My Daddy & His Babygirl

When my father got home on Sunday afternoon, I went and sat down next to him on the couch. He was eating dinner. I laid my head on his shoulder. He said, "What's wrong with my Babygirl?" I said, "Nothing." My mother had always taught me not to bother my father with problems during a meal. I just laid on his shoulder while he ate. He finished eating. I held out my hands so I could take his dishes to the kitchen. He gave them to me. I got up and went into the kitchen and put the dishes in the sink. When I walked back into the den, my mother was sitting next to my father laying on him. They both turned around when they heard me walk into the room. My father saw the look I was giving him. He smiled and said, "Honey, you took Shannieboos spot." My mother said, "Well, I am here now. She is gonna have to get on the other side." I mentally rolled my eyes as I went and sat down on the other side of my father. We sat that way for a few minute. My mother stood up and walked out of the den. My father looked down at me and asked, "What's wrong with my Babygirl?" I didn't say anything. I snuggled in closer to him. He rubbed the side of my arm. I finally said, "Mardell Coleston came over here today." My father raised his back up from the couch as he asked, "What was he doing over here?" I relayed what had happened at church. He dad nodded at everything I said. After I finished my father asked, "What did you all do when he got over here?" I told him the story of what happened when Mardell was at the house. My father abruptly stood up, making me move from my comfortable position. He yelled my mother's nickname, Pink. He half yelled, "Pink, why did you let that little nappy headed rusty tailed boy treat my baby girl like that?" My mother responded, "You need to lower your voice. I talked to the boy before he left. He only knows how to treat girls the way that he has been taught. There is no need to act a fool about it. You need to calm down." My mother walked out of the den after she said that. My father looked in the direction that my mother had walked off into. My father looked at me. He walked out of the den shaking his head. I went to my room knowing that my father was going to say something to Mardell the next time they saw each other. My father did, but it wasn't what I expected.