Ask Candy's Parents

Hello there! You must be one of Candy's friends, right? Well, we're her parents! I'm sure you have all kinds of questions for us, so don't be shy now; any friend of Candy's is a friend of ours!

[candyparents-blog]

100 Follower Event: Ask Young Philip and Lucia!

     The votes are in, and the theme of the event decided!

From now until July 1st, feel free to ask these two any questions you’d like HERE!

The image used for this event was drawn by mcl-lewik.

[candyparents-blog]

100 Follower Event!

*sets off a party popper*

Congratulations, everyone! With your help, candyparents has reached 102 followers! 

Now, to celebrate this momentous occasion, I would like to hold a very special event!

Down below are three options for what the theme of this event will be. Beginning today, June 14th, voting will begin. To vote, send in an ask with the choice you want the most.

Voting closes on June 19th, 12AM Central time, so make sure you vote before the deadline!

Results will be announced on June 20th!

For the special event, would you rather:

-Ask young Philip and Lucia questions!

-Have Candy answer questions!

-Ask Lucas and Phila (Male!Lucia and Female!Philip) questions!

Once again, voting ends June 19th, 12AM central time, so be sure to send in an ask with your vote before then!

Thank you all so much for helping reach this milestone! I hope you all enjoy this event as much as I will!

[candyparents-blog]

Reblogging for those who aren’t on at dark thirty when I posted this!

[candyparents-blog]

Voting ends in two days!

[candyparents-blog]

100 Follower Event!

*sets off a party popper*

Congratulations, everyone! With your help, candyparents has reached 102 followers! 

Now, to celebrate this momentous occasion, I would like to hold a very special event!

Down below are three options for what the theme of this event will be. Beginning today, June 14th, voting will begin. To vote, send in an ask with the choice you want the most.

Voting closes on June 19th, 12AM Central time, so make sure you vote before the deadline!

Results will be announced on June 20th!

For the special event, would you rather:

-Ask young Philip and Lucia questions!

-Have Candy answer questions!

-Ask Lucas and Phila (Male!Lucia and Female!Philip) questions!

Once again, voting ends June 19th, 12AM central time, so be sure to send in an ask with your vote before then!

Thank you all so much for helping reach this milestone! I hope you all enjoy this event as much as I will!

[candyparents-blog]

Reblogging for those who aren't on at dark thirty when I posted this!

[candyparents-blog]

100 Follower Event!

*sets off a party popper*

Congratulations, everyone! With your help, candyparents has reached 102 followers! 

Now, to celebrate this momentous occasion, I would like to hold a very special event!

Down below are three options for what the theme of this event will be. Beginning today, June 14th, voting will begin. To vote, send in an ask with the choice you want the most.

Voting closes on June 19th, 12AM Central time, so make sure you vote before the deadline!

Results will be announced on June 20th!

For the special event, would you rather:

-Ask young Philip and Lucia questions!

-Have Candy answer questions!

-Ask Lucas and Phila (Male!Lucia and Female!Philip) questions!

Once again, voting ends June 19th, 12AM central time, so be sure to send in an ask with your vote before then!

Thank you all so much for helping reach this milestone! I hope you all enjoy this event as much as I will!

[candyparents-blog]

Mama Candy, what's your favorite and least favorite outfits that Candy ever wore?

     “Wow, that’s really hard to choose. Candy’s worn a lot of outfits, some pretty good and others…” Lucia pinches her mouth to one side in thought. After a few seconds pass, she shakes her head and smiles. “Off the top of my head though? Hm…Oh, I remember there was this cute panda outfit she wore once. Pandas are my favorite, so I’m a little biased.” 

     After a brief pause for a giggle, her mouth puckers in distaste. “Recently, though, Candy wore this blue dress that she insisted was gold and white. I was really worried she was colorblind for a while…”

[candyparents-blog]

Tell us what were you thinking when Candy was born?

     “Lots of things. Will I be a good father? What do I do at tea parties? Will she like those? What will she want to be? I want to support her, how do I do that? How can I keep her safe? How-”

     “I’m gonna be a bombtastic mom.”

     Philip, who has been smiling this whole time, falters slightly as his monologue is interrupted. Slowly he turns to his wife, who is grinning widely, seemingly without a care in the world. She, in turn, shrugs.

