Observations on The Daughter

As some of you may be able to glean from my past posts, one of
the biggest challenges of my miserable little life it to get any
kind of positive attention from The Daughter. Now, I do get some
attention from her, but it is usually centered on something that
I am doing that just happens to annoy her (such as looking at
her, being in the same room as her, or breathing).

It is odd that she will insist that I sit with her sometimes
when she is watching TV, but then I will get groans of
disapproval because I am either sitting too close to her, or
making too much noise while eating, or for accidentally looking
in her direction.

I think she just wants me there so I can go and fetch her snacks
and drinks, plug in her laptop, or bring the cat to her. I think
though, she may be smarter than I realize, because sometimes I
catch her making a little expression that can only be translated
as 'I am really just kidding when I tell you that I have no use
for you...I am just trying to see how flustered I can get you'.

She likes to go with me to Roger's house on Thursday nights for
band practice, but only because she likes Roger, and because his
grand daughter is just her age, and they can hang out. We try to
teach her a few chords on the guitar or keyboard, and she likes
to pound away on the drums as well, so she is easily entertained.

But mostly, her and Roger just sit next to each other on the
sofa and text each other! It is like watching the two stooges,
their thumbs flying away, silly little grins on their faces. The
only way I can get a word in edgewise is to try to send a text
myself.

Then The Daughter stops and gives me an evil glare, as if I had
interrupted something important. Roger just chuckles...he has
raised kids, he knows what teenagers are like.

Once, several weeks ago, I had accidentally left the key turned on
in the car, and when it was time to leave, my battery was dead.
Can you believe The Daughter was actually GLAD about this, so
we didn't have to go home yet??? I hated to disappoint her by
getting a jump from the bass player, but all good things must
end.

But she surprises me too...on the way home, she thanked me for
letting her come with me to practice...and I think she might
have even smiled at me!

Peace be with you.