Daddy Dearest (2 page)

The following morning, we all woke up at nine
o’ clock to get ready (Which is very unusual for Anthony). We all
ate breakfast, packed some essentials such as a camera, some
sunblock, and our phones. Mama always totes our “essentials” as she
calls them, around in a fanny pack. We got everything together, got
in the car, and headed off for the Gamecock baseball field. On our
way there, I had to fight Anthony for the music choice. We listen
to cds in the car when we go places. “Anthony, you got to listen to
what you wanted on our way to the post office, now I want to hear
my Lady Gaga music!” “Holy Cow Natali! You listen to her all the
time. You blast her music in your room almost non stop!” “So? You
can never have too much Lady Gaga!” Anthony rolled his eyes. “Fine
then, How about I get to hear one Lady Gaga song, and then you
listen to whatever you want the rest of the way. Is that okay?” I
asked. “Ok that’s a deal ya big goofball.” Anthony said with his
dorky smile. “Is that okay with you mom?” “Yeah I guess so honey,
if it’s okay with your brother. But on the way home, I’m listening
to MY music.” “Aw Man!” Anthony and I both said at the same time.
We know that when mom says “MY music”, she is talking about
eighty’s stuff. “Oh come on guys, it’s not so bad” I let you guys
listen to what you want most of the time. By the way, after the day
we are going to have, I don’t think you guys will care what is
playing on the way home. She looked back at us and smiled. Anthony
and I knew that she might have something up her sleeve. But we
really never thought anymore about it.

We got to the stadium about eleven-thirty. We
got our “essentials” and took a quick restroom break, considering
it’s an hour and twenty minute drive to the baseball stadium from
our house. We went to the ticket booth and got our wristbands, and
then went inside the stadium. The stadium was huge on the outside,
but once we walked into it, it looked a whole lot bigger. When we
walked in, there was a stage set up at our far right, close to the
edge of the stands. On the diamond, the team had a tent set up with
some tables under it where you could get their autograph. In
between the autograph tent and the stage, there was a stand set up
with refreshments, and with picnic tables around the stand. First
thing we did, we went and ate lunch. Once we got our food, we sat
down at one of the picnic tables to eat. I got a corn dog and
fries, the same as Anthony. Mom got a small cheeseburger and
Anthony and I shared our fries with her. I always eat my corndog
with ketchup, except one time at a water park when I mistook
barbeque sauce for ketchup. Anthony is weird with his sauce in my
opinion. He mixes ketchup and mustard together with mayonnaise. I
think it is disgusting. When we get done eating we start to walk
over to the tent to get the players autographs. All of a sudden,
the band stops playing, and then, Ray Tanner, the team’s coach came
up on stage.

