Five

     "You ready to go grab some lunch Missy?"
     "Actually, I think I am. I am feeling hungry now."
     We left the building and walked past the car and down the sidewalk that faces different businesses until we came to a little restaurant and dad held the door open for me to enter first.
     The minute I walked in, I heard my name "Missy!" squealed from behind the counter.
     I turned to dad. "Who is that?"
     "She is your friend. Your best friend. She often comes to canoe with you on the weekends, along with your other adventures. It is guaranteed she is involved in mischief with you of one kind or another. I swear you two are virtually inseparable."
     "What's her name? I don't want to embarrass myself."
     "You could never insult her. I don't think it is possible. Her name is Rita."
     I smiled at the welcoming face that is sitting coffee cups at the counter bar for the two of us.
     "Hey Rita! Is it possible to have a booth this time?"
     "Sure thing Mr. C! Take your pick! I have a break soon, mind if I join you when I go on it?"
     "That would be great!" I said. I wonder if she would be able to give me any answers.
     We sat and Rita came over to pour our coffee, bumping against my arm playfully while giving dad a wink. "You two want your regulars?"
     "Of course! How can we turn that down?" Dad said, laughing. I looked at him and wondered what our ‘regular' is. Rita just grinned and moved to tell the cook our order.
     "Dad, what if Rita makes a fuss about this?"
     "Oh I doubt she will. She knows you…actually she will probably find it fascinating."
     I was silent for a minute then said. "Dad, if I am almost twenty-three, shouldn't I be out on my own? Why do I still live at home? Am I taking advantage of you?"
     "Of course not! You work for me, well, part-time anyway. You do go to college in the next town and you are trying to start up several businesses…one on the internet and then your canoe camp. You are not taking advantage of me. You pay me a couple hundred a month to live at the house and you contribute to the bills and the groceries. You would never dream of sponging off someone else. You have always been fiercely independent."
     "What do I do for you and what am I studying in college, and why aren't I there now?"
     "Boy, you are full of questions." I took a breath, instantly annoyed at his words. "Now don't go getting huffy, I know you are just trying to feel your way around." Dad added when I began to frown. "Now, let's see, what was your first question? Oh yes." Dad continued. "You do computer software programming for my company, which does import and export. We ship all over the world. Not only do you write the software, but you maintain it as well."
     "Wow! What about college?"
     "You have been attending for three years. You are in your final year of it. You are studying Computer Programming and Website Creation. You are the top of your class so far with a four-point GPA. You have had several awards from the Dean and Special Achievement awards. The reason you are not there now is because it is the end of the Summer Semester. You wanted to take it off for your canoeing and to help me at my company more."
     Rita walked over to the table with our orders. They are big, juicy hamburgers and steak fries. "Hey Missy! We goin' canoeing tomorrow?"
     "Umm, Rita?" I said hesitantly.
     "What Missy? Oh don't tell me the trip is off! I was so looking forward to this one!"
     Distracted, I asked, "Why were you looking forward to this trip?"
     "We are going to take the white-water near the point. Few people have attempted it since the water is so fast and the rocks dangerous."
     "Oh! That sounds awesome!"
     "What do you mean sounds? You're the one who is familiar with that spot. Like you haven't spent several weekends with me scouting it out from the banks!"
     That reminded me of what I was going to tell her before getting distracted. "Umm, Rita. I don't remember it. See, umm, I was out in the woods last night and evidently I hit my head. I don't remember anything. I have amnesia."
     "You're fooling, right?" Rita looked concerned but intrigued.
     "No, actually…here is the bump." I lifted my bangs to show her the ugly lump and gash on my forehead that is beginning to change all sorts of colors.
     "Good grief Melissa pie!" Rita exclaimed as she quickly sat down at the booth with us. "I guess our trip is off."
     "Rita! Order up!"
     "Sec you two." Rita said jumping to her feet. She rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the order, then took it to the people it belonged to. More people entered the restaurant until it was beginning to fill up. Rita rushed back to us and said, "Hey Miss, will call ya later. Carol-Ann just called and said she wouldn't be able to make it in to work, so I have to cover her shift. But I will call."
     "That's fine Rita. Do what you need to, we will catch up later."
     "Sure thing!" Rita dashed off to take the order of her newest customers.
     I sank my teeth into the burger; it tasted like a slice of heaven. I didn't realize I was so hungry. I ate until I couldn't take another bite then pushed my plate to the edge of the table. "Do you think I have a decent chance of making this wilderness camp and canoeing thing a successful business?"
     Dad thought for only a second then said, "Missy, you have always been headstrong and just about anything you have tried, you have succeeded in. So why not this?" Dad stopped then and added, "of course, let's not bring up the hang gliding. That is an event I couldn't live through again." He finished eating and paid for our meals, I waved to Rita and we headed out the door. "Do you want to head home yet Melissa, or do you want to look around town first?"
     "Let's walk Dad. I want to learn all I can about this place. I have another question. Before you finished eating, you mentioned something about hang gliding. What were you talking about?"
     "Well, when you turned eighteen, you wanted to celebrate your birthday in a big way. You asked for hang gliding lessons. I thought you would drop out when you found out how dangerous it could be. I forgot you thrive on that sort of thing. I hate to say this, but you are an adrenaline junkie. ‘The scarier and more dangerous, the better' you always say."
     While dad talked, we had been walking, and even though we walked from one end of the town to the other and back, it only seemed a matter of minutes before we were back in the car and speeding along the road. With the car back in the garage, we walked up the steps to the door.

 

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