peggy's Guestbook

Andrew's face softened as he listened to Peggy's reasons for why she wanted to do things. And Andrew could remember a time when Hoss had that same reason for trying to change everything about him, which Andrew got through to Hoss just like he would try to get through to her. "Aww, honey, you don't have to go changing yourself to make you a somebody," he told her. "To me, and to the right group of friends, you will always be a somebody, and that includes to one special boy too," he added as he wiped away his tears. 

"You know, you have the same quialities as your Aunt Jennie and Uncle Hoss at this age," he said with a smirk. "Jennie wanted to be more grown up and Hoss wanted just to fit in," he said. "I remember your grandfather letting Jennie be in control of the Ponerosa for a day and by the time the sunset, she was ready to be a kid again," he said laughing."And as for you Uncle, well, he found a friend that looked past all those imperfections and he realized then that he didn't need to change himself but only be himself," he told her.  

Then, as he felt Peggy hugging him, Andrew hugged her back, holding her tight for a while and then pulling her away so he could look her in the eyes. "I'm glad you finally understand sweetie. But always remember this, that sometimes when I say no to something, it's not to be mean, but rather to make sure you grow up to be a mature young lady," he added as a huge smile on his face started to appear as he changed the subject back to her hair. 

"Alright, no purple or green," he said with a chuckle. "Now, I'm gonna go talk to your brothers," he said. "So, why don't you stay here with your Aunt Jennie and have a girls weekend and the boys and I will have a guys weekend, that way you can get your highlights put in," he said. "But, you have to get your homework done sometime while on break, okay?" he asked her. 

Andrew didn't say anything or even move for a few moments. He just listened to Peggy and he could here the sadness and the fear in her voice and that only broke heart even more. Finally, Andrew let out a sigh and then went over to Peggy. He took her by the hand and pulled her over to his bed and they both sat down. Then softly and patiently, he began to speak to her. 

"Sweetie, I will never give up on you," he told her. "It just scares me that you are trying to be older than you really are," he said. "There are a lot of crazies out there, especially when it comes to children who act more grown up than they really are," he told her honestly. "And honey, the thought of someone hurting you, well...it's just too much to think about," he told her as she started to say something and then he put his hand up so he could finish. 

"I'll admit, I do have a heard time listening and that's ususally do to me having alot on my mind," he said. "And yes, I probably could have handled that whole situation better," he added. "And yes, maybe a little part of me is trying to keep you from grow up, and I promise you, I'll work on all of those things," he told her as the normal tone was starting to come back into her voice as he was wipping away her tears. 

"I love you and your brothers so much that maybe, sometimes I do get a bit overprotective," he told her. "You'll be the same way when you have kids of your own. And I know you're thinking, yea right, I'm never gonna tell my kids they can't do something," he said. "I should know, I thought the same thing growing up myself," he added. "But eventually, you'll change your mind," he said as he smiled softly. 

Andrew cleared his throat and then playfully rolled his eyes as he went on speaking, this time about her dying her hair. "And I know you want to dye your hair," he said as he looked deep into his daughter's eyes. "But how about this, for now, you can frost your hair and get highlights," he said. "And then when you turn 16, I will let you dye your hair any color you want," he said. "Heck, I'll even by the hair color," he said. "Will that work for a compromise?" he asked her. 

He stood out in the hallway looking out at the Ponderosa and tears started to slowly fall as he listened to how bad of a person he really was and how he hated fun and that he never listens to nobody. He could feel his depression coming back full force, though he was fighing hard to control it. Finally, after wipping away his tears, he went back to Peggy's room and looked at his daughter. He didn't say anything at first, but then finally, in a tone Peggy's never heard before, began to speak. 

"First off, yes I do own you. I have a birth certificate that says you are mine until you are 18," he told her and then went on. Andrew looked not only deflated but he didn't look like his cheery self as he went on talking to her. But what he had to say next and the tone he used was soemthing Peggy never heard before. "Secondly, don't pack, stay here and keep your hair the way it is," he said sounding both defeated and deflated.

"I really don't care anymore. Because according to you and Aunt Jennie, I can't seem to do anything right nor do I seem to care about anything, " he added, still talking with that same tone. "So, just go do what you want and act like you are grown up," he said then turned to go. "But don't come crying to me for money or anything else that you might want," he said. "Since you're so grown up now, you can manage that stuff by yourself," he told her with his back to her and walked out of her room and went back to the hall window, just to stare out of it. 

"It matters because I said it did," he said. "I won't have my 12 year old daughter acting like she's already grown up," he told her. Then he smiled when her heard her say that it wasn't fair and Andrew just had to reply to that. "Life's not always fair kiddo," he told her. "You should know that by now," he smirked and then turned to go but not before replying to the rest of her thoughts.

"I guess we will never know what I might have said or done," he told her as he changed the subject to the fact that they were leaving as soon as everyone was packed. "I'm very serious. I'm tired of the attitude from certain people and having them rub off on you," he told her. "And yes they are family, but that doesn't mean you have to start acting like them," he said as he turned to go. "And don't forget to dye your hair back to it's natural color," he yelled as he was walking down the hall. 

"I'll be happy when you stop acting like your Aunt Jennie and start acting like a resepctable person," Andrew said. "and I realize that it's only hair," Andrew said. "And when you turn 18 and can start earning your own way, by which I mean, getting a job and paying your own bills," Andrew said. "Then you can do what you want to your hair," he said. 

"But until that day and while you are living under this roof, though I'm considering moving us, I am afraid you have to do as I say," he told her. Then he started to leave and then stopped and turned back to his daughter. "You know, I might have considered letting you dye your hair hot pink, if you asked me and didn't have such a bad attitude," he said as he thought about how much time she was spending with Jennie. 

"After Jennie dyes your hair back, I want you to pack some clothes and your school books," he told Peggy. "And of course, your phone charger and make up," he added. "But ony pack enough clothes for a couple of weeks," he told him and then turned around and walked away, still somewhat deep in thought.