“Hey everybody” He said into the microphone.
“We want to thank all of the people that came out today, and
brought their children and I hope ya’ll are all having a great
time. Now I have a very special announcement to make, but before I
do so, I need to invite a very special family to the stage. He
started looking over at me, and Anthony and mom. My stomach started
to turn and I started to wonder again if this was what mom had up
her sleeve. “Everybody give me a big hand in welcoming the Turner
family to the stage.” Everybody started yelling and clapping. As we
walked up to the stage, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going
on, or what was about to happen. “Young lady, tell everybody your
name.” Ray Tanner said to me as he passed me a microphone. “Hi
everybody, my name is Natali Turner, and this is my brother
Anthony, and my mom Janet.” I said feeling very nervous. Who
wouldn’t be nervous speaking in front of an audience? Let alone one
of the best college baseball teams ever. “And the way I understand
it, Your father is in the army, am I right?” Ray Tanner said to me
and Anthony. “Yes sir” we responded. And I also understand that you
and your brother write your father letters every week. What is it
that you always say to him?” “In the beginning of every letter, I
always say daddy dearest.” I respond. “Mr. Tanner, How do you know
that me and Anthony write my daddy a letter every week and that I
have a special thing that I say to him?” “Well little lady, I want
you and your brother to do me a huge favor, Look out near the back
of the field over there where that sign is.” “What sign? Anthony
and I both said at the same time. We looked out to the other side
of the field like Mr. Tanner had asked us to. At the other end of
the field, there was a person holding up a sign that was too far
away to read. The person started walking closer. The closer the
person got, the better we could read the sign. The person was
almost at the stage when Anthony and I read the sign out loud.
“Natali, please take off my mask.” The sign read. The person walked
on to the stage. They were dressed in jeans and a white t shirt.
The person crouched down beside me. I looked down, and I started to
take off the mask. I got the mask off their chin, and I
automatically knew who it was. I put my hands over my mouth and
started to cry. I then reached over and tore the rest of the mask
off, and started balling as I grabbed my daddy around the neck and
he lifted me up and squeezed me in the kind of hug that mama gives,
the kind of hug where you can’t breathe. I have never been so happy
to not be able to breathe in my life. The crowd went crazy. “Oh
daddy I can’t believe that you are really home!” I said as Anthony
and mom came over to join in the hug. “Natali, I kept my promise.”
Dad said. “I hugged you first out of everybody.” He said as he
looked into my eyes and I looked into his as I was crying
uncontrollably. I grabbed him even harder and didn’t want to let
go. I looked over at Anthony as I was hugging daddy. Anthony was
practically on top of me giving daddy a hug. Anthony was crying
too. Daddy stood up in front of us and wiped the tears from our
faces. Then he hugged mama and gave her a kiss. “Welcome home
baby.” Mama said. “It is so good to be home darling.” Daddy said
looking into mama’s eyes. Then he went over and shook Ray Tanner’s
hand. Daddy got a microphone and said “I have some very exciting
news.” I talked to my commander, and I am going to be able to
retire from the army, so I can be home with my family.” I started
crying even harder. I didn’t even care who saw me. I normally don’t
like to cry in front of people unless I couldn’t help it. This time
I definitely couldn’t help it. My daddy was finally coming home,
for good. I looked at him and said “Daddy Dearest, I will never
have to write that again, now I can say it to your face whenever I
want.” Daddy looked at me and smiled as a tear started to roll down
his face. I took my thumb and wiped the tear from his face and
smiled at him. “I love you so much Natali” he said as he grabbed me
and hugged me again, in the famous death grip hug. “Daddy, now you
will be able to watch the College Worlds Series Championship with
us!” Anthony said in an excited voice. Just as Anthony said that,
Ray Tanner came over with his microphone. “Now Nathan, I have
something very special for you, your wife and your kids. I want to
welcome ya’ll to come to Omaha to see the College Worlds Series
Championship Game on behalf of the South Carolina Gamecocks
baseball team.” Daddy’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. Next to
coming home to us, that was probably the second greatest thing that
daddy had heard that day. Then the Gamecocks baseball team came up
on stage, and we got our picture taken with them for The State
newspaper. We also got the whole teams autograph. We have it framed
in our living room (Dad’s idea). After we had our pictures made,
and got our autographs, we headed home. We started packing up the
car and I said “Mom, you were right, I don’t care what you play on
the way home.” She looked at me and smiled and said “ I knew that
you wouldn’t.” “Why, what did ya’ll listen to on the way up here
dad said. “Well Natali got to hear a song so guess.” Anthony said.
Daddy looked at me and said “Well if Natali picked a song it would
have to be Lady Gaga.”Daddy looked at me and winked. “You know me
all too well daddy” I said with a huge smile.

Dad, Anthony and I had watched the college
world series all season. Then it came time for our once in a
lifetime chance. It was time to get on a plane, and go to Omaha to
see the Gamecocks play the final championship game for The College
World Series title two years in a row. We got our overnight bags
packed, told mama bye, and headed to the airport. Me, Being Daddy’s
little girl, sat in the front seat. When we got to the airport,
went through baggage and the checkpoint, and finally got on the
plane, daddy knows that I am scared of heights so I sat in the
middle, daddy sat on my right next to the window and held my hand
because it was my first time flying and I was terrified. Anthony
sat on my left and joked about me being scared of heights. I have
learned to ignore his smart remarks over the past fifteen and a
half years. I love my brother but he can be a huge pain when he
wants to be. It was a seven hour flight from South Carolina to
Omaha. The plane made a stop along the way in Tennessee.

