‘I DID NOT Throw a Woman From A Train!’
By: Michelle Monet
Tags: Relationships, Family, Dad, This Happened To Me, Love

But, the other day I finally decided to JUST DO IT. It was time to pull off the band aid quickly — so I dialed his number. He answered.

“Hi dad. How’re you doing today?”

“Ohhhhh hiiiiii….I’m doin’…ok. As good as can be expected...ya know?”

His voice was slow and soft. He sounded a bit pathetic.

“Anything new going on with your health lately?” I always keep the questions vague and distant.

‘Nah. I’m the same. Still can’t move my left hand but I’m doing a bit better on my walker now…but… its going fine I guess…’

“Good dad — So are you sleeping any better than you were?” trying to stall by asking more vague health questions until I could find an opening.

“Well…no…not really. I’m tired alllll the time…”

His voice trailed off.

(I figured no more stalling. Now’s a good a time as any. JUST ASK HIM the damn question!!!)

So I blurted it out.

“Dad...I wanted to explain to you why I’ve been so short with you on the phone lately…and why I hang up so quick when we talk…”

“Ohhh??..OK…”

“Well…..mom told me something about you recently that got me very upset..”

“OHhhh..”

“Remember when I was planning to interview you and mom for my Memoir??...”

“Yes...”

“...Well she revealed something pretty shocking about you…”

“OHH?…”

“Yeah. She told me that when you were in your early 20's you pushed a woman off a subway train in New York!”

Pause.

WhaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaAAAaaat??

He suddenly sprung to life.

“OH. MY. GOD. That is silly. That DIDN’T HAPPEN!!”

He had an Archie Bunker smug tone in his voice.

“Wellllll… she said it did happen. She said you pushed a woman onto the subway train tracks, then came home and laughed about it after…I wanted to get your side of the story…”

“Ahhhh c’monnnnnn…shes lying…sheesh…that didn’t happen!!!!”

He seemed annoyed with me for even bringing it up.

Him being pissed off at me made me feel even more pissed. Why is he made at ME for asking this?

I wanted to ask him: ‘ Don’t you think I have a right to know? I’m the one that heard this information and have been living with it for months now!!

I asked, “Well why would mom tell me this then? Why would she lie?”

“You know your mother. She always wants me to be the bad guy. I’m always the bad guy…”

He got quiet.

I was quieter.

I was processing.

I thought, what more do I say?

“Well dad… it did shock me to hear this. I really couldn’t even call you after finding this out.”

“Welllllll...it didn’t happen…” he said dismissively.

I heard him let out a big sigh through the phone.

The next comment he made stung even more. He completely changed the subject.

“Sooo what so you think of Trump lately?? I think hell be taken away in handcuffs as soon as hes done in office..”

Shit. He totally deflected the conversation.

Hes now ignoring me.

Fuck that!!

I felt anger bubbling.

“I don’t know dad. I’m not really into the news much these days…”

I wanted to say… “Dad you’re an unaware

narcissistic MOTHERFUCKER ASSHOLE!”

— but I didn’t. I can use the $100.000 inheritance and I don’t want to totally piss him off!

More small talk about Trump, Biden and Bernie — then I had to hang up.

“Ok…I’ll talk to you later dad”.

CLICK.