The Tale of Emily and Little

Tale of Emily and Little

This is a Greenville adjacent story told in two parts of 750 words

The usual disclaimer: Bad English is my 1st language. No editor, Hope you like the story.

Emily

"We need to tell her."

"When the time is right we will."

"There is never a right time to tell someone something like this. I feel better if everything was out in the open, I wouldn't feel like such a fraud."

"You're not a fraud, you're the best father a girl could ever want. She loves you like a flower loves the sun. She's even more connected to you than to me. It makes me jealous sometimes."

We've had this conversation over the years in various forms. Its never been heated or loud. A conversation that needs to be had. And its gotten more frequent as Emily has gotten older. At 16 its become almost weekly. We call her Em, Skylar calls her just Little. As in Little E. Why, because I'm also Emily. We could call her junior but no girl is called that. So it was Little E or Em. Most people called her Em. Only her dad calls her Little and she will get mad if anyone else does it.

What is it that we need to tell Em? That Skylar is not her biological father. He's been in her life every step of the way except when she was conceived. That fateful night when it happened. I was on a work conference in Nashville, I know, how cliché. But that were the cliché ends. There were 8 of us from different offices from around the state. We all got together that evening and I had more to drink than usual at the bar in the hotel we were staying. At least that's what I thought. I had later found out one of the guys from another office had slipped me a date rape drug.

When I woke up the next morning I was alone. I didn't feel any different until I noticed a wetness in my vagina. I reached down and found semen. I freaked out. I had been raped and had no idea how it happened or who did it. My first thought was to take a shower and clean myself up. That's what 99% of women would do. I should have done it but I didn't. I don't know why but its a good thing I didn't. I called the police. This was a crime and I was the victim. I was surprised I was so clear headed considering the situation. 9-1-1 answered and I reported I had been raped and where I was. The police and EMS were there very quickly. The officers, one female and one male were very courteous. They didn't question me but secured the room for any evidence. Found the clothes I wore the night before including underwear. Their thoroughness of preserving evidence helped the case tremendously.

I was taken to the hospital where they were able to take blood samples and did a rape kit. The female officer stayed with me the whole time. 3 hours later a detective came in to interview me. He was very polite not pushing for answers I didn't have or couldn't provide. I gave him all the information I had. I didn't know all the names of the people I was with the night before, explaining how we just met at the conference. How I thought I had too much to drink and waking up this morning in my room with evidence of having sex even though I don't remember anything.

The police interviewed people at the conference and reviewed video tapes of the hallways. They found that a Gerald Nelson had taken me into my room and left 90 minutes later. I appeared intoxicated going into the elevator and by the time we got to my floor he was pretty much carrying me.

The police investigated further and found reports from 2 other conferences Nelson had attended. All told 4 other women came forward to accuse him of rape.

I had been able to call Skylar from the hospital and he was there within 4 hours. When the officer explained what happened he was very supportive of me. Never once accusing me of any actions that could have lead to my situation. I was kept in the hospital for another day as a precaution and then released.

I never had to testify as the evidence of so overwhelming. He pleaded to 2nd Degree rape and got a 15 year prison sentence. When the other cases were bought forward he will serve the rest of his life in jail.

LITTLE

Mom and Dad are acting weird again. I've noticed this happens every now and then. They talk in hush tones when they think I'm not around. Parents think kids are total ignorant of whats going around them. Some are, I'm not. I think I'm very perceptive. I've always been able to pick up minor details and nuances. I might be a cop when I get older.

I noticed a long time ago I really don't look like either of my parents. My mother has auburn hair and is full figured with brown eyes. My father is short for a man at 5 foot 7 inches. Medium build with Black hair and brown eyes. He has long nose with bushy eye brows. Me, I'm tall and what can described as lanky. No girl wants to be described as lanky. I have reddish brown hair and a short nose.

It never bothered me. A lot of my friends don't look like their parents. And who cares. My parents love me. My father is the best father I could ever ask for. He's always been there for me. He comes to all my soccer games and band concerts. A lot of my friends don't have fathers in their lives. And even many of those that do, the father isn't as involved in their life as mine is.

He's super smart. He's an engineer working for the city in the planning department. My mom isn't a dummy either, she works for a local chemical company in sales. She's been doing it all my life. You have to be smart to sell chemicals.

They met in college at Appalachian State. I hear the story at least once or twice a year, how my father chased my mom and fought off all the other suitors. Its so sappy it would be sickening if it wasn't so sweet. They love each other like newlyweds after 18 years of marriage. I hope I have a marriage like that.

I have a science fair coming up soon that I've been working on. Usually I would ask for help but I wanted to surprise them with my project. I've been researching at the school library and city library. I even asked for help with someone from the Belmont University which is 15 minutes away from my house by bike. The Professor is intrigued with my project. She even had some students helping me put it together with the agreement of being able to publish a paper when I'm done. She said I would get co-writing credit.

The day of the science fair was coming up and I told my parents about. I didn't have to ask if they were coming because they came to all my events, no matter how big or small. They asked what my project was but I told them they would have to wait.

The Fair opened and all the parents were there to see what their kids have done. Most already knew since they most likely helped them prepare. Mom and Dad entered the gym an hour after it started. They were met by some other parents that said my project might have been the best one there and was sure to win first place.

Mom and Dad got to my booth and stood there staring, not knowing what to make of it. The title of my Project, Genetics vs Environment, formerly known as Nature vs Nurture. How much genetics affects a persons life versus how they were raised. Yes, I was the test subject. When I was 14 I was able to get a 23 and Me Test done paid by my favorite aunt. It showed that my mom was my mom but my father wasn't Bio-Dad. Was I shocked, not really. Like I said I don't look like them so I figured I got my looks from my sperm donor. Did I care, heck no. I had the best dad any girl could ask for.

My goal with the project was to prove that with the right parents you can grow up to the best person you could hope to be. I hope as I grow up I will make my parents proud. They did everything to make me the person I am and no matter what blood is in my veins I will always be Skylar Fountain's daughter.

I got 2nd place in the Fair. Beat out by some kid that made a car run on water. But that's life and mine is great.

The End