The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. (Vincent Van Gogh)

She stood and looked back for what she feared would be her last look at her first love. He sat on the curb, intoxicated. This was not how she wanted to remember him.

She walked slowly inside and her father didn’t speak until she was inside.

Her mother hugged her as her sister scolded her. She trudged upstairs. She locked her bedroom door, opened her bedroom window, and climbed out onto the roof. She listened carefully.

“You have to understand, Tommy, she’s my daughter and I only want what’s best for her.”

“I understand sir.” Tommy’s speech was slurred but he was sobering quickly. “I want the same.”

“If you mean that you’ll leave her alone.”

“I can’t.”

“Penny is a bright girl with a bright future and the only thing that stands in her way is you. I know about your father and your family and I know what you are doing is dangerous. I don’t want Penny involved in that sort of business.”

“I would never involve Penny in that.”

“You already have.”

“No sir, I haven’t.”

“Every time you come here you delude her. If you are in her future that will be in her future and that is no future. I see the car you drive. I know the kind of house you live in. When Penny sees the way you live how will she be content here? I work hard, every day of my life I work and I do my best but I’ll never be rich. I’ve taught my daughter values and I’d like to think she has her priorities in order but when you come along with your plenty I don’t see how the modest life I provide could ever compare.”

“You do alright.”

“Alright is not rich but it’s honest and that’s what I want for my daughter: a good, honest, Christian life.”

“What do you want me to do? Walk away and never come back? ‘Cuz I don’t think I can do that sir. My mom walked out on my family a long time ago and the only woman who could ever hold a candle to her is Penny. I mightn’t have known my mother but I know that she would want me to be with a girl like her. I don’t always have to be lowlife scum. I could be respectable. I could be like you.”

“It’s not fancy being like me, kid. You don’t get a car like that working in a factory.”

“What if I got enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life and then just got out of the racket? What if I had enough money to provide for Penny for the rest of her life?”