Life before now....

It was pointless to stay outside, so Ivory went back inside. There was really nothing to do.

The door sprang open. Ivory was not expecting to see anyone, she turned to look at the person.

'Why are you back this early?' Ivory said, seeing Roger breathing heavily.

'There is an interview somewhere, get ready to go. There are chances that you can be selected'. He said, still breathing heavily.

'You came back home to tell me that?' She just had to be sure.

'You don't think I am serious about what I said, do you?' He sat on the nearest sofa.

'Just saying you could have called me'. Ivory shrugged.

'You are the worst at picking calls, you are not going to deny that'.

'But, I had the phone with me, it would have been easier for us'.

'Who said anything about easy? Get your butt out of here'. Roger snapped.

'I can go without you telling me to'. Ivory rolled her eyes before walking slowly to her room.

'I am going to wait here for you'. Roger shouted after her.

'Dad, just go to work. It would be easier for us'. Ivory waved her hand at him.

'I know you are not ready to go. How else would you go if I don't tell you where the interview is going on?'

'Dad, I forgot to ask. Thanks for reminding me'. Ivory retracted her steps back to him.

'Come closer'. Roger signaled with his hand, a grin on his face.

'Tell me?' Ivory brought her ear closer to him.

'If you are not fast, I might as well go in there with you and help you with your clothes'. He whispered.

'Are you not going to tell me?' Ivory frowned.

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'If you don't get out of here now, I will have no choice other than to take you along this way'.

'I had better get going'. Ivory ran to her room.

'There is nothing wrong with that cloth you are wearing'. Roger shouted after her.

She soon came out dressed in pants and a top.

'I am ready'. Ivory held to her bag tightly as if releasing her grip on it would make it less hers.

'Oh!' Roger raised his head from the newspaper he was reading.

'You need to read this'. He passed the newspaper to her.

'What is there? I am not a fan, Dad'. Ivory frowned, returning the newspaper back to him.

'Who said you were a fan? It is meant for non-fanbs'.

'It gives me a headache. And, the letters there are too tiny to read'.

'Tiny? It can be solved!' Roger reached for his pocket and brought out his glasses.

'Use this, we can share it. It would make the letters bold and big'. Roger stretched the glasses to her.

'Dad!' She screamed angrily

'There is something I want you to see. It is very important for the interview'. He stood up.

'Can't you tell me? Since you know it already, do us the favour of waiting for a long time'. Ivory said angrily.

'I have heard a lot of things in the last few days, thinking my daughter is one of those disgusting people gets me irked out'.

'Things like?' She asked curiously.

'You cannot read, I know it. Stop pretending, just be honest with me. I don't bother starting to teach you'. He suddenly said, making Ivory stare at him in disbelief.

'Dad?'

'Prove me wrong if you can. Read everything in the newspaper and tell me what you have read'. Roger said flippantly.

Angrily, Ivory sat on the sofa and started reading. Not being used to it, it was a bit difficult for her, especially when the words were too tiny.

'Forget it, and let us go'. Roger yanked the newspaper away from her.

'I can read it if you want. There is no reason why I should hide something from you. What is there to hide?' Ivory stood up and yawned.

'You can go'. Roger opened the door for her.

'Where?' She asked puzzled, wondering if she had not heard him well.

'I said to go out'. Roger opened the door more widely.

'The description of the place? At least you are going to tell me if you are not going with me'. Ivory stretched her hand, expecting a card or a piece of paper from Roger.

'I made it clear this morning that you must get a job for yourself. So, get out now and stop staying here. You might be trying to be tricky, but I am locking the door on you'.

'Remember to put the key where it should be'. Ivory said as if she was not concerned.

'I am taking it with me'.

'Stacy? When he comes, how would he open the door?' She asked worriedly.

'Don't worry' about him, I know how to go about that. But first, I need to make sure you are not staying in the house while I am away to work'. He locked the door and put the key in his pocket.

'Dad, I forgot my phone'. She ran after him.

'I am late already. Time for break is over, I have to go, otherwise there would be no one at the gate. I am responsible for the safety of the company I work'. He hurriedly walked away.

Ivory thought about the words over and over again. What on earth did he mean by "there would be no one at the gate"? Was he referring to…

She went white in the face. Her dad was a gatekeeper? It was unbelievable. She laughed at the thought. It was funny.

She tried dismissing the thought but could not. She suddenly realized she didn't know anything about him. She had been living in the same house with him for a long time, yet she had no clue about the work he does.

All the years that Stacy had grown, she had dwelt in regret, convincing herself she was just giving herself time to heal.

Heal? What healing? Was she sick?

Suddenly, she realized she had just been in the world, without a clue of what she wanted to do. She couldn't remember the last time she went out of the house. It had been a while.

No one came to help, no one reached out to her, and she became aware all of a sudden that she had been dead while still alive.

She looked in the direction her Dad had left, she could not see him. And she had no clue where the company he worked for was located.

Time to change, or maybe time to become herself, time to get over the past. Time to think too, to check out for the people who had been in her life in the past. It was time to do something new. At least, for her son and Dad.