The Magic Roundabout: Part I

When you boiled it down to the essentials, Peter only loved two things in life.  They were his daughter, Marie, and his car.  Of course, there were other things he liked.  He liked spaghetti.  He liked a good action movie.  He liked to watch football and sitcoms.  Still, if he had to give up anything in his life, the things he liked were easy to discard.  He would be upset to lose his car but it would be the death of him to lose his daughter. 

Peter lost his wife when she gave birth to Marie.  For nearly two years, he was in a fog as he grieved for his wife who he named his daughter after.  He knew nothing about children, let alone newborns.  He didn’t know how to feed them or change diapers.  His mother and mother in law took turns staying with him and Marie.  Slowly, he became more sure in his abilities to care for his daughter. 

When he was left to care for Marie by himself, he poured himself into the job.  Like all parents, he became an expert at changing diapers.  He wanted to cry each time he took her to daycare.  Her face was sad every time he walked away from her but the ladies at the daycare told him she was all smiles and laughs moments after he left.  Her face beamed when he picked her up at the end of the day.  It made his heart feel light.

Father and daughter bonded and were very close.  Like mothers, he understood her baby talk and the two them developed a language of their own.  His spirit soared when she laughed and she was silly enough to cause her own laughter.  Being a dad, he would play a little rough with her and she enjoyed it.  They played super heroes and would play fight each other.  Peter was always the villain and he always lost the fight. 

When Marie got older, Peter worked more hours at the shop where he was a mechanic.  He wanted to pay for her college and for Marie to focus on her studies.  She didn’t need to worry about finances.  That is what dad’s are for.  It was during the extra hours of work that Peter learned of his boss’s connections to buy cars. 

Peter wanted to purchase a car for Marie but she insisted she was not interested in having a car.  She had friends who could drive her around and she could borrow her dad’s automobile most every time she needed it.  True to the kind soul that she is, Marie insisted her father purchase a car that he truly wanted. 

About a year before Marie’s high school graduation, Peter went with his boss to an auto auction and the two of them looked over the many vehicles that filled the lot.  It was there that Peter found a car he fell in love with.  He saw a green, 1997 Nissan Maxima.  Peter looked it over.  Leather seats, sun roof, V6.  It was a beauty!  Yes, it was a sort of old but it was in great shape and the miles were few.  He had the money he needed to make the purchase and couldn’t stop smiling as he drove it home. 

Always sacrificing his own desires for his daughter, it was the first time since she was born that Peter splurged on himself.  When Marie saw it, she said, “Oh daddy, it’s a beaut!  I’m so happy for you.” 

Before long, it was time for Marie to go to college.  Trepidation filled Peter’s heart as he faced the reality of his little girl not being in the house.  During her high school years, she was gone more often and she was certainly independent but this was different.  He would be alone in an empty house filled with memories that he could share with no one.