     “I thought it then when I saw her smile. I made her smile.” Lucia holds her hands up, miming rocking a child. “They brought her to me when I was dead tired from labor but insisting I see my baby. And I held her and I looked at her and I smiled and she smiled back and giggled. And I knew, right then, I was gonna rock the mom thing.” She drops her hands, laughing slightly. “And yes, I’ve made mistakes, but so long as my girl’s happy, I’m doing my job right.” 

     Her husband softens and wraps an arm around her shoulders, the two sharing a smile.

[candyparents-blog]

Are you afraid of the ghost that follows Candy after she bought it from the halloween boutique?

     “Oh my, you kids certainly have overactive imaginations!” Lucia chuckles. “It’s remote controlled. Like one of those planes or boats people play with.”

     “Is that how that works? So that’s the whining I kept hearing at supper…”

     She fixes Philip with a wry smile. “Yes it is, dear. I promise, the fridge isn’t on the fritz again.” Turning back to the student, she shakes her head. “No, of course I’m not afraid of it. It’s too cute to be scary!”

[candyparents-blog]

Has Candy ever had any funny 'banana' baby stories??

     “’Banana baby’…?” Philip trails off, raising his eyebrows. “What is…?”

     His eyes dart over to Lucia, who is shaking with silent giggles and offering him a helpless shrug. “Can’t say we do, but I do have bunny baby stories. We used to dress Candy up to take pictures with the Easter bunny every year at the mall. She was so cute in her little costume!”

     Instinctively Philip’s hand slips into his pocket, a grin lighting up his face as his fingers trace over the leather of his wallet. He keeps one of those photos with him at all times right behind his driver’s license, and its one of his favorite pictures of his daughter from her younger years. “That she was, honey. That she was.”

[candyparents-blog]

What are you thinking when Candy wearing animal ears and tail, bunny ears or witch outfit. DID YOU EVEN KNOW that she has a witch outfit???

     “A witch outfit? I think she dressed up as one a few years ago at Halloween, so I’d assume she has a witch outfit.” Lucia shrugs with a smile. “I can’t say for sure. When it comes to Candy’s closet, I’ve backed off. There’s just too much in there for me to handle!”

     Philip shares a knowing look with his wife, as if remembering a time when he came to the same conclusion. He then turns to the student with a slight shrug. “I’ve stopped asking questions. Candy is developing a very…unique style. So long as she’s not showing what should be covered and I don’t get a call from the school, I don’t see too much of a problem with it. I do wonder, sometimes, how she got that sense of style. I don’t think it’s from me…”

[candyparents-blog]

What did you do with the cat that Candy brought home?(after Special Episode Halloween 2012) It must caused some strange moment, because it was a witch's pet before. Tell use some of them.

     “A witch’s cat? I think I would’ve remembered that!” Lucia chuckles. “No, we told Candy no pets, and though she was upset about it, she hasn’t snuck any pets in, as far as we know. I’m pretty sure, at least!”     

[candyparents-blog]

A story request? - 18 year-old senior Candy and the boy who's been spending a lot of time with recently (Nathaniel?) sit down with both of you (up to mod if the parents know that they're dating at this point or now... or have suspicions anyway) to break the news that Candy is a little bit pregnant. A story on their reactions? Bonus if the boy makes it clear that he plans on sticking around with Candy and the baby for the long haul.

    “Young man, gooutside.”

    “But dad-”

    “No buts, Candy.He is going to wait until we are done discussing this.”

    “No, he is not.”

    Three pairs ofeyes shift to Lucia who, for the most part, has remained rather quiet. It’salmost unnerving to see her so serious, almost cold, and Philip almost decidesto protest, but the second she fixes him with a burning stare he realizes thatgoing against that particular wish would be very hazardous to his health.Reluctantly Philip nods, lips pulled into a thin line as he kneads his handsand watches the two teens with a probing gaze.

    He wants to askwhy, how, when, but all of those questions have already been somewhat answered.

    Because they’rein love.

    Because they had sex.

    Around two weeksago.

    And yet he stillcan’t really absorb it all. It’s too surreal, too distant now.

    His daughter, hisprecious, tiny Candy, is pregnant.

