Page 106 of Daddy, Take Me Away
“What if there’s alligators?”
“Daddy won’t let those scary ‘gators get you,” I said, hoping to avoid giving a truthful answer.
“What about piranhas?”
“I promise there are no piranhas in the river.” At least I could truthfully answer that one.
“You didn’t promise there were no alligators.”
“Maybe there are some, but I don’t think they’re going to eat you in the river. I read all the Yelp reviews and none of them mentioned alligators.”
“What ‘bout snakes?”
Shit. “I think you’re having some scary feelings right now, huh?”
“Yas-huh, Dada.”
“It’s scary to do new things. How would you feel if we didn’t do it?”
“Happy.”
I snorted at her lie. “No, I don't think that’s true. You might feel happy at first, but how would you feel later? If we left and you didn’t go tubing because you let your fear get the better of you?”
She dragged her pineapple-printed sandals against the dirt as she thought about my question. “Sad. Like I missed out.”
“I think you’d feel that way too, so don’t you think it would be more fun to face the scaries and try it now?”
“Nuuu,” she whined, kicking her foot.
I cupped her chin in my hand and forced her to look at me. “Tinsley, are you lying to Daddy?”
She gave a sigh much too big for her body. “Yas, Dada.”
“Do you think you could be a brave girl for me?”
Another huge sigh. “Okay.” Her pouty tone made it sound like I’d ask her to give up her last cupcake, not go on a fun water adventure with me.
I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “How about if Daddy gives you a good girl reward for trying something new? Will that help?”
Her eyes widened and she nodded so hard, I wondered how her noggin didn’t roll right off her shoulders. “Yas-huh. It would help.”
I reached in my waterproof bag and pulled out the Barbie.
She gasped in excitement, reaching for her.
I opened the package before handing her the doll. “This one changes colors in the water, so she’ll be a different color when she gets wet.”
She held her new friend close to her chest before giving me the best hug.
“Thank you, Daddy,” she whispered, being mindful of her surroundings. We were pretty secluded, though, and it wasn’t busy today.
“You’re welcome, Tinsley. I promise you’re going to have so much fun.”
Tinsley
I glared at Daddy from the exam-room table. I was not having so much fun. My leg hurt because I’d scraped it on a stupid piece of trash, cutting it, and my arm hurt because I’d had to get a shot because of the stupid trash I scraped myself on.
“I’m sorry your tubing adventure didn’t start off so fun, little one,” the doctor said. “Do you think maybe a lolli would help?”