When we finally arrived, we went and checked
into our hotel. We had a nice room with two beds. That night, we
pushed the two beds together so we could all sleep together. We
always do that when we are in a strange place. We went to bed about
eleven o’ clock that night. The next morning, we woke up about ten.
We got dressed, ate some breakfast, and watched movies until it was
time to leave for the baseball game. We watched Gone in sixty
seconds. That is one of our favorite movies. We left a little early
to make sure we knew the way to the stadium and back. When we got
there, there was only about thirty minutes before the game started.
The stadium was packed. The game started at eight o’ clock that
night.

The game was so different seeing it in
person, rather than seeing it on the television. It was amazing.
The real excitement came in the last thirty minutes of the game.
And then came the last 10 minutes. Then, we were only one strikeout
away from winning the game. The pitcher threw the ball. “Strike!
You’re out!” the umpire yelled. The crowd, including me and Anthony
and daddy went completely crazy! The Gamecocks had won The College
World Series two years in a row! That was a game that we would
remember forever. We had our camera, so we got great pictures of
the game. Daddy said that we would hang the pictures in a mural in
the living room along with the autographed picture that we had
gotten earlier.

After the seven hour plane ride, we were home
at last, and this time, daddy was home for good. That summer, we
had barbeques with friends, lake trips, and trips to “The Big Mo”
drive in theatre. On July second, we went out on our boat and rode
all the way across the lake to see a fireworks show. We parked our
boat close enough to the island where the fireworks show took place
that it looked like the fireworks were bursting right over us. I
love to shoot fireworks every forth of July with my daddy, mommy,
and Anthony, even though one time Anthony tried to blow a barrel up
with firecrackers.

Mama and Daddy took me and Anthony to
Charleston. I love the ocean. It is so peaceful watching the waves
come up on the shore. When you’re in Charleston, it feels like you
don’t have a care in the world. We spent 2 nights in Charleston.
One of my favorite things about the beach is when daddy lifts me up
on his shoulders, and goes out in the ocean. I feel so tall because
my daddy is six feet and seven inches tall. His height added to my
height of five feet and five inches, I am literally up nine feet
and twelve inches off the ground. I’m also scared of heights, but I
know that daddy wouldn’t let me fall, that he would be there to
catch me if I ever fell.

After we got home from Charleston, we had a
thing that we like to call family week. The whole week, no friends,
just the four of us, non stop fun. The first day of family week, we
went out for lunch, and we went to the zoo. My favorite animals are
the penguins, and zebras. I love the unique look and detail of the
zebra’s skin. I love the penguins just because they are so
precious. The rest of the week consisted of movies, games, me and
Dad kicking Mom’s and Anthony’s butts in a water balloon fight, and
enjoying our time together. The final thing that we did during
family week, was play a family baseball game. Of course dad and I
won. The score was three to five. Dad and I have always been the
underdogs when it came to sports against Mom and Anthony. We came
home that night and had a big family meal. We had fried chicken,
mashed potatos, green beans, candied sweet potatos, and of course,
sweet tea. After all, we do live in South Carolina. That night when
I was getting ready for bed, daddy came in my room to tell me
goodnight. “Natali, I’m so happy to be home with you and your mom
and brother. We are all one big happy family again. I’m sorry that
I had to miss some baseball games and things that you and your
brother did.” “Daddy, you were serving our country. You were saving
me and mom and Anthony. I would never be upset for that. I’m just
glad that you are okay.” “I am so much better now that I am home
with you three. I don’t know how I lived without you three so long.
Even though I was away for a long time, just remember that I love
you. I love you now, I loved you when I was away, and I will always
love you and your mom and Anthony forever.” Daddy said in a sweet
voice. “I know, and we will always love you. We loved you when you
were away, we love you know that you are home, and we will always
love you.” Daddy hugged me tight and said “Goodnight my little
trooper.” I responded simply with “Goodnight, my Daddy
Dearest.”