    He almost wantsit to be a joke, another one of his daughter’s terrible tricks, but one look ather shamed features and the stony composition of the boy next to her tellsPhilip that this is really happening.

    There’s an awkward,palpable silence as Lucia delicately shifts in her chair, crossing one leg overthe other and linking her fingers. Her gold eyes flick between the couple for amoment before she speaks. “What are you going to do?”

    “Do?” Candyblurts out, fear and confusion evident on her face.

    “Yes. Do.” Lucia’svoice is calm. Too calm. “Candy, are you going to have this baby?”

    “I…I guess.”

    “There are alwaysother options.”

    “We are not aborting this child.”

    Philip would belying if in that moment he said he didn’t love the boy sitting there.

    Unashamed of hisoutburst, he meets Lucia’s gaze straight on. “Candy and I talked about itbefore we came to you. We agreed that we didn’t like the idea of aborting, andCandy wasn’t comfortable with the procedure.”

    Lucia humsshortly in response as she rests and elbow the armrest of her chair and placesthe same hand on her chin. “And what about after? Did you plan to adopt it?Raise it? Leave it with us? Your parents?”

    “I don’t trust them with a child.” Nathaniel’seyes darken for a second. Candy, biting at her lip, curls her free hand aroundhis arm and rests her head on his shoulder. Almost absentmindedly he wraps hishand, the one unoccupied by Candy, around her. The two sit in a comfortableembrace as Nathaniel talks once more, this time much more controlled. “…We’vedecided to raise it. Candy’s only about a month along, and we’ll graduate longbefore her due date. I can find work over the summer to pay for the extraexpenses, and my parents have agreed to continue paying for my apartment untilI’ve finished with college.”

    Candy’s eyesshift back and forth between her parents as the two of them sit there insilence. Are they absorbing what Nathaniel said? Are they going to argue? Arethey angry? She almost scoffs at herself. Of course they’re angry. She’s goneand done this without thinking about the repercussions but now it’s here so what else can she do except-

    “I love you.”

    “Huh?” she can’t helpbut look around, confused as to who just said that. Nathaniel catches her gazeand gives a slight shake of his head. So if it wasn’t him, then…

    Lucia sitsforward, dropping the stony exterior she’s held up so for long. Her hands reachout and she grasps at the couple’s intertwined hands, immediately tightening hergrip to the point where it’s almost painful but neither teen bothers to correcther. She gives the two a smile—it’s odd to see because no one can tell justwhat she’s feeling—and laughs slightly. “Make no mistake, your father and Ineed to talk about this and make some plans of our own. And I’m not exactlyhappy about this all being kind of an accident.” At this Candy shrinks, butLucia merely squeezes her daughter’s hand and shakes her head. “But I’m proudof you for telling us and for at least putting some thought into what you’ll donow. All things considered, I suppose your timing isn’t too bad.”

    Philip sits therequietly, listening to his wife, but can’t help but give in to the temptation tofrown. Timing? Too bad? Their timingwas terrible. They’re so young.

    He wants toprotest and get angry so he doesn’t have to deal with this feeling that he’sfailed Candy.

    He wants thingsto rewind, to go back when his little girl wasn’t growing up so fast.

    Is she happy? Isshe going to be happy a year from now? Five? Twenty?

    Lucia is still talking to Candy, who’snodding along looking more relieved with every passing second. Nathaniel isengaged, but for a moment, he meets Philip’s gaze and he freezes, keeping theireyes locked.

    Something happensin that second.

    Philip can see anacceptance in Nathaniel’s eyes. He figured there would be more fright, morereluctance, a frantic, crackling energy. But there’s none of those. Just a steadfast,unwavering look, and Philip recognizes it. He saw it in the mirror overeighteen years ago when he was in that boy’s shoes, expected to take care of achild he didn’t know if he was ready for.

    For a moment,Philip feels sorry for the boy.

    He hopes thatlater he’ll have a chance to talk to Nathaniel. He hopes his inkling will be confirmedand he can find some solace in all of this. And, seeing Candy’s slowly smilingface, Philip prays that his greatest treasure will be safe with this boy.

