Diablo

"I'm home!" I called as I dropped my bag on the floor. "Dad?" I heard voices coming from the office. My dad was on speakerphone with someone.

"Yes, I know, Tessa," I heard. "It's not ideal. I know. But what can I do?"

The faint answer came from the phone. "You can't leave a teenage girl alone in the house, Chris. If Maureen were still around, it would be different. But who knows what Claire would get up to? And braving all of the dangers of the city on her own! How can you even entertain the idea?"

"That's very true..." my father replied uncertainly. "Oh, Claire." He looked up and saw me in the doorway. "You're home." He smiled at me, then told my aunt, "I'll talk to you later, Tess. Bye."

That evening, we had some father-daughter time. We had dinner, and then ate ice cream together and watched a movie. I'd always been very close to my dad. But that night, he seemed even sweeter and more attentive towards me. Afterwards, I got in bed, thinking hard. My aunt Tessa, Dad's younger sister, gets what she wants. No matter what. Especially when my dad is involved; he's the mildest, kindest person you'll ever meet. And it seems that what she wants now has to do with me, and Dad leaving me alone on business trips. Now that my mom is gone, Dad has stopped traveling for business, for fear of leaving me alone. But his boss recently told him that he would have to go back to it. I told my dad that it would be fine. I'm 14, for God's sake. I can be fine on my own. And it would be during the school year, when I'm not home for most of the day anyways. But it seems like Tessa doesn't agree. And that is worrying.

For a few days, everything was quiet. My dad didn't say anything about Tessa or about his business trip. And then, I came home from a run one day to find him sitting quietly on the sofa. "Hey Dad, what's up?" I asked.

"Sit down, Claire," my dad said. "I want to talk to you."

"Yeah?" I asked, sitting down. "I've talked to your Aunt Tessa about my business trips. She says, and I agree, that you shouldn't be alone in the city."

"But Dad," I said. "It's only for a few days! You said you won't have any long trips. And for a few days I can totally stay at a friend's house. Cassie has already said that I can stay at her house, she has tons of room." I could see my dad softening to the idea.

"I suppose, if you're not alone..." he said uncertainly. "I'll call your aunt. She can explain it better than I can." He took out the phone and dialled.

"Hey Tess, how are you? Good, good. I'm talking to Claire now, do you want to explain what we've decided? He listened for a little, then handed me the phone.

"Hi, Aunt Tessa," I said.

"Claire, how are you?" Aunt Tessa asked. "Your dad and I have been talking, sweetheart, and we really think that it would be best if you come to live with me and Tom for a bit, at least until your dad's schedule settles down. We're so excited, hon, it'll be so great-"

"Yes, Aunt Tessa, it sounds like so much fun," I quickly interjected. "But I really would prefer to stay here in the city. I won't be alone, you don't have to worry! I can just stay at a friend's house, and my dad won't be gone for too long every time. Thanks for offering, but there's really no need-"

"Nonsense!" interrupted Aunt Tessa. "Staying with family can't compare to staying with friends. For a little bit, here and there, it may be ok, but certainly not for the amount your dad will travel! You don't know what may happen, dear, and you can't deal with everything alone. I couldn't think of you living alone for days on end!"

"Aunt Tessa, it'll be ok..." But no matter how hard I argued, there was no budging her. Finally, I got off the phone, and gave an exhausted sigh.

"There's no arguing with Tessa, is there?" Asked my dad with a tired smile. "Don't worry, Claire. It'll be fine. You'll have a great time on the farm, and it'll be much easier for both of us. I don't want to worry while I'm on my trips. I'll sleep much better knowing that you're safe at Tess's. Don't be sad, honey! It'll be fine, I promise."

The next week, I packed my bags. I went to my school for the last time, and hugged my friends goodbye - leaving my best friend Cassie was expecially difficult.

"It's only for now, I promise," I told her. "I'll find a way to convince my dad to let me come home."

"You'd better," Cassie told me. "I can't survive freshman year without you!" After coming home, I walked through the house, reliving memories and saying goodbye to the rooms I grew up in.

"You're being a little dramatic, Claire," my dad laughed. "You're not leaving forever. Everything will be the same when you come back."

"You don't know that, Dad," I replied. Really, I was trying to delay the inevitable for as long as I could. But soon, my dad was loading my bags into the car, and calling for me to hurry up. He dropped me off at the airport, and gave me a big hug.

"Dad, I don't want to live on a farm," I told him in a last-ditch effort. "I want to stay here."

"I know, honey," he answered. "But this is what needs to happen right now. When things change, we'll see what we can do."

"But how will you come back to an empty house every time?" I asked him.

"Don't worry about me. I've lived alone before! Everything will be alright. I'll see you as soon as I can, darling."

"Bye, Dad," I gave him one last hug, and walked away. I didn't know when I'd see my hometown again.