"I won'tmention her again unless you do, sweetie. I would like to talk about her- and the impact I believe her leaving had on your development - but I...llwait until you're ready, okay?" Thank you, Miss Stevens," I answered. I'd never spoken with anyone aboutmy mum before - any conversations with dad had involved shouting... andpunching."In other news - I know I mentioned your gym trip with Marcus earlier,but I'd like to talk a bit more about it. Did you enjoy yourself?" MissStevens asked,. As the weeks dragged on, and I was separated from school, things started to feel... weird. I started looking at Daddy in a new way. I read that many girls had crushes on their daddies and ended up dating guys like their father. But what guy could I meet that was like my dad when I was stuck in the house?I would sit in his office watching him work in shorts and a t-shirt. For important video conferences, he would pull on a dress shirt he had hanging up on the wall and put on a tie, but he still. Being without parents or siblings and then having the business snatched away had brought out feelings of anger and "why me?"He was now just lonely and depressed. We spent a lot of time driving and I would talk about his parents and memories that I had with them. He would tell me stories and then would zone out to reflect on other memories and emotions. He needed time, and a joke or distraction would just delay the process, so I made sure that he ate and took care of himself. I would take long. There didn’t seem to be anyone else there. No servants; no children; no old parents.I sat in the lounge as Shama directed. I must say here that Shama, from the time I was introduced to her had not said a word. The only thing she had uttered was the traditional “As salaam Walikum” (Peace be with you) as we met.I sat looking around me as Shama went off somewhere. She returned a few minutes later with a tray of nimko (savouries) and jug of orange squash and some drinking glasses.I sat smiling.