[candyparents-blog]

I'd love a story from Philip's point of view based on the episode 30 illustration... Both the actual accident and your daughter becoming a sobbing mess in a certain student body president's (who you've been seeing around your daughter an awful lot lately...) arms. (You can choose another boy if you want, but Nathaniel is my absolute fave and there aren't nearly enough requests for him)

    ‘People always go too fast in school zones.’That was all Philip thought as he heard the squeal of tires just beyond theschool walls. He ran into those people at work all the time: the ones who werepreoccupied, speeding, talking on phones, and then slam on their brakes to meetthe stop sign. It was irresponsible and dangerous. ‘I’ll have to remind Candy about that tomorrow.’

    Brushing thisaside he tunes back into Armand’s story, nodding at the quiet joy in the man’seyes as he recounts his daughter’s exploits.

    “I thought she might keel over fromhappiness.” He laughs, “She was so glad they liked the mural she did for them.I was too. She spent so long painting it for them!”

    “Your daughter isvery talented.” Philip agrees, glancing back at the painting piece his daughterpointed out earlier. “It’s no surprise she won this show!”

     “Yes, I…”

     Armand trailsoff almost uncertainly. It’s no wonder why, either; suddenly that teacher, Mr.Faraize, is running past them, his features completely ashen. He knocks into adisplay table but continues on with only a small whine, hurrying almostclumsily to the school entrance.

    “Is somethingwrong?”

    Philip is unsurewho said it, but the teacher pays them no mind and disappears behind the wall. Theircuriosity sparked, the crowd begins to trickle after him.

    When a sharpscream coupled with the sudden hum of murmurs and gossip pierce the air, thesteady stream becomes a crashing wave, and suddenly everyone runs over, Philip included, faces terse with confusion andworry.

    “Oh my God-”

    “Did someone callan ambulance?”

    “Can we move him?”

    The questions comequickly, and Philip does his best to listen for answers. There’s too manyvoices, though, and sorting through them all is nigh impossible. Even if hewanted to sit there, his concentration would be immediately thrown off by thepushing at his back from the people attempting to move forwards and get abetter view of…well, whatever it is that’s happened.

    He’s shocked whensuddenly the wave before him parts and two boys—the rowdy ones from the playwho’d gotten into a fistfight—emerge, the redhead thrashing and cussing in away that would normally make Philip frown. The desperation and unfiltered ragein his face, though, suddenly makes Philip worry about what’s happened.

    “Nathaniel I saidto fucking let me go-!”

    “And I told youit’s stupid to move him!” The blond, the student body president, has the redheadin an underarm hold and tries to drag him from the crowd with moderate success.

    “And you want meto fucking leave him in the road so someone else can come and run him over?Huh?”

    “Someone was runover?” a mother wails, eyes growing wide. “Who? Was it my baby?”

    The crowd is still parted and Philip decidesto take a look for himself. If he’s lucky, perhaps he’ll find Candy up ahead.While he assumes she’s not hurt—that boy say “he”, after all—he hasn’t seen herfor quite a while and it’s making him nervous. Sliding past the rows of parentsand children, Philip weaves his way to the front and ends up at the edge of a semicircle  surrounding three people.

     At first he seesthe boy on the ground, blood dripping past his temple and the beginnings of abruise forming somewhere on his face. He wants to help, call someone, but he’sdistracted by the last two people the crowd has graciously give space to.

    “Did you see thevehicle?”

    Candy shakes herhead. It’s all she apparently can do; the tears streaming down her face and thesobs racking her body have rendered her incapable of speech.

    “What about the licenseplate? The color?”

    “Excuse me.”

    Ms. Delenay lookstowards him, shaken but otherwise nonplussed by his interruption. “Stay backsir. The paramedics are on their way.”

    “I’m not interestedin the paramedics. I want to know why you’re interrogating my daughter.” Henarrows his eyes, stepping forwards. To her credit, Mrs. Delenay merely fixeshim with a pointed look.

    “She justwitnessed the accident. If we can, it’s imperative that we-”

    “It’s imperativethat you let the police handle thatpart.” Philip cuts in. He crosses over to the two and steps in front of theteacher, separating her from Candy. “My daughter is obviously shaken anddisturbed by what just happened. The least you can do is give her a chance torecover from this, not grill her!”

    Philip doesn’t waitfor Mrs. Delenay to respond. Instead he takes Candy by the shoulders and guidesher away from the school, down the street, away from prying eyes.

