Page 128 of Daddy, Take Me Away
“Please,” she begged.
“No.” I kissed her nose.
“I should have so manies ‘cause I’m so sweet.”
“I think you’ve had enough.” I didn’t even try to argue with her Little logic.
She frowned. “I hope Bigfoot eats you danight!”
“Aw, you’d be so sad if I was eaten.”
“Nu, I be happy!” She crossed her arms across her chest.
“Wow, that makes me so sad, Teenie.”
Her angry stance loosened a bit. “Sad?”
“Yeah. Sad.”
“Why?”
“Well, I’m just trying to protect your belly from hurting and you’re angry at me. Angry enough to want Bigfoot to eat me. That makes me sad.”
Her lip trembled and suddenly her eyes were full of tears. “I’m sorry!” she wailed.
Well, I hadn’t expected such an emotional response.
“Baby, don’t cry.” I reached over and plucked her off the bench and settled her in my lap.
She was full on sobbing, her body shaking with each breath.
“Hey, little one, it’s okay. I know you didn’t really mean it.” I patted her back and tried to calm her.
“What’s wrong?” Elliot asked, jogging over to the bench. He had Tinsley’s cup in his hand.
“Tinsely was bad!”
“She wasn’t. She was being a bit sassy, and I upset her.”
“Tinsley was mean!”
“You weren’t mean, Teenie,” I tried to soothe.
“Ti-Tinsley telled Uncle Tyler she wanted Bigfoot to eats him,” she sobbed.
Elliot tried to cough to cover his laugh, but it was ineffective. It was still very noticeable. I shot him a look I hoped conveyed, ‘Help me, you mother fucker’ and flipped Tinsley around to straddle me.
“Well, that wasn’t a nice thing to say, but it seems like you’re very sorry. Did you apologize to Uncle Tyler?”
“Y-Yas-huh.”
“And did Uncle Tyler say he forgave you?” Elliot asked.
Shit.
“N-nooooooo.”
“Oh, but I do forgive you, baby. I do. I know you didn’t really mean it.”
