Ara Ara’s Mind

{AN: I love my father. He is the best father I could ask for. As a person who reads into every action that everyone does, analyzing my father was always hard. I never really knew what was a secret message to do better and what was him just doing his best. Growing up that used to annoy me, but I think even in this piece you can see that mask slip a little bit. Shout out to my father and all he does for everyone that he can help. If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting him you are deeply lucky. Enjoy.}

“Do you want to drive?” He jokes. He knows that I’ll say no but he is hoping for a yes so he can stop doing these drives. He starts every car ride by putting on some late-night or a Comedy-Central show, so this wasn’t out of the ordinary. He rarely ever puts headphones in, so as usual, Trevor Noah fills the car with jokes about Trump. Trevor’s voice clashes with the children’s youtube videos playing in the back. He sits in the driver’s seat with a bald head that he has by choice and his graphic tee and his cargo shorts that he never seems to not be wearing. The volume of Trevor Noah fluctuates as we talk sporadically. “So how is school.” I know why he’s asking. He wants to know if I am doing theater because he is paying for it. I’m completely honest and I tell him all the struggles of college. He answers how I expect, by giving me advice. He starts with “what you need to do is” and proceeds to tell me how I can fix the situation I already know how to fix. I react as if I am tired of hearing it, but in reality, it is nice that he cares. The car falls silent. Trevor Noah’s voice returns and so do my siblings’ youtube videos. He pulls out a huge bottle of water, one that no one should be able to finish in one sitting, and refills his water bottle with one hand on the steering wheel. My sister throws down her cup while my little brother simultaneously complains about the volume of her iPad. He reaches behind his seat and picks up the cup without taking his eyes off the road and snatches my brother’s iPad from him. Then reaches into the backseat again to grab my brother’s headphones. “I don’t know why you keep watching these doll videos. I already told you about doing that.” He scolds giving the iPad back to his three-year-old son.