    “D-Dad, I…I haveto go-”

    “In a minute.”

    “B-But-”

    “Honey.” He movesto stand in front of her, carefully grasping her upper arms and forcing her tolook at him with her blurry eyes. “Of course you’re going to go back. I’m notgoing to take you away from being with your friends when they need you. But youneed to calm down first, alright?”

    She manages aslight nod and a hiccup.

    Without anotherword Philip embraces her, resting his chin on her head as she wraps her armsaround him and shakes, sobbing into his chest. “It’s going to be alright, Candy…”

    He’s unsure ifshe heard him over the quickly approaching sirens, but he hopes he’s donesomething to soothe her.

[candyparents-blog]

Philip, why do you hold such archaic notions about your daughter going on dates? It was a kiss--they didn't bang on your front porch. Even if they did (in private, on their own time) as long as they were careful and practiced safe sex, what would the problem be? She's a human being, and she's growing up--are you planning an arranged marriage too? Maybe selling her to a duke in exchange for some sheep and more land? You can either force her to do things in secret, or educate her. Choose wisely.

     “It’s not the date I have an issue with.”

     Despite his tensed features and blazing eyes, Philip’s voice is surprisingly calm, if not somewhat strained. Obviously he’s doing his best to keep control of his temper.

     “Candy is my daughter. She’s one of the most important people in my life. I know she’s growing up. God, her mother reminds me everyday. But since we came to this town, Candy’s been growing too fast; suddenly she’s earning detentions, doing terribly on school assignments, disobeying her parents. She’s been doing good things too, but she’s been doing too much period.”

     He takes a second to let out a breath that marginally relaxes his features.

     “Before she adds the stress of a relationship to her plate, I want her to get herself in order first. That means making sure she’s happy with herself and her decisions, not this anxious mess she’s been for the past few weeks. I don’t want to see my daughter dive into something she’s obviously not ready for and wind up getting hurt just because she could.”

[mclhideaway]

Ask Candy’s Parents!

Hey guys! With finals wrapping up, it’s finally time for me to reopen the ol’ ask box!

Got question for Candy’s parents? Want to hear them tell stories about their home life/past/etc.? COME ASK THEM QUESTIONS HERE!

[candyparents-blog]

Reblogging here!

[candyparents-blog]

I'm sorry, but I've just been crying in my room all day and I need a distraction. I spent time with my parents last night and I finally told them that I was sexually assaulted sixish years ago (when I was 13). My parents did not react well (dad's 1st question was 'what were you wearing?') Can I ask a fic about candy being assaulted (perhaps by Dake) and her parents reactions? Angst is fine but please have her parents comfort her/act like real parents in the end? Idk, sorry, I'm a mess.

                   {The following piece mentions sexual molestation.}

   “Oh, hi therehoney. I wasn’t expecting you back so soon.” Lucia comments, blinking at herdaughter in the doorway. “How was the mall?”

    Save for Candy’sfootsteps crossing the floor, Lucia hears no reply. Without a word, Candy picksup a knife from the counter and begins chopping the vegetables laid out on thecutting board. “It was fine.” She murmurs, her nod barely moving more than afew millimeters.

    “Just fine?”Lucia hums, stirring the pot on the stove. “You were so excited about today.Did something happen?”

    “…Yeah.”

    To say Lucia issurprised is a bit of an understatement. Candy is generally an open person, butwhen it comes to the bad things she shuts the door right in her parents’ faces,unwilling to let them see or talk about the negatives going on in her life.There were always exceptions of course (she remembered the bullying from gradeschool with acute anger), but that was the general rule of thumb with Candy.For her to share something so quickly…this must be weighing on her mind. “Sowhat happened?”

    Chop.

    Chop.

    Chop.

    “Candy?”

    Chop.

    Chop.

    Chop.

    “Candy, I asked—”

    The words, no,her breath dies as she sees tears streaming down Candy’s cheeks. Without another thought she sets thespoon in her hand down and steps over to her daughter’s side, enveloping her ina hug. She combs her fingers through the girl’s hair, heart stinging in afamiliar ache as Candy forgets about her cutting and turns to her mother, armshooking vice-like around Lucia’s waist.

