Amanda watched as Benton pulled into the garage; with their daughter sitting in the passenger seat of the car. Despite the two running off leaving her to clean up the mess in the kitchen; Amanda was happy to see her daughter laughing as she gets out of the car. Benton however was his usual stoic self when having to do an outing.
“Well it couldn’t be all that bad Benton,” Amanda looking at her husband; “you didn’t get your nails painted.”
“Don’t you start,” Benton opening up his Lamborghini’s boot; “Frieda tried to get me to go to a spa and it didn't take. I don’t need you piling on me.”
“So what did you two get up to while I was busy cleaning up your mess,” Amanda watching Benton pull out bags from Awareness and a few bags without any identifying label on it.”
“Dad has a new wardrobe to model for you mom,” Frieda giggling; “this way he doesn’t ruin his suits sitting on the riding mower.”
“Any shorts,” Amanda looking at the clothes.
“No,” Benton quickly answering; “you’ll never catch me wearing those.”
“Dad doesn’t want people to see his knobby knees,” Frieda giggling again.
“I don’t have knobby knees,” Benton grousing while Amanda was laughing; “oh yuck it up why don’t you.”
“I will,” Amanda helping to bring some of the bags in.
“We had lunch,” continuing the days events; “speaking of that, don’t forget your burger dad.”
“You didn’t eat,” Amanda looking at Benton.
“We’ll talk about that later,” Benton answering; “right now let’s get this stuff put away.”
Amanda curious as to what they also did; opens up the bags that had no label on them. Seeing the various three dimensional puzzles, she looks at Benton who answers sheepishly that Frieda suggested he get a hobby. Pulling out the rocket kit that Frieda also grabbed from The Hobbyist; Amanda couldn’t help but stare at Benton.
“Frieda insisted I get that,” Benton answering; “I can’t deny that it would be interesting to try out.”
“Let me guess,” Amanda looking at her husband; “today?”
“That or later this week,” Benton answering; “but I do know that Frieda is going to be helping me with these puzzles.”
“I bet our daughter wants to join her friends right now,” Amanda looking at Frieda; “I’ve been following your posts on social media all day.”
“So you’ve seen the photos Spencer posted of Evan Jr,” Frieda smiling; “isn’t he adorable?”
“Yes,” Amanda answering; “yet what is this post of you saying we are getting a dog?”
Benton choked on his cold cheeseburger as he was finally hungry enough to eat it; glaring at his daughter as he said they would talk about it when they got home.
“Surprise,” Frieda answering sheepishly.
“I said we would talk about when we got home,” Benton looking at his daughter; “talk. Not go and get one right away."
“It’s got to be a Doberman or a Great Dane,” Amanda looking at her phone; “as long as it’s a big dog and a pure breed.”
Benton and Frieda look at Amanda as she just stares back at them.
“My parents have Dobermans guarding and patrolling their estate,” Amanda looking back at her shocked husband and daughter; “and I was involved in the kennel club when I was younger. Heading to dog shows and watching the judges award the best in show.”
“Great,” Benton answering slowly; “anything else you want to share? A secret dream you’ve always wanted fulfilled?”
“None I want to share in front of our daughter,” Amanda winks; “besides, after last night, I’m surprised you aren’t jumping at the chance to get some guard dogs roaming around the place.”
“Because pets and weres,” Benton responding; “tend not to get along to well.”
“And I said,” Frieda responding; “get them when they are still puppies. That way they get used to your scent.”
“Frieda is not wrong there,” Amanda responding; “plus running around with a large dog can be great exercise.”
“Well so much for you being on my side for this,” Benton grumbling; “did you put our daughter up to this?”
“Mom doesn’t need to do that,” Frieda chiming in; “and I thought with you two not wanting a second child, a dog would be a great companion.”
Amanda and Benton go silent as they finally grasp the real reason as to why Frieda wanted a dog; the desire to argue and bicker taken out of them as they stare at Frieda.
“Frieda,” Benton being the first to speak; “you know why your mother and I are not planning on having a second child.”
“Your three reasons,” Frieda huffing; “Bi-polar, neglect and your laughable fear of change.”
“The first two reasons are valid,” Amanda answering; “your father’s fear of change; yeah I agree that is laughable.”
“It not a fear,” Benton sighing; “you both know it’s hard for me to change. The daily struggle for me to accept this condition I have, having to take pills and see a therapist weekly.”
“You didn’t have that problem with change when you and I were at awareness,” Frieda rebutting; “you have a whole new wardrobe of more casual clothes to wear.”
“That’s different,” Benton trying to speak but gets cut off as Frieda leaves the kitchen and storms upstairs.
Hearing the door to her room slam shut, Amanda stares at Benton before shaking her head.
“I’ll go talk to her,” Amanda sighing; “but you know you’re getting a dog in the end.”
“Must I,” Benton wanting to end the conversation; “it’s a huge responsibility.”
“What is cheaper,” Amanda leaving the kitchen; “a security staff patrolling the grounds or a couple of dogs?”
“Dam you,” Benton swearing.
Amanda heads upstairs to Frieda’s room. Opening the door as she knocks; Amanda shudders as she sees Frieda on her bed with her pet snake out of its terrarium and slithering around in her lap.
“Can you please put the slimy creature back in its glass enclosure,” Amanda looking spooked.
“Snakes are not slimy,” Frieda holding onto her rat snake; “and Ralph here will not harm you.”
“Put the creepy thing back in its container,” Amanda almost screaming.
“Fine,” Frieda getting up; “why you are afraid of snakes, when they are more afraid of you?”
“I refuse to get into that with you,” Amanda sitting on Frieda’s bed; “now come here so we can talk.”
“About what,” Frieda sighing; “dad doesn’t want to talk. He just wants to circle back to his excuses.”
“That is not fair to say,” Amanda looking at her daughter; “your father has fought to be a better person to you. To your friends and to the town,” Amanda speaking; “to say he has refused to change is wrong.”
“Then why won’t you have another baby,” Frieda looking at her mother.
“Please don’t bring this up,” Amanda sighing; “you know why. We are afraid our second child could be Bi-polar like your father.”
“Dad said it better at The Diner,” Frieda grumbles; “so why is he refusing to get a dog?”
“That’s just Benton being stubborn,” Amanda answering; “he is his usual pigheaded churlish self. Give him time,” Amanda smiling; “he’ll come around.”
“I’m surprised you are so eager for a dog,” Frieda looking at her mother; “why?”
“I used to breed pure bred Doberman’s with my mother,” Amanda grinning; “we would enter them into the various kennel club competitions all over America. I preferred it over Equestrian dad tried to push me into,” Amanda chuckling; “you can’t play fetch with a horse like you can with a large dog.”
“Then why don’t we just bypass dad and go to the shelter and get one,” Frieda look at her mother; “then he’ll have no choice but to accept it.”
“I like you’re thinking,” Amanda smiling; “but we’ll have to wait a while. Right now your dad needs some space,” Amanda getting up; “having his wife side with his daughter was not something he expected.”
“Then I guess Father Daughter day is over then,” Frieda also getting up; “do you want to drop me off at Spencer’s or should I call her to come and pick me up?”