The Grand Mistress

"Papa?" Hawk repeated her words as he turned to the girl's side only to find her brimming with happiness. The girl instead of accommodating the boy's curiosity ran toward the gentleman who just jumped off his horse. He welcomed the girl with big arms as she clung to him.

"How is my little dancer?" He told as he kissed her head. Like her, he too had chestnut colored hair that was kept under his cowboy hat and he had a playful tone as if he was a star in a certain movie. His looks too was beyond the normal handsome, something the girl must have taken from him. "Did I make you wait?" ​​

"Just a little," She answered, thrilled that her father had joined her in the festival again.

His father like usual had been working in the fields tirelessly and even when the festival was cutting off some time he had to spend with the crops, he didn't mind it so long as he could grant her daughter's request.

"Oh look at you in that beautiful dress" Her father suddenly noticed it. Fact was that she had a self-debate this morning whether to wear such a bright pink dress or not because it was rather too girly for her taste but seeing how her father was happy with it, it brought the girl some sense of pride. "I told you this would look pretty good on you,"

"Is it?" She confirmed looking at her father with thorough warmth and affection. He was the only parent she had left, yet when it comes to love and teachings, his ways never fell short. He single handedly raised her as a bright and beautiful child and everyone who could see them right then could affirm to that.

Hawk himself was amazed by how close the father and daughter was. Their happiness was contagious and was right in all ways that only made Hawk feel detached. He never had that kind of relationship especially with his father. The Monsanto patriarch was a strict rigid man and all his young life that was spent in their mansion, he had never once seen his father smile. This was one of the primary reasons why he feared him aside from the fact that his father would not hesitate to be violent if he commits a mistake.

To answer the little girl's question, his father nodded and gave her another kiss on the hair. Soon, Hawk's presence became known to him and so he turned to his side to spare him some attention.

"And who is this young fellow?" He asked.

"This is Spin papa," The girl cued her little hands for Hawk to go near them. "He lives near the basketball court. His papa was the one who put the ring,"

"I see," The man answered and when Hawk was just inches away, he extended a hand on him for a handshake as if Hawk wasn't a boy but a full grown man. "Nice meeting you young man,"

"Nice meeting your sir," He answered as he accepted his hands.

"Are you going to the festival with your parents too?"

"No sir. My father is busy at the moment,"

"And your mother?"

"..." Hawk does not know how to answer the next question. His butler told him that when someone asked about his mother, he should tell them that she was dead. However, Hawk couldn't bring himself to say that her mother had died when he knew she was in the capital very much alive and so he tried to avoid answering questions about her.

"Perhaps he can join us," The girl interjected. She instantly caught Hawk's uncomfort when asked about his mother and so she took the initiative to break the recent conversation, "I mean if it's okay papa. Besides we've always been in the festival together you and me, and so, perhaps having Spin would somehow make a bit of difference in our festival celebration this year"

Truth was the girl felt bad for Hawk when she realized his papa, unlike hers, couldn't spend time with him on such a joyous day and that his mother might be missing in action. The festival was something every kid in the village looked forward to and it had been an implied tradition then that families would usually make time for it and go to the festival together. For sure, all the boys they knew in the village were already with their families enjoying the festival all together.

"Well I don't mind at all," Her papa replied, proud that her daughter was sensitive enough to notice the boy's circumstances. He tapped her head with enthusiasm and turned to Hawk again, "Would you want to join us?"

"Glady sir," Hawk was really pleased with the invitation especially with the fact that he can spend a little more time with the girl.

"Good then. I'll tie up my horse on the field then we'll leave okay?" The man then started pulling his horse to the greenery.

Soon the three of them walked back together to the festival. The girl was holding hands with her papa, while Hawk tailed on them. The girl was very careful to include Hawk in her conversation with her papa so not to make the boy feel awkward.

"Where do you want to go first?" Her papa asked the girl as soon as they reached the colorful crowded place again.

"Hmmm... actually I want to go and eat first," She replied pointing to her tummy which seemed to be all screaming for food. The girl looked so comical then that both her papa and Hawk laughed at it.

"Alright then. Let's feed that tummy of yours," Her papa answered and in the midst of his laugh added,"Where do you want to eat?"

"You need not to ask," She answered and gave her father a wink. There was only one eatery in town she always preferred and her father already knew where it was. Knowing that her father will surely bring them there, she turned to Hawk then blabbered, "My papa is going to bring us to the best eatery in here and today I'm going to let you taste my favorite food of all time!"