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(Been workin' on this all week)
Dear Nathan,
My name is Benjamin Madden. I'm your dad. I ain't your biological dad, but I'm your dad all tha same. Before you grow up an' realize it yourself, I'm here ta tell you right now that I... am a fuck up. I prolly won't make tha best dad ta you. God knows an awesome kid like you deserves much better than me. I ain't the best guy out there for this job, most people would say tha' I'm the wrong type-a guy for this fatherhood thing, but for your sake, an' because I love you, I'm tryin' my best ta be at least a good kind-a dad. I know tha' growin' up, it's gonna be hard ta be the kid of two musicians. Havin' ta move you from place ta place, I just hope you won't resent your mama an' me for that. You ain't gonna have much of-a normal childhood, but normal is overrated these days anyway.
Let me tell you 'bout myself while I'm here. I got a twin brother. Wild, ain't it? Your Uncle Joel. He's a dumbass, but then again, I love him. He's a good guy. An' no matter what he says, I'm older than him, so therefore what I say goes. It's like your Uncle Joel's kids. They're twins too. You guys will grow up ta be best friends, no doubt. You're gonna be older than them, so I hope that as you grow up, I can help ya be a good kid an' set a good example ta your younger cousins. I have a younger sister. Your aunt Sarah. You'll love her, she's an awesome woman. An' I have an older brother. Your Uncle Josh. Your grandma is the best woman in the world. After your mama. She raised me an' your uncles an' aunt an' taught us ta be the kind-a people tha' we are today. You're gonna love your grandma. Your grandpa is gone. That don't mean you don't got one, he just ain't around.
He left the family when I was juss sixteen an' I spoke ta him a couple of times but he told me he didn't want anythin' ta do wi' the family so I quit tryin' ta talk ta him. This don't mean you should hate him for what he did. I'm askin' you not ta. I done plenty of hatin' an' it don't get you anywhere. Instead, try ta forgive him. I know what he did was stupid, but in a way, it was a blessin' in disguise. If he hadn't done what he did, me an' your Uncle Joel would not have done what we did ta help the family along. I wouldn't be playin' music if it hadn't been for what your grandpa did.
Your Aunt Mandy is cool, too. I think you'll prolly favor her more than your uncle. Haha. She's a crazy woman an' I know she'll be a good influence on you as well 'cause she's a pop princess an' she's all 'bout decorum an' shit. Plus she was labeled as one-a the nicest celebrities out there, an' don't doubt tha' for a second, kid. It's true. Your aunt may be crazy as hell but she's nice. She's a great person ta talk your problems with. An'... ya. You'll just find out for yourself.
Gotta tell you about your mama. Tell you what kinda woman you been born ta. I think you can be rest assured tha' you have the best mother in the world. She's smart, she's beautiful, an' she loves you. Ain't nothin' you could ever want for from a mother. I met her when I was eighteen. I was this kid fresh outta high school. Me an' your Uncle Joel were playin' at a local club wi' the rest of our band, you'll get ta know 'em. An' I met Brody there. I thought she was really beautiful but I was shy an' I didn't have much experience wi' girls so me an' her just became friends. Tha's all we ever became for the next several years. She married your dad, Tim. They got divorce though. At the time, I was datin' someone else an' she didn't like it tha' I had offered your mom ta help with you. Things ended up bad and we split up. An' I realized after that I had feelin's for your mom. Luckily, she felt the same. We been together ever since. There's somethin' here I need ta tell you. If you ever become best friends wi' a girl, don't ever write off tha' you can become more. You may have your doubts, but trust me, it'll happen. Why do you think she becomes your best friend ta begin with? She knows you inside out, you know her the same, you never judge each other, you two are always there for the other. Tha's the beginnin' of true love. You won't realize it 'til it hits you right in tha' face.
I love your mom an' I love you an' I guess I'm writin' this letter just ta let you know tha' I'm always gonna be here for you. I might become what you hope for in a dad, since I ain't a regular person ta begin with, an' I know that we'll have our share of ups an' downs, but I'm here ta tell you that I'm gonne be there through it all. You'll never be without a dad because I'm here for you all the way. You know, baseball games an' shit, I'll be at the front wi' the videocamera. Whatever happens ta you, all you have ta do is look up, an' you'll see me there ready ta help if you need me. You want some advice? I'll give it ta you. Just ask. Some people might tell me, or tell you that I ain't fit ta be your dad, but you know what? I'll let you decide.
Love,
Your dad.
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