FATHER ALWAYS SMILING

Chapter 38 ~~~~~

I remained silent, thinking over what Mia was saying.

"I don't know," was all I could say in the end. And though it wasn't something I should say, I really believed that there were just some people who shouldn't be parents. I wasn't sure if my Dad was one of them, I knew he loved me with all he had, but something about it felt wrong to me, I wasn't sure why.

"About what you said, about using our phones," Mai spoke, as I turned to look at her. "Do you think that'd work?"

"It worked to get you guys to stop writing on my desk and locker, didn't it?" Mia flinched, looking startled, she and the other four were called to the principal's office when an "anonymous" video was sent to the principal of them drawing on my desk and locker. They hadn't done it since I fought them that one time a week ago.

"I... I think I have something that can help then." Mai said, pulling out her phone. "I ended up recording something I didn't intend, but... you might be able to use it, on him and that shitty principal. I have a few recordings, should I send some to you?"

I wanted to ask how many she had, but instead, I merely said. "All of it."

Mia looked surprised only to nod.

"Wait," I say, as I pull out my phone from my skirt pocket. "Do you think you can also talk about how he acted around you? Or the others even? I'll do the same."

"Did he hurt you too?"

I shook my head and she seemed to look a little relieved. "No, but I can tell that he wants to. I don't know what, exactly, but I know it's bad, how he looks at me like I'm... food."

"Gross," Mai said. "He doesn't look at us like that, just smug and creepy and says that no one would believe us if we told anyone. Why do you think that?"

I shrugged, I didn't know, it was just a feeling. If I were to compare my Dad to Nick, well, my Dad looks down on others of how they were below him would out win Nick's, also because I knew if my Dad was aware, he'd do something really bad to Nick, not that he probably wouldn't deserve it, but for some reason, I couldn't help but think that it would be too good for him. I wanted Nick to get everything he deserved and live with it for the rest of his life locked away and suffer forever. Like the monster he was.

* * *

During the weekend I worked on getting what Mia had spoken about in the recording along with what she accidentally recorded with her phone onto a CD, I had four in total. One that I planned to put in place of the CD for the national anthem that our school plays just before our first class starts, the second was on my phone, a USB key and the last was on a computer that belonged to the school that I kept in my desk.

I had asked Ms. Miller for permission one time we talked during recess. At first, I thought she wouldn't let me, but to my surprise, she did.

"Just so long as you don't take it home with you." Ms. Miller told me. "As long as you do that, I have no problem with you leaving it inside your desk."

"It's really okay?"

Ms. Miller looked at me like she was surprised that I was surprised. "Of course, Amalie, and besides, I know you're a good student. I doubt anyone would have a problem with it either. Just... just whatever it is your doing, I want you to be careful. Okay?"

I could only nod and place the laptop in question inside my desk, pushing it to the back and hiding it with textbooks I didn't need.

With the recording I put together for the CD I had Mia listen to it on my phone, to make sure it was okay. If it was then I'd see if I could sneak in early and put the CD that was in my locker underneath the one that's there for the school's national anthem. I knew how it worked as I was asked to do a reading of Flander's Fields for Remembrance Day last year, as it was also my birthday which the teachers thought would be extra special. I just thought it was weird but now I was glad it happened since I could still remember how it all worked.