3D: Free Advice

The bass from the obnoxiously loud music rattled in Jonathan’s skull like a pinball searching frantically for a hole. Beats bumped against his heart with an even unst unst unst unst. The cadence was so strong; he thought it may change the rhythm of his heartbeat. Nightclubs were definitely no longer his thing. Well, they were never his thing, really. The Pruett dancing gene skipped him, but after a few drinks he didn’t care how silly he looked. Before meeting Skyla, going to clubs was all about drinking until his bladder nearly exploded. After Skyla, he danced because she loved to. Now, as an old man, he complained about loud music and feared having a heart attack. At least he dressed cool. Derek dressed like someone’s dad.

“How long are we gonna sit here, Cuz? Are you still mad at me or something? It’s been three months. Get over it.”

Jonathan sighed. “Mad and disappointed are not the same things.”

“Look, man. You know I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

Jonathan shook his head. “But, you did.”

“I said I’m sorry, J. At least I let Madelyn go. That’s something, right?”

“I’m not the one you need to apologize to, Derek.”

“I know.”

“And, you need to give Julio a break. What’s done is done. It would really suck if you guys punished him for the rest of his life for something he didn’t do.”

Jonathan felt like a broken record trying to mend fences over the past year. When would the words finally sink in? “I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but I have to tell you this while we’re on the subject. I’ve been hinting at it and joking about it, but you still don’t get it so I’m gonna give it to you straight.”

“Your daughter is almost grown. Despite how desperately you want her to stay your baby girl forever, she’s going to leave you. She’ll have friends you won’t like. She’ll date people you’ll want to kill. But one day, she’ll bring someone to you whom she’ll say is special. You may not like him, or maybe her. But, you’ll have to try because you love her. Don’t lose your daughter because of your own pride, Derek. You need to know how to handle these situations because they will happen. You could practice on Julio.”