Chapter 2

Betty was raised in a two-parent, middle-class household. She was the only child, born to Jeff and Candice. Born and raised at the heart of Amber, Betty’s upbringing was made possible under the watchful eyes of her parents who had her in their early twenties.

Betty, 17, a slim five-foot-eight girl, had always wanted to engage her parents in a discussion as to why she had never witnessed any form of nagging from her mother and irresponsibility from her father. As fortune would have it, Candice and Jeff took some days off from work to recover from the work-overload experienced during their off-shore exploration activities.

Casually dressed, Jeff was relaxed, about to take a nap on the couch while Candice was in the kitchen, preparing some tea for Jeff and herself. Betty was helping her mom. A few minutes later, they were all sitting. Betty was seated opposite Candice and Jeff. A cup of tea was presented to him while she had hers. Both were taking their time to sip the hot tea. Betty saw the opportunity to call their attention.

”Dad, Mom… I see you guys are happier than ever together,” Betty expressed, smiling at Jeff and Candice.

Jeff looked Candice in the eye. Candice reciprocated. Jeff stared at his daughter.

”What do you mean? Haven’t you seen us happier than this?” Jeff inquired.

He looked again at his wife. She looked back at him, then her daughter.

”It’s not that, Dad,” Betty replied, chuckling. ”It’s just that it’s becoming obvious, each and every passing moment.”

”Oh really?” Candice remarked. 

”Mom, its indeed great thing to know you haven’t raised a finger at Dad! I’ve never heard your voice all over the place!”

Candice’s mouth wide open as she fixed her gaze at Betty. Jeff looked on, looking amazed too.

”What did you just say?” Candice asked, looking bewildered. 

Betty chuckled. ”Dad, Mom, I’m so proud of you being my parents!” 

Candice appeared delighted as was Jeff

”I’m glad I married the best woman in the world,” Jeff said, cuddling Candice. 

They emptied their cups.

”The best man in the world is no other than my man, Jeff!” Candice responded, raising her voice to the high heavens.

”Yes! I have the best Dad and Mom in the world!”

”You could say that again, Betty!” Candice encouraged, radiating happiness.

Candice blushed, staring at Jeff with love.

”What else can I say? I’m so fortunate to have a loving, caring, and supportive wife. My Candice! Not forgetting Princess… YOU!’’ Jeff pointed at Betty, then gave her a hug.

Betty felt flattered. She couldn’t help but show her gratitude.

”Thank you, Dad! Thank you, Mom! For raising me, I say again thank you! For raising me to the young woman I am today, thank you all!”

”It is our collective responsibility to raise  our very own daughter,” Jeff said, cuddling Candice and placing his hand on Betty’s shoulder.

”That’s true,” Candice agreed. 

”Betty, I would like to ask you a question. Would you permit me?” Jeff asked. There was this sudden return-to-reality look on Candice’s face. But she didn’t let go of Jeff’s cuddling.

”Tell us, what made you ask such a question?” 

Betty sighed. ”I’ve heard friends in school tell me they either don’t know who their father or mother is, some have their parents divorced or separated while the rest are dead and in rehab. But here I am not only growing up in a healthy two-parent household, I’m fortunate to have a  caring, understanding, and supporting Dad and Mom! That makes me wonder…”

Candice let go of Jeff’s cuddling.

”Such is life. We, as parents, aren’t really special or better than those of your friends and colleagues, who, according to what you said, are divorced, separated, dead, or in rehab. We, your dad and mom, had our acts together and lived healthily. In all, your dad and I led a life of self-preservation. I guess that has been the key to our union.”

”Interesting,” Betty remarked, nodding.

Candice looked at Jeff with admiration.

”Isn’t it the reason we are still married?”

”That’s undoubtedly true,” Jeff agreed.

He placed his hand on her shoulder.

‘’What’s self-preservation?’’ Betty asked.

”By self-preservation, I mean, for a man, he has to build value, that is, work for it over the years, sweat and invest in his personality. You know, it comes with trading youthful exuberance for aspirations and becoming a better version of himself. I can’t fully say for that of a woman.”

Jeff looked at Candice who seemed a little disturbed. ”Honey, what would you say about…”

Candice smiled, though with a touch pretense, looking back at Jeff. She stared at the inquisitive Betty. 

”Betty, as a woman, I was told by my grandma and later, my mother… that a woman is born with value. Hence, it’s her sole responsibility to preserve and protect it. My grandma told me a woman is judged by how high the mountain she falls. A man is judged by how high the valley he climbs.” 

”Interesting!” said Betty.

”I couldn’t agree more,” Jeff asserted. ”I would like to us to what your mom said. I’d say women start at the mountain top of their value while men are at the valley point of their value.”

”Mom, what value are you referring to? Dad also mentioned his, as it relates to being a man. I want to hear yours…”

Candice looked shocked beyond words. Jeff sighed, looking up the ceiling and down. To the couple, such question sounded strange.

”Well, for a woman, her value lies in her femininity. I mean keeping yourself intact

Betty interrupted. ‘’What do you mean?’’

“Avoiding intimacy with men at a young age,” Candice empathetically said..

Jeff tried to signal Betty to put a halt to her questioning but his attempt went to her deaf ears.

Betty asked further,”Were you able to preserve yours?”

All hell was let loose. Jeff stood up, pacing back and forth. Candice’s sudden moody look suggested something was off. Betty was unperturbed as she waited for answers.

”Why would you ask such a question? I’m your mother! That’s not your concern. Your dad and I are happily married. That’s all! Can’t you see that?”

”Honey,” Jeff called Candice, attempting to calm her, ”there’s no need for this. She’s our daughter. She deserves the right to know.”

Jeff’s words didn’t seem to sit comfortably with Candice.

”Betty, kindly drop the question. I’m not comfortable with it,” Candice said. 

”Dear, we’ll discuss this matter some other time,” Jeff said. “As you can see, your mom isn’t happy talking about this.”

Candice was crying. She was sited on the couch with her hands covering her face.

Jeff continued, “Betty, apologize to your mom. And everything will be fine.”

At first, Betty felt reluctant but listening to Jeff’s words encouraged her to do as she was told. “I’m sorry, Mom.” Betty walked to where Candice sat. She repeated the apology. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

”Apology accepted!” Candice said. She held Betty’s hand.

”I love you, Mom.”

Jeff was able to breathe a sigh of relief. “Candice, do you know Betty’s enrollment to study Mass Communication at the community college is just some months away?” Jeff asked, trying to change the subject. 

‘’Yes!” Candice replied in excitement. Her tears had long disappeared after Betty’s tender apology. ”Can’t wait to see our Betty gain admission into college!”’

”Same here,” Jeff said, celebrating Betty’s academic feat.

”Thank you two for making it possible,” Betty said.

Betty was about to return to her room to do some personal activities. “Dad, Mom, I got to go to my room. Will see you later.”

”You have our way, our daughter,” Candice remarked, waving at her.

”No problem,” Jeff replied, holding Candice by the waist.