    Lucia swaysslightly, rocking Candy back and forth like she used to do long, long ago.Candy normally protested against this, but today she seems almost glad for theaction, if the way she buries her face even further in Lucia’s chest isevidence enough.

    Candy is openlysobbing now. Lucia can feel the warm tears and chilled snot soaking through hershirt, but that’s not what’s important. With little more than a gentle tug,Lucia guides Candy into the living room and sits on the couch, reaching overfor a box of tissues. Candy starts to choke back her cries, starts to pull awayand dry her tears with the sleeves of her shirt, but Lucia shakes her head. “No,honey. It’s okay. You can tell me in a minute. Just let it out.”  

     The girl fixesLucia with one long, wavering look before crumpling back to her mother’s side.

                ___________________________________________

    An hour later,once the tears have subsided and phone calls have been made, Lucia sits withCandy on the couch, delicately tracing soothing patterns on the back of Candy’shand that she holds in both of her own. Candy, save for an occasional hiccup,is shifting constantly, eyes flickering between the door and the hallway, unableto decide whether to watch for her father or retreat back to her room. Luciaoffers her daughter the chance to leave, to be alone if she needs it, but aftera moment Candy shakes her head and stays.

    All notions ofleaving are thrown out the window as the front door bursts open and Philipcharges in, haphazardly slamming the door shut behind him. “Candy? Candy, what’swrong?” he calls, glancing around the living room for a second before making abeeline for his daughter. In seconds he’s holding onto her shoulders tightly,looking into her stupefied face as he kneels in front of her. “Are you alright?”

    Her bottom liptrembles, but Candy nods and uses her free hand to gently push her father away.“Can…” she hiccups, “C-Can I tell you both something…?”

    Lucia and Philipdon’t need to look at each other to know that the other looks pensive, anxious,but they both nod anyways and allow Candy to speak.

    Her story isshort. By the end she’s far more composed than earlier and looking more ashamedthan anything, not distressed. It’s Philip and Lucia who have taken a turn.

    Philip is turninga dark shade of pink, pressing a fist to his lips in order to quiet the rageboiling inside of him. So this boy, this Dake,thought it was alright to just look inside the changing room? To violate Candy’sprivacy because he wanted to? To touch her? To just…to dothis?

    Lucia, however,picks up where Candy trails off. She pulls Candy in close and gives her a hug,asking quietly, “Are you okay?”

    “I…I guess?”Candy squeaks, almost in confusion. “I’m just…”

    “Just…?” Luciaprompts softly.

    “I…I just think that this might…m-maybe it was something I said that made him–”

    “No.”

    Philip bites outthat one word and Candy freezes in Lucia’s arms, eyes wide. The color starts todrain from her face, and it looks as if she’s about to cry again.

    “Candy, this isnot your fault.” He iterates once more, setting his hand over hers. His voice,while still raspy, has softened considerably, and he no longer sounds angry,just tired and strained. “What he did was inexcusable.I am appalled at his behavior, and I am angry. Not at you, him.” He squeezedher hand tightly. “I’m sorry that you had to go through that. I wish I wasthere for you, and I’m sorry I wasn’t.”

    Candy’s eyesstart to water, and Philip immediately hoists himself onto the couch,sandwiching Candy in a hug between her parents. “It’s alright, Candy…we’rehere.” Lucia croons. Her heart is torn between cracking at the sight of herdaughter crying and flying as Candy tightens the hug, pressing both adults closeras if they were her tether. Glancing over at Philip, Lucia can see the samestruggle on his face. Turning back to Candy, Lucia presses a gentle kiss to herhair. “We’re here for you, Candy.”

      {I amin no way a counselor or a therapist, but please Anon, believe me that youdid nothing wrong.

    Asking what you were wearingwas completely irrelevant; it’s as if they were trying to find a reason ithappened more so than give you the support and love you really need from them.Which is not what anyone, parents or otherwise, should be focused on; there aremuch more important things, such as you and your mental/emotional welfare.

    Although it did not end asyou’d hoped, I want to tell you that you’re very brave. Sharing a traumatic experiencewith someone is extremely difficult, and even scarier, yet you did. You reachedout to someone else, and for that I am so proud of you. I only wish that theirreactions were better.

