It seemed mean when Penelope’s dad told her she had to change her looks to look like her stepmother in order to get a place in his will. But when she found out the real reason for his demand at a family meeting, she was shocked and in tears.
Please help me. Please. That’s what everyone calls me, Penny. You can talk to me that way. I’ve never asked for help online before, but I don’t know what to do now. Everyone is having a great Fourth of July with barbecues and fireworks, but all I can think about is the bad fireworks going off in my chest. Because of my dad, my heart feels like a bunch of angry bulls have stepped on it…
Let me go back a little. Ten years ago, my parents, Charlie and Nina, got a divorce after a big fight in public that made the whole town talk. Since then, they haven’t talked, and things have been, to say the least, awkward. Dad got married again to a woman named Eloise, and after that I didn’t see him very often.
There was some money coming in from the bank every month, but most of the time it felt like Dad had just… disappeared.
You know it hurt? I’m 22 now, though, so I guess I’m just more of a momma’s girl. It’s their business why my parents are breaking up, and I don’t mind.
But that’s not why I’m here. It’s about a much stranger subject.
Dad called me on FaceTime out of the blue the other day. And since this man usually talks on the phone, a video call was a surprise in and of itself. I couldn’t say anything after what he said.
His voice was fake-sweet as he said, “Penny, honey.” “Hey, I’m having a small party for the Fourth of July.” You know, just family. He started to speak again but stopped short. “I need you to “fit in” with the new family and look more […]”
Wait a minute. Getting along? With the new family I don’t know very well? Before I could even ask what he meant, he made this strange request.
He went on, “I was thinking, maybe you could… I don’t know, maybe make things better? Eloise, your stepmother, is blonde, and…
Oh no, here we go. This is where the Eloise similarities start. It’s been said over and over again.
I spoke up and asked, “Dad, what are you getting at?”
Uncomfortably, he moved around in his chair. “Well,” he said in a low voice, “maybe you should think about… dying your hair blonde? Like Eloise? And those big, ugly glasses you wear—how about some colored contacts instead?”
He started to talk again, but I knew what he was going to say. My name was on those “big, ugly glasses.” You know, they framed my face. I felt like a book whose cover had been ripped off without them.
“Shift the way I look?” I gasped. “Are you sure, Dad?”
“Listen, Penny,” he sighed, “I just want things to be…less hard.” For everyone, you know. There’s also something good for you if you do this.
He thought for a moment and then blurted out, “I’m changing my will, and let’s just say that looking better might be good in the long run.”
I clenched my teeth. Good for you? Did he mean to say that I needed to change how I looked to get a piece of his inheritance? I was very angry at this point.
“So I need to look like your favorite wife in order to be mentioned in your will?” I spit.
His tone was huffy: “Don’t be dramatic, Penny.” “It’s not a big deal.” Just some contacts and a little dye job. It’s like putting money into your future.
A wise investment? Dad, this wasn’t a stock market deal! That was my real name he was messing with! There were tears and yelling at the end of the call, and I have to tell you, I was emotionally exploding inside.
I stomped over to Mom’s house in a rage. Lucky for us, she was home because she lives just down the street. As soon as I told her what was going on, her face turned red.
“Oh, honey,” she said, “I know what’s going on here.”
It was enough for me for a moment when she hugged me.
Then she pulled away and told him, “Listen, do what your Dad wants.” But believe me, this isn’t just about the change. You only need to wear the dress I give you. How things go from there will you be seen at their Fourth of July party.
It made my stomach hurt. I didn’t like the idea of changing how I looked just to make my dad happy.
I squeaked, “But Mom, I don’t even want to go,” and put my face on her shoulder.
She put her hands around my face and cupped them. “I know, honey.” But believe me, this is for a reason. “Go ahead and play along for now.”
Hesitantly, I said yes.
But I really didn’t want to lighten my beautiful dark hair. It was time for me to get new glasses and a blonde wig.
Today, July 4, I wore my mom’s dress, which she gave me just for today. I also wore a blonde wig and contacts to make my look stand out. I felt like a stranger was looking back at me in the mirror.
