When we get back, chloe asks "where were you guys, i was just about to call", "Josie needed to get something off her chest" Jason replies for me and look at him with a thankful smile, we take our sit on the warm grass. "So Josie tell us more about yourself, i mean i've met the others before. I met Joe and Zoey in a gig, Jason on the football team, so you're the only one i haven't met and Chloe describes you as a perfect goddess, that makes no mistakes". "i'm no goddess, and definitely not perfect and we all make mistakes me included, am nothing rare am actually a simple girl, from a simple family, my mom is my everything, she's my mom and dad all at once she's so strong, i hope to be like her", "so your dad is dead?, sorry to ask" Liam asks,and Jason a ,the twins and Joseph give him a warning look and Jay covers his face with hand. "kinda, it would have been more respectful if he was in blessed memory though" i say and clench my fist feeling a little pain on my injured finger, "whoa, why what he do", Liam says surprised and wide eRonnie has the same reaction, "he's a famous rich 'humanitarian' entrepreneur now, but it doesn't show on my mom nor me", "he's famous, do i know by chance".
"We all do, 'Eminence fashion house', 'bridge to success scholarship scheme', he got it from our surname Josie Bridge, Lincoln Bridge's daughter" i say rolling my eyes, whilst Veronica spits out drink "what!!!" they both exclaim, "you're Lincoln's daughter" Liam asks still shocked, "my friend is currently on scholarship from your dad's scheme", "nice to hear, good for your friend, seems like Lincoln is atoning for his sins", "what happened, did he just walk out?". I remember that day vividly like it was yesterday, i tell them the story and reminince.
It was on a my 5th birthday 15 of june 2009, it was supposed to be my special day, all my friends where there, we sang and played but my dad had left, soon it was time to cut the cake and he was still no where to be seen,"honey cut your cake" my mom said pointing at the knife then the cake, "no i'm waiting for daddy" i say shaking my head and running to the window to look over the street waiting for my dad, "cut the cake dear, i'm here with you and your friends are getting hungry" my mom said trying to convince me, "NO!, dad needs to be here as well". I sat by the window waiting and my stomach was grumbling, hours upon hours and he was no where to be seen, my guests started to head home, "come on Jo cut the cake, or i'll go home", Jason said, "i just want my mom and dad together, by my side" i say glancing at the window. It was getting late and the cloud grow dark threatening to rain, so Jason, the twins and Joe left, but i still waited, it was now 9:00pm, some minutes after they left, he walked through the door half drunk, "dad where have you been" i asked hugging him tightly, "why's every where so decorated and orderly", "dad it's my birthday remember". "Oh...right, your birthday, happy birthday dear, work has been distracting sorry i forgot", "work huh Lincoln, work made you forget your child's birthday, or did you just go to one of your whores".
I look at my mom and my dad says "Josey go to your room now" I scramble upstairs and lock my door, but I can still hear their argument.
"What is wrong with you Lincoln, why are you so selfish and obnoxious"
"I am obnoxious, me Brenda, I'm the one that dropped out of school because of your pregnancy, the one that worked for the family, I lost my job because I had to leave early cause of your delivery. And no I'm selfish, I know I've been finding it hard to get a job so what!!"
"You don't try enough, I do five jobs, Lincoln, five freaking jobs to sustain this family, the least you can do is to stay by our sides especially Josey, she needs you. You never show up on her birthdays when I get little money you take it and spend in the club with whores"
"Shut up, you're annoying and unbearable, you and your daughter are ungrateful, and I never wanted Josey, you held me down, I had to drop out of school. Really she's just a big burden and a mistake" and with that my mom slaps him very hard that I hear it through the thick door. "Don't you dare call my child a mistake you bastard"
"You slapped me, I can't stand it anymore, am leaving am going, somewhere were am valued" he says and storms upstairs to pack his stuff, he comes back downstairs but my mom is indefferent "oh am so scared" my mom says sarcastically "you can leave for all I care, it wouldn't make a difference in our lives because you were never there" she spits as he lives through the door and slams it, now it's pouring heavily. She breaks down crying out. I unlock my door and run downstairs and hug her tightly, "where's dad"
"He left, he's gone forever and now you're my only responsibility, everything is going to be alright" she says kissing my head.
"And from that time till last year he hasn't come, but he turned up last year on my birthday and I pushed him out, and he turned up yesterday as well" I tell Liam and Chloe hugs me tightly "he's a pig, for what he did to you" Ronnie says holding her fists "thanks Ronnie"
"Yeah I feel it, my dad was the same"
"It's getting late, we better get home"
"Yeah I'll drop you off Josey" Liam says
"Yeah I'm going with Chloe and the others" Ronnie says. I say goodbye to everyone and enter Liam's car. There's silence until "I had great respect for your dad but now I don't"
"Yeah, if I were you I'll have respect for my dad too" we get to my house and get out of the car and he does the same "okay bye" we say at the same time and I blush I go for a hand shake and he goes for a hug we laugh nervously and he rubs the back of his neck, then we finally hug and I run inside.
"Who's the pretty boy"
"Mom, you're back early"
"You didn't answer the question"
"He's Chloe's friend.... Liam"
"Oh the boy you have a crush on" she says smirking
"Goodnight mom" I say ignoring her.
I enter and feel a little better, but I find myself crying over my dad.