Papi

I cleaned my tears and continued to sit on the rock, then it was night fall. WAIT WHAT?? That was fast, how long was I talking to myself? Ok, that was weird but now it's dark. I don't think grandma Teddy is comin out today, hopefully I can get some sleep in later. Grrrrrr- in fear I held out a sword, my Papi always told me to take a samurai sword because ya can't trust a gun and a small knife might not help! As I stood with the sword, it was just the wind. Well that was embarrassing, thank the gods no one saw that. Then again " grrrrrrrr" where was this frightening sound coming from?! So fierce, heavy, and deep. I looked around and saw nothing, what is it? Then again the sound crept up go me, I felt a soft scent of mint fly all around me, the ominous moon now shining directly behind my curly brown hair, a cold breeze roaming the forest, a sudden entrance... of the dark forest. It's the same forest of yesterday, the beautiful vibrant forest, this time there was a mist near the small river. No... I can't go, matter how much I desire it. GODS WHY AM I SO TEMPTED?! Ugh! I slapped myself on the face, no Penelope we can't go, why the hell do you want to go anyway!? Isn't it the reason that you are here? So that grandma Teddy doesn't fall for it. I looked at my tent and sat inside. No, I will not go. Then a the grrrr came again, with a pain in my stomach. I'm a fucking idiot, I'm hungry, and I though some monster was coming to eat me! What a damn stupid waffle I am!

Waffle... "Don't be such a waffle!" I could hear Papi's soft gentle voice say in laughter. I laid down in the tent, snuggling myself in my old green wind jacket. I remember once Papi, Johnny and I went to a painting shop in the city, far away from here, so long ago. I was a 5 year old kid who loved to paint, I painted faces of younger grandma Teddy, she had given me old rusty pictures of her in Greece. Painting was a relief, a way to get all feeling off my body, from just stroking the canvases with my brush was like dancing in circles! I had ran out of black and pink, Papi insisted we go to buy more and 18 year old Johnny, at the time, loved hanging out with his little sister Pepi. Pepi, Papi would call me that, he said a bright and beautiful child like his should have a bright nickname. We had gotten onto the car and listened to old romantic songs, Papa always thought those songs had a touch almost no other song could, at mom and his wedding they sang the song "fascination" by Julie London to each other.

When they met, Mom had just broken up with a guy she thought was the one and found him in bed with her sister. She left him and sold their apartment, without telling him. She got herself a new place because one thing she didn't lack was money but of course like any lady, Mom was heartbroken. The person she wanted to spend her life with had been unloyal to her. After a couple of months she moved on and met another guy, Papi's father, my grandfather. Mom and Grandpa dated for a couple of days then he introduced her to Milo, Papi, she was intrigued with Papi. Why? I'll never know, she said it was a weird feeling out of the blue. Papi was indifferent with Mom, she was just another one of Grandpa's ladies. Eventually a week later Grandpa tried to actually touch her and she broke up with him. Mom then was depressed again she felt nothing, she was numb. That same day she got into her PJ's, took her make-up off, she had let herself be comfortable. She went to a pub down the street of her apartment. There it happened, she saw Papi a bartender, she didn't give a damn and said to him exactly, "Milo, son of the pervert, serve me a pint." Papi cracked his knuckles and said to her, "Right away, mujer that likes hombres mayores." With a face with disgust, "Excuse me?" Like Papi always and his Spanish mustache and sparkly blue eyes, " My father is older than time and you my dear, no no, you are a glass of fine wine. Even like this I'm tempted to kiss you!" Mother was not impressed according to Papi, "Give me a pint or else I'll report you for harassment to your customer." Papi gave her his famous mischievous smirk and served her the pint. Skipping to many years, Papi only grew more intrigued with the unimpressed lady. Mom never grew to such lengths only a fascination on who this man was, her friend or just a flea on her? Mother had only found herself feeling butterflies in her stomach when he was around. Papi had now met a nice woman, who liked everything about him and never wanted to leave him. Mom hated her, she would say that the woman was "clueless", "a dumb blonde", " hideous blood sucking rat", and "stupid." Papi and Mom were friends so after months of jealousy Papi had told Mom, "Look, I like this girl and.." He pulled a small box out of his pocket, it could only have one thing, " I think I want to marry her, Lily." Lily wasn't Mom's name, Papi would call her a lily because she was the greatest thing ever, and to him that was a lily. "Oh. I see." According to Papi she was speechless, her red lips and blushed face were pale. "Look Lily, if you.." He paused and turned his head around, "Ok, I'll be forward. If you think there is any chance you like me, romantically, I'll throw this ring in the trash and leave her." Only one thing happened after that, Mom grabbed that ring, threw it into the trash and grabbed Papi's waist. She pulled him in for kiss, and she went full throttle on him, his face was blushed and covered with red lip stains all over his face. " Tell that bitch I'm not sorry." She pulled him all the way to her apartment and she showed him just how much she loved him. The next day after that "dreamlike" night, on the radio in Mom's room began to play "Fascination". They had no idea how it was on but they were so in love they just went along with it.

That's why old romantic music was everything to Papi. When Papi, Johnny and I got to the paint store Papi picked me up and held me on his left arm, he said to me " Amor, you know Papi loves you." He looked deeply into my eyes, sad and almost lonely. Since I was only a child I just hugged his neck and said " Yes Papi!" We got the colors and when I walked out I had fallen on face flat onto the ground. Johnny picked me up and said " Baby, are you ok?" All I did was cry, " N-n-n no it hurts, Johnny!" He kissed my forehead gently and said "Don't worry, my magical fairy kiss will heal the princess Pepi!" Then I somehow fell asleep on him, by the time I had woken up we were home. Papi grabbed me and said, "Princess Pepi is up!" I was sleepy but Papi flicked my nose, "What?!" He smiled and said, "Just checkin if the waffle is awake." "Waffle?" I said in confusion. "A waffle is a smart girl being just a little stupid." "huh?" He laughed and then said it, "Don't be such a waffle!" I had smiled and fallen back to sleep. Ever night he would kiss my hair, ears, nose, and forehead. He always said he loved my fluffy curly brown hair, he also said he loved my tiny little ears, my nose was a little big when I was younger and dad said he loved it, and lastly my forehead, he would say he thanks the gods that I got my mother's skin tone. I have a "light milk chocolate" skin, according to Papi.

I couldn't help but giggle. Papi was a great dad and I do miss him. Then I heard a crack.