Two For the Price of One

Meagan brought a friend with her. Sarah. She seems like a nice girl. Polite. Respectful. I'm glad to finally meet one of Meagan's friends, but still I must admit to feeling a bit left out. I knew it would happen, Ms J. Teens prefer their own kind. I did too, when I was her age. We went out for lunch yesterday in Georgetown and then I brought them back here to Mimico. They spent the entire day sitting together at the computer and chatting on msn. The entire day. And a portion of today already.

I left the two of them to go to bed at 10:00 last night. They were on the internet, typing away madly and giggling. The music (I use the term quite loosely, Ms J) that they were playing was reduced to an acceptable level. I closed my bedroom door, but still I could not sleep. It was odd to hear noises in the house at night. I'm used to living alone. When I turn the lights off and climb into bed, I normally hear nothing but my own breathing. I listened to the sounds for about half an hour before I got up and found a pair of earplugs. I wear them at work, Ms Journal, on the engine. It must have been close to 11:00 when I fell asleep.

I didn't sleep soundly, though. I guess I was worried about the two of them and wondering who they might find to chat with late at night. I remembered Dan's wild adventures at my computer a year ago.

I was wide awake again at 4:00, so I decided to get out of bed. The alarm would sound in fifteen minutes anyway, so I switched it off, turned on the light and put my feet on the wooden floor. For a minute or two, I sat with my eyes closed on the edge of the bed and listened to the night. I was aware of a faint sound and remembered I was still wearing earplugs. I took them out and the sound was louder.

Tap tap tappetty-tap-tap.

Were the girls still awake? Still on the computer? Crikey! It was 4:00 a.m.!! I put my bathrobe on and opened my bedroom door and looked down the hall. Meagan was sitting alone at the computer, eerily lit in the dull blue glare of the monitor. She was startled.

"Holy crap, Dad! You scared me half to death! What are you doing?"

I told her I was getting ready for work and suggested she might like to go to bed.

"It's four o'clock in the morning, Scout. Where's Sarah?"

"She went to bed already. Sorry, Dad. I didn't realise it was so late."

Mmmm-hmmm.

"Do you want to use the washroom before I have a shower?"

"No. I'm good. Have fun at work, Dad."

She was in bed when I finished my shower. I wished I had told her good night.

I asked the girls after dinner, if they'd like to visit the mall today. Sarah was "up" for it. Meagan, I think, would be content to stay here. I said I'd give them some money if they wanted to go, but I can't imagine they'll get out of bed in the forenoon.

We shall see, Ms J. We shall see.

Incidentally, I overheard Sarah whispering to Meagan last night.

"Your dad is so cool! My dad is always yelling at me and grounding me for no reason. I wish we could trade dads for a while."

I smiled, Ms J because I know the Truth. It's easy to be a "cool" dad when your daughter only visits once in a while. I suspect I'd lose a great deal of coolness if I were a fulltime dad.

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