Will You Actually Come?

All I ever wanted was for my father to come to at least ONE of my events. Not the major stuff like graduation,but my contests.

Sometimes,I wonder if he even knows that I have these contests. He never showed up to a lot of my events,but he made it to most of my younger brother's events.

And not to mention- "Amelia! Come downstairs and eat breakfast!" Amelia looked up from her diary,closed and locked it,and ran as fast as her seven-year-old body could down the steps and toward the food.

There was her brother six-years-old,eating pancakes with boysenberry syrup.(it exists,and is REALLY good!!) "Good morning,Amelia." He said with his mouth full of pancakes. She laughed. "Good morning,James."

"Kids. We need to talk." Their mother said as Amelia sat in her chair. "How long is he gonna be gone for this time?" She asked,knowing it was about her father. "Six months." Her mother said,setting her breakfast in front of her.

An awkward silence fell upon the table. Amelia just poked the pancakes with her fork,looking down at the floor. Six months. Amelia thought. Wait. That means... "He's gonna miss the dance!"

Her mother just looked at her with a look of sympathy. "I know. I'm so sorry sweetie." "He PROMISED he wouldn't miss this! He promised!"

Amelia got out of her chair and ran to her room. When she arrived,she slammed the door,locked it,and flopped on her bed with her head in the pillow. It's not fair! He always misses these things!

Amelia heard knocking on her door. "Amelia,sweetie,please come out. It's time for school." Amelia quickly wiped her tears on her sweater,and hesitantly unlocked and opened the door.

*timeskip brought to you by the time when we liked school*

Amelia sat at her table with her head down,while everyone was chatting away with her friends. After the bell rang,the teacher came in.

"Alright guys. I have a really important announcement. So please...SHUT UP!!" Mr.Kirkland said with a smile. Amelia heard one of the immature younger boys whisper about his "caterpillar eyebrows",and apparently,Mr.Kirkland heard them too.

"Now then. Where was I?" He asked himself while the two boys were in a neighboring classroom. "Ah yes. Now I remember. All fathers participating in the Father-Daughter Dance that's coming up need to pay the ten dollar fee by next week."

Amelia looked down to try and keep the tears that were bound to come out from falling,while Mr.Kirkland was talking about multiplying double digits.

*another timeskip to lunch*

Amelia went to sit with her best friend Sarah and their other friend Erika. "So. When's your dad gonna be back,Amelia?" Sarah asked,while digging into her homemade lunch.

"In six months." Amelia whispered,biting into her PB&J sandwich. The group fell silent at her answer. "Wait! What about the dance?" Erika asked,biting into her banana.

Sarah smacked her upside the head. "Ow! What was that for?" "For asking that!" Sarah hissed at her,while looking at Amelia to see if she was ok. Amelia just kept her head down,and was listening to the other conversations at the surrounding tables.

"My daddy is gonna buy me a pink princess dress for the dance!"

"My daddy says that he's gonna rent a limo for the dance!"

"Well,my daddy is gonna buy me a really pretty diamond tiara for the dance!"

Amelia couldn't keep it in anymore. She stood up as fast as she could,and ran to the nearest bathroom.

She ran to a stall,locked the door,and started crying her little seven-year-old heart out.

*timeskip to two months*

Amelia sat on her bed,her black dress beside her. It's the dance. She thought as she sighed.

Erika's father had offered to take her to the dance,and her mother insisted that she accepted. She slowly put the dress on,and went to her mother to ask for help with her makeup and hair.

When Erika and her father showed up,Amelia was in a black dress with black flats.
Her blonde hair was in curls,and her makeup was perfect.

Erika and her father thought she looked beautiful,but it didn't matter to Amelia.

All that mattered to her,was her father breaking another promise he would never have kept. She swore to never believe a thing he said ever again.

*timeskip to dance*

Amelia just sat at one of the tables they had set out for the dance,tears silently falling down her cheeks as she watched fathers dance with their little girls. She saw one of the chairs beside her being pulled back,but chose to ignore who sat next to her.

After a good ten minutes,the person didn't leave,and Amelia finally turned to face them and ask them politely to leave. When she faced the stranger,shock appeared on her face.

"James. What are you doing here?" She asked her brother who was actually in a tux,flower and all. He gave her a goofy grin,and stood.

He held out his hand to her. "Since Daddy couldn't be here,I figured I could take his place." Amelia felt more tears stream down her face as she stood and took her brother's hand.

They moved to the center of the gym,and danced to the slow dance that was playing
(Play video).

*timeskip to ten years later*

Amelia,now seventeen-years-old,drove with her brother and her mother to a certain place like they had for the past ten years on the exact same day as that dance.

Amelia and her family trekked up the hill to the lone grave by a maple tree. Amelia held a bouquet of roses,while her mother held a CD player.

James took his older sister's hand,and as Lily pressed play,did a dance for their father.

Every now and then,Amelia would look at the tombstone and read what was engraved on it:

Here lies Timothy Adams
Killed by a drunk driver while keeping a promise.
Loving father,and caring husband.

I wish I could have this last dance with you Daddy. Mom does too. Amelia felt tears flow down her face. I miss you so much.

~~~~~~~~~
I'm not sorry about the tears. Believe,as I was finishing the story,I was crying.

Again,this was for a contest by Canada_thequietone5 ,and I hope you and all you lovely readers enjoyed it~

I may do another entry,it just depends on if I have enough time,or inspiration.

~cronagrell