Growing up with one parent is always hard. Seeing all your friends’ parents come to their sports games and support them, you can’t help but wish that your mom and dad were both there too.
     Alicia Blakeslee has had to live with that situation her whole life. She has one sister, Marquise, who is twenty-eight and living in Ohio. Alicia lives with her mother, Pam Blakeslee in Marshall. Alicia’s father, Joe Robinson, has a whole different house and family of his own in Battle Creek.
     Alicia’s mother and father were never married. Her mom works the night shift at Post Company, from 3-11 pm. She isn’t home much and barely gets to see her but when she can she tries to make the best she can. Alicia’s father’s story is much different though. He lives his own life and never contacts Alicia. She doesn’t think much of it because he has never been there for her. She has grown up with out him so it seems pretty normal to her.
     I asked Alicia what she would do and how she would react if her dad decided to come back into her life. She responded, “It would feel very odd. I would probably tell him ‘No’ just because he hasn’t ever been there before, and now he wants to step in.” She did say that after time she might be able to accept him after a while. But, of course, it would take a long time for her to give him chance.
     After someone has messed up your life so much it is difficult to ever give them a second chance. You wouldn’t ever want them to mess your life up again. There was no reason for Alicia’s father to just leave her and her family. He just decided that he didn’t want to be a part of Alicia, her mom, or her sister’s life. Even though Alicia has never had a father she tries to make the best out of things. She just forgets about her past with her dad and looks forward to something better.