The Bet

If you didn't know my dad and you saw him on the street, you would've probably walked in the other direction. He had a cold, hard face, shaved head and muscles built of steel. He would do anything to protect his daughter and you'd better not stand in his way. He showed tough love in front of others, and was always trying to teach a lesson. My mother and I were the ones that he would cook the most wonderful dinners for and adorn the table with flowers and chocolates. We were the ones that knew about his color-blindness and helped him dress everyday.

Each day my dad would walk the six blocks to my school and sit on the concrete that held the silver flagpole in the ground. We had a car, we had two actually, but dad never wanted anything to be taken for granted. He wanted me to smell the season's scents as we walked through different neighborhoods. He wanted me to learn not to always take short cuts. He wanted me to be alive.

I remember the day when the bets started. It was a rainy day and I was excited about the walk home. I couldn't wait to jump in the puddles that formed on the street corners. I couldn't wait to kick up my feet and splash him with the dirty rainwater. I was innocent in those days. Everything was fun. I loved to explore.

The bell rang and I hopped out of my seat in the back of the room and raced to pull on my new purple boots and matching raincoat. The plastic material squeaked as I hurried my movements. My boots were still a bit damp from the morning walk with mom. Glop, glop, glop, I bounded down the long corridor, not even waving to my friends. I ran outside and jumped into dad's arms filled with excitement. He was soaking wet, standing there in the rain, water pouring down off of his bald head. It looked funny and I started to laugh.

"What is it, sweetheart, did I match my outfit wrong again? he asked.

"No, daddy, lets go!" I replied.

I ran off down the street but didn't get far before he was yelling after me. I stopped and waited for him to catch up. While I was waiting, I bent down to the side of the street and saw an ant struggling to get out of a puddle. His legs were moving so fast, yet he was getting nowhere. I gently lifted him up and set him on the sidewalk. The ant was long forgotten as dad caught up and we continued walking. As we reached the top of the hill on the street before ours, I saw a big red leaf being dragged by the current.

"Dad, let's follow it and see how far it goes down the hill!" I said.

"Ok, let's make a bet." He said. I'll bet you that it only makes it halfway down the hill." He said.

"Nah, it's gonna make it all the way to our house!" I said.

"Alright, but if I win, you have to eat all of your vegetables tonight without complaining."

"Oh man...ok but if I win, I don't have to eat them for a week!" I replied.

"Deal. Let's shake on it!" He started to reach out his hand to grasp mine when I stood in place and shook my whole body . He just shook his head, tousled my hair and laughed.

I lost the bet that night, and I had to eat my vegetables without making a comment. I became obsessed with betting my dad. Some days he would bet me on how much homework I would get, others he would bet on the weather. But every time he won, I always ended up at the museum or trying a new instrument or reading an extra book. It was his way of teaching me to explore and learn and I enjoyed it most of the time. As I got older, I started making bets with higher stakes . When I was in junior high, it was not cool to be seen walking home with your dad. It was hard for me, because I treasured those moments we had. It was our time, and sometimes the only time we had alone together. He would get busy in his work and I was busy having a social life. But I wanted to walk home with my friends and that ended up taking precedence over him.

It was a windy day early in the fall of seventh grade. I had gotten teased earlier in the day about walking home with my dad. My friends were only kidding with me but I didn't want to be a little girl anymore. It was time that I grew up. Dad was waiting on the back steps of the junior high when I walked out of the building strapped with my backpack and spring coat. I think he sensed my apprehension. We started with the usual talk about my day and his and how the weather was getting colder.

"We're going to need to get you a winter coat soon, it's getting chilly." he said.

"Dad, let's make a bet. I got my Math test back today and I haven't looked at it yet." I lied. It felt horrible, but I knew I needed to win this bet.

"I'll bet you I got between a 85 and 90 on it."

"Ok, I'll bet you that you got between a 90 and 95 on that test. If I win, you have to rake the yard when we get home." he said

"Alright!" I was trying not to get too excited, but it was hard. "If I win, I get to walk home with my friends from now on."

The smile on his face drained. I knew I had let him down. The guilt swept over me and I didn't know what to do.

"Well, I guess it is time for you to become a little more independent." He said slowly. "But if you do win, there's going to be a set of rules with this new independence thing. We're going to have to sit down and have a talk."

"Thanks Dad!" My excitement escaped me through a burst of energy. I pulled the test out of my purple backpack and set my eyes upon the red 87 at the top of the paper.

"I win!" I yelled. I probably should have calmed my emotions a bit because I felt bad for my dad. I knew he was going to miss these walks. I knew I would too, but I was in junior high and getting a little too old for daddy to be holding my hand. Dad had a forced smile on his face and his shoulders seemed to shrug a bit, but I knew he was just sad because I was growing up.

Although I grew up, as all little girls do, Dad and I were still close. We still made bets just about every day. But they were different kinds of bets now. I would try to get smart and have him lend me the car or try and extend my curfew. But it didn't work and in the end I knew he was just looking out for me.

When it was time for me to move to college, Dad bought me everything I would need. We filled my car with my new luggage, laptop, phone, and other belongings. the car was chock full and I was ready for the two hour journey. Dad had planned to come with me and then take the train home. It was great. Just like old times. We belted out songs on the radio, talked about new adventures I would have and reminisced about my childhood. I loved hearing the stories of old bets we had made and how he had turned them into learning experiences. I couldn't believe how fast the trip went. We pulled up to the gates of the college and my apprehension grew a bit. Dad had always been there and now I was going to have to figure things out on my own

"It's just a new chapter in your life and I know that you can handle it. I'm proud of you and I'll always be there to help." He said. It was funny sometimes how emotional he could get. Here he was, a tough guy to all that knew him. But not in front of his daughter. He always put that aside when it came to me. I felt that I was the only one that had a chance to see that side of him and it made me feel special.

"You know what I bet, dad?" I said as we took in the last two boxes into my new dorm room.

"What do you bet, darlin?"

" I bet you that when I have kids, I’m going to make bets with them just like you did with me.�?

“I bet you will.�? He said looking me square in the eye. He gave me a little wink and a big hug before he left. I didn’t know why I told him that at that specific time. I was only going away to college. But I suppose it was my way of showing my appreciation for him. I wanted him to know how much I loved those moments.

I had just finished making up my new bed and was about to go have dinner with some of the new girls I had met. We had already planned to have a party that night to celebrate new friendships and college life. It was so exciting. I knew I was going to have so many adventures there.

When we got back from the dining hall, the red light was blinking on my machine. I hit the play button. The words coming out of that machine were all jumbled. Nothing was making sense. All I knew was that it was my mother’s crying voice and the girls around me had looks of horror on their faces. Apparently, I had made my last bet with my father. That was the only thing that crept through my mind as the tears streamed down my face and I was swept away in a current so strong, I couldn’t hold myself up.