    If this experience isweighing on you six years later, I’d recommend talking to a professional aboutit; at the very least, you could openly talk about it with them and find somekind of peace.

    I hope that with this move,you can find a good group of friends who will give you support and love; untilthen, I wish you well, and if I can ever do anything for you, please, don’thesitate to ask.}          

[candyparents-blog]

Candy had sex

             {WARNING: mentions of underage sex, cursing}

         “Philip-”

     Lucia’s voice trailed off as her husband paced around the dining room, running his hands through his hair. Occasionally he’d tug at the waves of salt and pepper, then violently tear his hands away, only to run his fingers along his lips, across his face, then back to his hair again. Sometimes he’d put a hand to the back of his neck, and from where she was sitting, Lucia could see him dig his nails into his skin, leaving red crescents embedded there. He was like a one-man tornado, blustering across the room, crackling with an energy most would shy away from. 

     “Philip.” she called again.

     Yet he kept pacing, pacing, pacing, as if he didn’t hear her.

     “Ph-”

     “Goddammit, Lucia!”

     She jolted in her chair as Philip came to a halt at the other end of their small table and slammed his hands onto the back of the chair. He grit his teeth, almost annoyed that he’d come to a stop. Walking was a way to channel the frustration, expel the pent-up rage. Now, doing nothing, he was listless, agitated. Finally, he struck the table with an open palm, making the potted flowers quiver and the legs shake. Lucia raised her arms off the table, almost as if worried the anger that possessed him could somehow travel through the surface and into her.

     “Dammit!” he bent over the table, looking in the direction of his wife but not at her. A good thing, too; there was a fire there that Lucia wasn’t sure how to handle at the moment. “She’s a goddamn teenager Lucia. A teen. And yet we come home to…to…this?” He flung a hand in the direction of their daughter’s room.

     “You’re right. She’s a teen.” Lucia began slowly, carefully setting her arms back on the table. “Teenagers have a lot of hormones. It’s only natural-”

     “Only natural?” he hissed. “It’s natural that our daughter was upstairs getting screwed by a boy she’s only let us talk to twice? It’s natural that she doesn’t even-”

     SLAM.

     Lucia’s eyes suddenly burned bright, fueled with quiet rage as she stood up slowly from the table, letting her stinging hands stay connected to the tabletop. Philip, for all his anger, froze, staring wide eyed at the woman who, up until now, had been the picture of poise.

     “Philip.” her voice was hard, biting. “Candy is, and always will be, our daughter. But first and foremost, she is a person. As a person, she will make choices. Choices that you and I might not agree with. But that’s fine. She needs to grow, and she needs to find out what she’s comfortable with, what she can handle, and what she can’t.”

     Philip opened his mouth, and shut it as Lucia put up a hand and a warning look.

     “Yes, I can agree that I am not happy with this choice either. But I’m not going to stand here and belittle her for it. Now,” she straightened up form the table, “I am going to talk to her. I am going to make sure she’s alright. And then you and I are going to go to sleep, and in the morning, we’re going to sit down and talk about this like a family.”

     With that she pushed away from the table, gliding over to the entryway of the living room and towards Candy’s room without another word.

[candyparents-blog]

How would you feel if Candy had her first kiss with her crush and didn`t tell you

     “My daughter should not be kissing anyone at her age, let alone now when she needs to focus on school.” Philip scowls. “She’s been very irresponsible lately, and it’s about time that she-”

     “Philip.”

     Whether it’s because he’s about to make a scene in front of the student or because she’s sick of his behavior, Lucia opts to step in, and Philip falls silent, albeit silently fuming. Her husband quelled, she turns to the student and takes a breath.

     “I wish she would have talked about it.” The woman reaches up and toys with one of her large earrings. “I teased her about liking that boy, the one who took her out a while back, but she never said anything about him. Or her. Or how she feels about him. That’s something I always wanted to share with my daughter, you know?”

     Lucia laughs slightly, if not sadly. 

     “My baby is growing up. I know I need to let go, and I don’t mind doing that, but it’s not hard to see she’s changing. Maybe changing too fast; she’s been so anxious lately. So…I just wish she would have come to me, talked to me…asked for some help.” She stares off past the student, not even registering the fact that Philip has wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Does she not trust me enough to talk to me about these things…?”