I nervously got in the cab and went to my dad’s party, giving my mom a kiss on the face. I could smell BBQ and oven-baked ribs when I got there. While everyone was talking and laughing, I could hear my dad’s rough voice above them all.
“Hi, Dad!” I said uncomfortably as I walked up to him.
He was SHOCKED when he turned around and saw me, which was what I thought would happen. He became very pale, people. He then made a funny face and asked, “Where did you get this stupid dress?!”
I wanted to hide under a rock because I had no idea why he was acting that way when he saw me in that dress.
It was fine, but pretty old. It looked like it was right out of Mom’s closet. Even though I put on my favorite English Rose cologne, I could still smell the naphthalene. You can guess how long this dress had been in Mom’s closet, pretty much sleeping.
“What’s wrong, Dad?” It made me nervous, so I took off my blonde wig and asked.
I saw a new side of him at that point. Dad’s eyes got wet, and he just let the tears fall. At this point, I was really scared.
“Where did you get that dress?” His voice was shaking as he said it again.
I responded, “Mom gave it to me,” which made no sense. “Why?”
Dad tried to speak but took a deep breath. “Penny, that dress…” It was worn by your mom on our first date.
It broke my heart. “What?”
He agreed, but tears were running down his face.
“Seeing you every year gets harder because you look so much like your mom.” I had a very public split from the woman I loved deeply when you were 12 years old. I tried not to see you too often because seeing her eyes hurt my heart every time I looked into yours.
There was a lump in my throat. “Dad…”
“I thought it might not hurt as much if you looked different.” I might be able to finally add you to my new family. But seeing you in that dress… “I feel like I’m living everything over again,” Dad choked out.
I was crying. “So you wanted me to change how I look because I look like your mom?”
Dad wiped his tears away and nodded. “I’m really sorry, Penny.” I couldn’t tell you straight out. It hurt too much.
I took a big breath. Anger and sadness were both in my heart.
“Dad, I can’t change who I am.” To make things easier for you, I can’t act like someone else. I’m your daughter, and you look like your mom. It’s not going to change.
When he looked at me, his eyes were sad. “Yes, Penny. I understand. Just… It was too much for me to handle.
I looked him in the eyes and told him, “Dad, you need to deal with your inner demons.” You need to get over the fact that I look like your mom. I’m not going to change who I am.
Dad slowly nodded, and the look on his face showed how much pain and understanding he was feeling. “Yes, Penny. I need to take care of this. I didn’t know how to deal with it.
“You should also talk to your mom,” I said. “Maybe it will help you both get better,” I said with a sigh.
He gave me a hopeful look. “Do you think she would?”
I said, “I don’t know.” “But you should give it a shot.”
Dad calmed down and said “yes.” “Thank you, Penny.” Thanks for telling me the truth.
I smiled at him a little. It was hard to tell what happened next at the party.
I couldn’t pay attention to the people laughing and talking around me. Everything my dad had told me was making my head spin. When I looked back at him, I saw that he was deep in thought and having a hard time with his feelings.
I went back to my mom’s house when the party was over. With worry on her face, she was waiting for me.
She asked in a soft voice, “How did it go?”
I let out a sigh of exhaustion. It was very serious. Dad… He broke down. He told me everything.
Mom nodded, and her eyes got softer. “I thought he might.” That’s the reason I gave you that dress.
I was shocked when I looked at her. “You knew it would make him feel something?”
She gave a sad smile. “I felt something.” We need a little push from time to time to face our past.
I gave her a tight hug, feeling both thankful and sad. “Thank you, Mom.” For everything.
She hugged me and said, “Penny, I’m proud of you.” You took care of it with style.
As I stepped back, I felt hopeful. Just maybe, things will get better.
But what do you know? I’m still very angry. I’m mad that my dad made me go through this. He tried to change me into someone I’m not because he couldn’t handle his own feelings. This makes me mad.
It’s not fair. Why did he leave my mom and start a new life if he loved her so much? Why should he stay away from me just because I look like the woman he used to love? Why do you want to make me wear someone else’s skin?
Tell me, did he do the right thing? What should I do? Should I even try to make things right with him? Should I leave it alone and go on with my life? I need your help. Please.