The Olive Branch

Dave sat inconspicuously in his black 2004 Peugeot 307 overlooking the harbour. The tide was in but the current was changing and he watched as the fishermen came home, their boats full. He noticed the wind gush against the car with such force that the car was moving sporadically. As one particular trawler came his way, the crew fiddling with ropes trying to anchor her to the pier, a crowd of onlookers formed. They all seemed to be very interested in the goods that the tired workers were producing in large green containers filled with ice. 

Dave was frustrated that the boat chose that particular spot to rest as it was in the way of the view of his daughter, Megan, a five year old with blonde ringlets in her hair who was a princess in Dave’s eyes. However, she was also royalty in the eyes of her stepfather. 

Dave had been sent to prison for assault when Megan was a toddler, her mother washing her hands of him as it was his second offence. He tried in vain to continue to have a relationship with his little girl but all of his phone calls were unanswered, his letters sent back unopened. Megan’s mother, Shiela, was adamant she was not letting Dave have any contact with his baby girl from the second he set foot in the ‘big house’. 

When he got out six months ago, Dave made one final effort to reconnect with his daughter. He had found out from a mutual friend that Shiela had remarried and was living in Howth. He made an effort to clean himself up. He shaved his straggly beard, gotten his hair cut and forked out for a presentable pair of jeans and a shirt. He walked up the posh, stoned driveway, a massive teddy bear for his sweet heart under his arm, and was taken aback as to how big the white washed detached house facing him was. He knew he would never be able to compete with the wealth of Sheila’s new husband. 

As Dave reached the front door, he felt butterflies flutter in his stomach and his palms began to sweat. He knew that seeing Megan was unlikely but hoped and prayed that the Gods would be in his favour. As he had his finger in position to ring the door bell, an older man opened it looking furious. Dave presumed it to be the new husband. He put his finger into Dave’s face, silencing him, as he was just about to say that he came in peace. Dave respected the older mans gesture and just listened:

‘I cant let you in to see her or Shiela would be on the warpath. I can however, tell you that she is doing well and is happy. She likes to go to Howth harbour every Saturday afternoon at 2pm to watch the trawlers come in and look at all of the yachts. That’s all I have to say to you.’

And with that, he closed the door. Dave blinked hard and could feel tears run down his cheeks. ‘She is happy!’ He smiled and walked down the posh stoned driveway back to his car, the teddy bear still under his arm.

Every Saturday since he parked in the same spot, in front of the trawlers, and scanned each face closely to see if he could see his little princess. Low and behold at 2:05 there she was, blonde ringlets bouncing gently with the wind. She had a doll in one hand, the other clutched firmly to that of her stepfathers. Dave couldn’t help but adjust his posture and smile. 

The winter sun illuminated her beautiful face, letting Dave see a bit of himself in her. He noticed that she had her mothers eyes, but his cheeky grin. He rolled down the drivers side window just as she pointed to all of the fish in the green plastic container with the hand that held her doll, and got to hear the most beautiful voice in the world say; ‘look at all the fish daddy!’ That word, ‘daddy’ reverberated through Dave’s core with sorrow. He couldn’t help but yearn for her to call him that, but he didn’t know if she even knew he existed. 

He felt a wave of spontaneity envelop him and opened the car door. He felt an outer body experience, like he was looking down on himself as he exited the vehicle and locked it with the fob on his keyring. He approached the crowd surrounding the trawler and locked eyes with the man who had informed him, all those many months ago, of where to find his daughter. Megans stepfather nodded, acknowledging Dave’s presence, almost giving him permission to talk to the angel beside him. 

Dave bent onto his honkers and smiled at his little girl, asking her if she liked fish. She looked up at her stepfather with trepidation. He nodded and she proceeded to tell her father that ‘they’re all slimey and gooey’. Dave looked at his little miracle in awe. 

He wanted to brush a stray ringlet from her face but didn’t think that that would be appropriate. He asked her if she ever ate fish. Her stepfather butted in and said, ‘we’re going to go and eat some fish now, aren’t we angel?’ Megan nodded. ‘Would you like to join us?’ Dave was flabbergasted and stood up suddenly, the blood rushed from his head and he felt dizzy. ‘I would be honoured to!’ He replied. 

Dave returned to his car briefly to retrieve the big teddy bear that sat on the backseat since the day he was turned away from the white washed house. He saw his princesses eyes sparkle with delight as he asked, ‘can I bring my teddy bear?’ 

He looked from his daughters bright eyes to her approving stepfather, who nodded, a shadow of a smile forming on his face. Dave went down on his honkers again and asked if his little girl would like to hold the teddy, ‘his name is Bob,’ he explained. She let go of her stepfathers hand and pulled Bob close to her. ‘You can keep him if you want!’ Dave said with delight. She looked up at her stepfather who simply said, ‘lunch for four so!’ And smiled. He was handing Dave an olive branch, one which was graciously accepted

picture from pixabay