Father/ Daughter

A series of stories based around the relationship between father and daughter.

Gordon Harrison - Robert Downey Jr.

Sometimes I can tell when Jane’s not doing anything. Ever since she was a kid, if I passed her room and I didn’t hear anything I’d just know – she’d just be sitting staring into space. She did it sometimes in the living room without noticing. She’d do it at the dining table as a child and Meredith would tell her off. She always disapproved of day dreaming. I never understood why. What do you do if not day dream when you are bored? Maybe that’s why we fell out. Maybe that is why she left – because she didn’t approve of my parenting. I wouldn’t be surprised. I was a horrible father. At least I think so. Jane would never agree. But what do you have to compare to when you only had one parent? She turned out alright – at least I hope so. I think she spends too much time alone, too much time by herself in her room. Sometimes I get worried about her even when she tells me everything is alright… even when she smiles.

Jane Harrison – Keira Knightley

I know I am nosey. I know that because every time I hear my dad move about outside my room I want to go and see what is happening… when I know deep inside its nothing. It’s worse when I know he has people over. Sometimes I just casually stroll into the kitchen for no reason so that I pass them sitting together on the couch. Why should I care who Dad brings home? Why should I care what they do? I only care, because I am nosey. No other reason. I just can’t help it but want to know what everyone else around me is doing. Sometimes I just sit by my window and watch the people walk by. I like to judge them on what they are wearing, who they are with, if they are alone or not. That’s not a bad thing to do. Maybe it is when I watch my neighbours. Watching the house two doors down argue or the one diagonally across have guests over every other day. I think Dad thinks I am lonely. Sometimes I wish he wouldn’t worry about me too much.

Father/Daughter

Stories based on the relationship between father and daughter.

Jane Harrison – Keira Knightley
Gordon Harrison – Robert Downey Jr.

As Gordon walked into the lounge he spotted, sinking deep into the beige couch, Jane, sitting quietly, alone. Not doing anything just sitting staring into space, clutching a pillow tightly against her chest. He stood at the door way for a moment, clearly within her line of vision, but she still sat, oblivious to the rest of the world.

Her eyes glanced downward slightly so that it made it seem like she was studying the carpet or the corner of the coffee table in front of her. She was slowly, subconsciously, chewing at her bottom lip. A habit he’d tried to get her out of since she was a child. Her hair, which was normally neatly put up in a bun or pony-tail behind her, hung limp on either side of her thin face. Her deep brown eyes looked vacant and empty as she concentrated on something deep in her thought.

Leaning off the door frame, Gordon cleared his thought to get her attention. Her head shot up looking at him in shock.

‘Did I scare you?’ he said as he walked casually over to the empty chair by the fireplace and sat down.

‘No, sorry. I just didn’t see you there,’ she rearranged herself on the couch and was suddenly conscious about everything she was doing. She dropped the pillow next to her and glided her fingers through her hair moving it out of her face.

‘You okay?’ He was concerned for her, like any father should be. Except there was something about her recently; she seemed withdrawn, secluded from the rest of the world, quite. It wasn’t normal. Since he was a child the only way he could describe was energetic, vibrant and lively. She was always the talk of the party. She was friendly and easy to talk to. People tended to gravitate towards her. They wanted her company and she never minded about this. She was fine and happy with it. She worked well with people, which was why he always wondered why she became a journalist. She sat a desk and most days even worked from home. She loved it at home, she always said. He was beginning to think that her way with people was just an act. That she presented herself as this loveable, lively individual. When really, she was lonely, she enjoyed her own company and liked the quite.

He watched as she gave him a forced smile; her lips slowly growing into a smile but her lips never parting. He could always tell when she was giving a half-hearted smile, when she didn’t really mean it, when she put on this façade to fool people that in fact she was fine. But he knew that she wasn’t.

‘Just thinking, you know. About life and things,’ she gave a long pause and her eyes began to slip down, away from his. ‘Nothing special.’

‘Oh well then, I’ll leave you to it,’ he lent forward, preparing himself to get up from his chair but stopped as she answered back.

‘Wait, no! I think the correct response then should have been, ‘No, I can tell when you are lying. Tell me the truth – tell me what is on your mind’.’ This time she cracked a real smile, a genuine one. She wasn’t being bitter; this was merely the family – the dynamic. This was how it had always worked – trying to make a situation funny when it really should be serious.

He looked at her, watching her closely and said, ‘Where would be the fun in that?’ The cracked a smile back at her.

[If you go to my page it’s easier to read, the paragraphs are actually split]