused, looking around. I cast my eyes skyward, shielding them with my hand before returning my gaze to the field in front of me.

Stella: But this HEAT!

I wiped some fresh beads of sweat from my forehead, setting the towel on my lap.

Stella: Now, as you can see, I’m not above breaking a sweat. Hell, in this line of work, if you’re not breaking a sweat, then you’re not working hard enough. But this Wednesday...

I paused, rolling my neck to work the kinks out.

Stella: I DEFINITELY have my work cut out for me.

Looking down, I spotted a bottle of water in my bag. I pulled it out, popped the cap and poured a little of it out over my head. The ice cold water flowed quickly down the back of my neck, soaking into my hair.

Heh… good thing I’m wearing a dark blue tank top!

Stella: Yeah, I know… probably doing more harm than good because of the humidity, but oh well. Anyway, enough tangents.

I smirked.

Stella: I’ve heard a lot about you, Nathaniel Dixon. The man that spent years in this business with absolutely nothing to show for it… and just when you’re about ready to hang it up… BAM! Triple champion in a matter of weeks! Not a bad turn of events, if I do say so myself. I dare say you’re the prime example of “persistence pays off.”

I clapped my hands a few times.

Stella: HYBRID rEvolution Iron Heart Champion… Splat MultiUniversal Champion… Styx Orcus Champion… Sure, it took over 20 years to get there, but in that brief time frame, you still accomplished more than some others have in their entire careers, myself included. But there’s one thing we both have in common.

I raised my index finger and smiled.

Stella: No one can truly say what the future holds for either of us. But that’s the fun part. My career could take one of two paths. Either I find a way to launch myself into the upper echelon of this sport sooner...

I paused, tapping my finger on my chin.

Stella: Or I bide my time, and wait for my moment.

I glanced upward, scrunching up one side of my face. I then burst into laughter.

Stella: As if! Hell, I can already imagine the look on my brother’s face if he heard me say that!

I manage to regain my composure, releasing the last urge to laugh in a long but high-pitched sigh.

Stella: But seriously… life is all about making your own moments, not waiting for things to fall into your lap. I’m not saying that’s what you did, because I know better. Still, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my family, it’s that you lose 100% of the opportunities that you never take.

Stella: This Wednesday, at Scion, it’s the old guard vs the new generation. You’ve got experience oozing from your pores while I...

Once again, I grabbed the towel, wiping my forehead just in time to catch a bead of sweat before it rolled into my eye.

Stella: I need a shower!

I smiled sheepishly before finishing off my bottle of Body Armor. As I cast the empty bottle into a nearby trash can, I saw my father walking back toward me.

Stella: Heh… guess it’s time to head out of here. I’ll see you in the ring, Nathaniel...

At that point, Dad had stepped within earshot.

Nathaniel: What about me?

I giggled.

Stella: Not you, Dad. The Nathaniel I’m wrestling at Scion.

He nodded his head.

Nathaniel: Ah yes… I remember now. Anyway, are you ready to go?

Stella: Yeah. Time to get out of this humidity before my hair gets frizzy.

I grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder as Dad led the way toward the parking lot.