Long Live the Reckless and the Brave

"Say goodnight."

I walked downstairs and stood by the door. Stella's wounds were easy to mend, just a few scratches here and there. Needless to say, I was irritated. It took everything in me to allow Jack to help me with Stella, even more to give him a few minutes to tell her goodnight. Perhaps I shouldn't pin this all on him, but I did, and I couldn't help that.

"Sir, I'm sorry about what happened tonight," Jack mumbled, walking down the stairs and to the door. "I really didn't know she was going to be there or that she'd attack Stella like that."

"Let me tell you something about girls, Jack," I forced myself to sound calm. "They're people, not games, and when they get emotional or upset, it gets bad. What you did to that other girl was ridiculous. Not only did you use her to win over Stella, but you picked the one person you know would cause a conflict."

"I.. I know, and I'm sorry. I just thought it'd make it easier to get to Stella."

"Use you words, kid," I opened the door. "And Jack? From now on, you'll only take my daughter out one the weekends and you'll call or text me once every thirty minutes, got it?"

Jack sighed, a frown forming on his lips. "Yes, sir."

A patted his shoulder and closed the door behind him. Now my biggest concern was to talk to my daughter. Why hadn't she fought back? I knew she could take that girl, heck, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that she could win a fight against anyone, so why did I spend the last twenty minutes tending to her scratches?

I quietly walked upstairs and tapped on her door. She mumbled for me to come in, and through the soft glow of her lamp, I could see sadness in those big brown eyes. I sighed to myself and paced over to her bed, sitting down on the edge of it.

"I'm sorry your first date got ruined, baby," I rubbed her leg through the blankets. "Next time will be better, I'm sure of it."

"When I'm mom's age and I look back on that, all I'm going to think about is how horrible it was."

"No, you won't. You'll laugh about it one day, trust me. But I do have one question."

"What's that?"

"Why didn't you fight back?"

Stella groaned, rolling over so that she could sit up and look at me. Her poor face had dried blood in the wounds and I knew that tomorrow would be equally as hard on her.

"It makes you and mom upset when I fight. I guess I just had that thought buried in my brain."

"But this is different, Stell. It makes us mad when you start fights, but when someone attacks you, you have to defend yourself."

"Really? You won't get mad? Because I'm scared she'll try something again tomorrow."

"Let me tell you something," I pulled her into my arms and rubbed her back. "That girl doesn't know how to fight. Pulling hair and scratching someone is really low, dirty, even. So if she tries to jump you tomorrow, let her. But the moment she so much as pokes you, you have every right in this world to defend yourself."

She took a moment to think about what I'd said. She lifted her arms to look at the cuts and rubbed her head to fill where so much of her hair had been yanked. She shook her head and laughed lightly to herself.

"I guess she really did fight dirty."

"Mhm. No promise me you won't let anyone, no matter who they are, walk all over you again?"

"I promise, Daddy."

"Good," I grinned, kissinger her forehead. "Now get some sleep, Princess."

"I love you."

"Love you, too."

Even though my nerves were shot and I was worried about my little girl, I knew I'd be able to fall asleep easy tonight. I just had to remind myself that they were kids, and kids were bound to screw up every now and again. Sometimes it isn't even their fault. Even if I get woken up at nine o'clock with a call from the school to come pick up my daughter, I'd be proud, because I'd know we were raising her to be a strong young lady.

Notes