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My Daughter's Dating ...
Anthony Peregrine lives in the South of France with his teenage daughter - who has just discovered the local boys ...
Life's being good to Anthony and his family this month. The sun has shone, the National Front has won no new elections and the bloke whose garden borders Anthony's has finally moved his chickens.
"This has allowed my daughter, and a couple of her friends, to do their revision for upcoming exams in the shade of the trees. But it also contains the germ of a problem. Sometime today, my daughter will announce quite casually, 'We've finished Europe 1921-32, so we'll be going out tonight'".
Nights in France start late. Anthony's daughter leave at around 1030 pm for a village festival or a disco in town. Not long ago, his daughter would be satisfied with a meal in fast-food restaurant. Now all she wants from him is to leave a key under the mat. He's always considered himself a groovy-kind of dad and doesn't want to cramp his daughter. But then again, he's aware what a wild world it is out there. In particular, he's aware of just how demented young men can be around 17 year-old girls.
"I myself was always charm itself with girl's parents. I brought flowers, discussed pottery, politics and the fuel-consumption of the Ford Zodiac. I lapped up their family photos albums. Yet, when out of the parental ambit, the fires burnt fast and foolish".
When, obliquely, Anthony mentioned this to his daughter, she replied, "Don't be silly, I know all that, it's no problem. And by the way, I've finished Europe, I'll be going out tonight."
Anthony considered that he may have underestimated her. "17 year-old girls probably take all this in their stride. The ones I tangled with batted me off without much trouble." Nonetheless, he still calls after her, "Not too late now, you've still got your exams."
Even the grooviest dad remains a dad.
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