A man walks into a

A man walks into a crowded fast food restaurant and shouts, "I know you are here! Show yourself!"

In the dimly lit corner I cower, my mouth full of fries
Outside I command. Unseen and unheard, from my fathers cries
We hug the parameter and slither silently out of view
Not quite making the exit and ending up in the loo
Giggling with excitement, hiding teenage embarrassment
Avoiding Dad’s wrath, pondering inevitable punishment
Invisible for now we decide to wait in our hideout
Hoping he’ll leave defeated and we won’t be found out
Betrayed by the little blue car parked outside
Our whereabouts are definitely somewhere inside

Dad’s nostrils are flared, eyes popping out of his head
He seeks his daughter who is no longer in her bed
Grounded and forbidden to see her new boyfriend
After lights out, and prayers. She exited the window. Amen
Conflicting emotions of worry and despair
How can his little angel betray him and not care
Out with the wayward pimply little pip squeak
Who has turned his easily led daughter in to a sneak
His sniffs and he snorts and he hunts them down
Hiding between the sink and stalls. They are found

Dad scolds them both as he leads them to the door
Daughter spots friends and shrinks in to the floor
The walk of shame secretly satisfies Dad
He has found his daughter and he is glad
Dad tells them a story of innocence torn
A teen died joy riding, way before they were born
Stolen car keys, and having no fear or fright
Police waking parents in the dead of the night
A corner taken at speed ended in a tree
Dad in his seat belt and his friend flung free
The memory stays with him to this day
He doesn’t want his daughter to go the same way

Daughter hangs her head and whispers to Dad
I love you. I am sorry, but I am not bad.
Over protection will push me away
You need to listen and hear what I say
Love me like a Dad and see what I see
So many of your good qualities are in me
Stand beside without judgment until I am grown
Your past is not my path. My path’s my own
Release the fear and allow me to be
The daughter who loves you and you me



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