“Jake, how much money should I put on the Patriots to beat the Falcons? I bet they’re gonna kill them,” my father said to me.

“ I dunno, dad, the Falcons are pretty good,” I quipped back.

“Ehh I don’t care I’m going to put 3 grand on the Patriots.”

“Good luck with that dad.”

The Patriots were getting killed late in the game. Now, my family is not religious at all, and even I am an atheist, but that didn’t stop my dad.

“Jake,” my dad screamed.

“What dad?”

“Get down here and pray with me right now!”

“What? Why? You haven’t prayed or gone to church ever,” I yelled.

“I know but the Patriots are getting killed,” he retorted.

“Good,” I said, “I hate the Patriots.”

Was it bad I was kind of happy that the Patriots were losing? I hoped that if my dad lost the bet he’d stop gambling for good.

My dad ended up praying alone. But wouldn’t you know it, as luck would have it the Patriots somehow pulled off an incredible comeback and won the game. My dad, believing that his praying influenced the outcome of the game, became a devout Christian and took us to Church every Sunday and talked about religion nonstop. I am an atheist and eventually, it reached a tipping point with me.

My dad, knowing I am an atheist, tried his very hardest to convince me.

“Did you know Jesus Christ died for our sins?”

“No way, really?” I sarcastically replied.

“JUST READ THE BIBLE, YOU’LL UNDERSTAND,” he shouted.

I just couldn’t take it anymore. I went up to my room packed a few clothes and just ran away. I couldn’t live with my parents anymore. My mom just kind of went along with my dad and became religious, although not to my dad’s extent. I ended up going to a friend’s house and slept the night.

My mom called me repeatedly, and I texted her just to let her know I wasn’t dead. She pleaded with me to come home, but as long as dad wouldn’t change and would try to force religion on me, I wasn’t coming back.

I went to school the next day and tried to push the previous day’s events to the back of my mind and go on with my day. I couldn’t focus. I had a math test that day, completely flunked it. But I just didn’t care. I had more pressing issues on my mind than a stupid test. I ran away from my family. How would I eat? Where would I live? I couldn’t live at my friend’s house forever.

I’m usually a very good math student, so my teacher wanted to talk to me.

“Hey Jake, everything okay?” Mr. Burns asked.

“Yeah,” I replied, “I’m fine.”

But Mr. Burns saw through my facade.

“You sure Jake? You seem really out of it.”

I broke down. “No! Nothing is okay!”

“What happened?”

I explained the entire story, and why my dad should apologize to me.

Mr. Burns said to me “You know, your dad may not be entirely to blame. You just completely ignored his beliefs and didn’t give them a chance. You did to him what you are so mad about that he did to you”.

“Oh my god, you’re right,” I stated. “Thank you so much”.

I wanted to go back home to my parents, but I couldn’t, not if my dad wouldn’t change. I hadn’t spoken to him, and he hadn’t spoken to me. I was just waiting for the phone call.

Then, one day, it came. I’m sure it took a lot of convincing from my mom and probably some talking to a priest, but he mustered up the courage to call me.

This was the strangest phone call of my life. I just never expected to have a call like this in my life - let alone my own father.

“Hey Jake, listen, I’m sorry,” he sighed. “I let my blind faith get in the way of me. I should have let you be yourself, not force my beliefs on to you.”

“I’m sorry too dad,” I choked out in between tears. “I’m sorry for completely ignoring your faith. I should have let you be yourself too. Instead of sarcasm, I should have actually listened to opposing views”.

“Will you please come home now kiddo? I love you.”

“Sure dad.”

While my dad and I might not see eye to eye on everything, namely religion, we get past our differences and get along. Because at the end of the day, family comes first over anything.