Independence Day

 

We combined our village veggie marché with a free write at the tea room terrace. There were no people to use as a prompt. Because we'd been discussing Independence Day back in the U.S. and the meaning of hanging the American Flag upside down, we would use that as a prompt for a 10 minute free write.

"Oh shit. Double shit!" Madison said to her self as she saw her father pull into her driveway. 

She hoped he hadn't seen Jason in the backseat of the police car pulling away.

Her father got out of his SUV which had replaced the Caddies he had driven thru out her childhood.

Although he was in his 70s, he had a full head of gray hair and a trim body maintained by trips to the gym and many hours on the golf course.

"Was that Jason in the police car?"

Before she could answer, he looked at the American flag. Then his eyes swept the unmowed lawn. "The homeowners association will be after you for that."

Madison wasn't sure if he was talking about the lawn or the flag flying upside down.

"Christ, Madison, its the Fourth of July."

"Let's have some coffee." Madison hoped to get him inside before the neighbors heard, although most of them might be away for the long holiday weekend.

As the coffee perked, her father paced around the kitchen. "I didn't buy you this house so that your hippy dippy husband..."

"Whoa. I don't let him say bad things about you. I won't let you say bad things about him." Madison poured the coffee into two mugs.

She knew she had to call their lawyer, who would free Jason. Flying the flag upside down wasn't against the law although certainly against the politics of most of the neighborhood.

She hated this house. Jason hated this house. Until now, she had fought against spurning her father's gift. 

She decided they had to move. Jason would be thrilled she'd finally given in. 

The problem? How to tell her father. Well it was Independence Day...

"Daddy..."