Page 107 of Daddy, Take Me Away
My entire body heated and tears pricked my eyes. Thankfully, the doctor had been open to our lifestyle, because this could have been much worse. He didn’t even bat an eye when he saw my diaper. Of course, he may have had some suspicions I was a Little from all the dramatics I’d caused on the way in here. I was partly convinced an alligator had taken a tiny munch out of me. I bet it tasted delicious.
“No, thank you.” I didn't want a pity candy. I just wanted to go back to the hotel room.
“How about two red ones? I heard red ones have magical powers.”
“No, thank you.”
He chuckled and looked at Daddy. “Tough crowd.”
“She was being a brave girl and trying something new and it didn’t go like we’d planned. I think she’s having some angry feelings right now,” Daddy explained.
“Oh, I’m sorry, sweet girl. Was it your first time going tubing?”
I nodded before reaching up to rub my arm. It really hurt.
The doctor pulled some things from a cabinet, and handed me a cup of orange medicine. “This will help your arm, sweetheart.”
I took the medicine, trying not to gag. I hated orange-flavored things.
“Good girl, baby,” Daddy praised.
“Okay, so she just needs to keep the area dry and clean…” The doctor trailed off. “I don’t need to tell you any of this, you know what to do.”
Daddy laughed. “It’s hard to doctor your own baby. It’s even harder when they get hurt.”
“It is. I can remain calm in any situation, unless it involves my own Little one getting hurt.”
“Little one?” I asked, perking up a bit.
“I do have a Little one,” he answered. “Her name is Hazel.”
“Hazel?” I repeated.
“Yes, you may have already met her. She was working at Christmas Charm today.”
“Oh, from the Christmas shop! We met her earlier today, didn’t we, baby?”
“So nice,” I answered.
He chuckled, “Well, I am so glad she was nice to you.”
“Play?” I surprised myself by asking.
“Do you wanna meet Hazel for a playdate?” Daddy asked, clarifying with me.
“Please.” I nodded.
“Well, I think that’s a great idea. I’ll set it up with your Daddy, okay?” the doctor said. He introduced himself, but I couldn’t remember his name. I thought maybe I’d just call him Dr. Hazel’s Daddy. Yeah, that was a super good name.
“Yes, Sir.” Meeting a new friend almost made it worth getting eaten by an alligator.
Almost.
I sat on the couch, coloring in my favorite coloring book, while Daddy finished filling out the accident reports for the tubing company. They had been really nice and even sent me flowers. It wasn’t their fault that someone had tossed scrap metal over in the river, it just sucked that someone had to get hurt. It sucked even more that that someone was me.
“How are you feeling, little one?”
“Tinsley fine, Dada.” My scratches weren’t deep. I hadn’t even needed stitches.
