Page 25 of Daddy's Little Dreamer

My head bobbed up and down. “Yes, please and thank you.”

Daddy stood while still holding me and something on the shelf caught my eye. “Daddy, is that a picture of me?”

We walked over to the shelf so I could get a better look.

“It is. I took that picture on our first date. It’s the perfect shot of you sniffing a sunflower with a ladybug on it. She didn’t so much as flinch given how close you were to her.”

“She knows I’m a good person. They can sense it just like dogs and cats.”

“They can, can they?”

“Mmm hmm. They’re super smart like bees.”

Daddy sat me down and opened the cup for me.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome. You color while I get our plates together.”

I used some of the bee stickers that came with my new coloring book and put swirly dashes between them like they were flying. Then I drew pretty sunflowers and even added a ladybug. Reminded me of Daddy’s favorite picture of me. When it was all done, I slid it in place and snapped the plastic cover over it.

“All done, Daddy.”

“And just in time, here’s your lunch. Let me take a look.” Daddy rolled it around, inspecting all of it. “I have to say, this is the best sippy cup I’ve ever seen.”

“Thank you, Daddy. It was a fun thing to make. I love crafty stuff.” He took my cup and filled it with juice. “Yummy! Mini corn dogs and tater tots. My favorite.”

“I remembered. Tonight, we’ll have a healthy dinner.”

My face scrunched up at that yucky thought.

“Don’t you scrunch up at me.” He shook his finger and tried not to smile, but seriously failed. “I promise it will be yummier than these little bite size dogs.”

“Nummy.” I did a little happy wiggle. “Yummy, yummy, yummy.”

“Have enough mustard?”

“Oh shoot, no. I need more for my tots.” Daddy laughed and added more to my plate.

“Your tots can now swim in mustard as your mini dogs did.”

“Snarky Daddy.”

“I’ve been known to snark with the best. So, what should we do next?”

Daddy was letting me pick. When had any Daddy ever asked me what I wanted?

“Umm, do you have a swing set?”

“Sorry, no.”

“How about coloring and watching cartoons? Will you color with me?” It would be a first but like Mom always said, you don’t know if you don’t ask.

“I would love that, sweet boy. Cartoons and covering Daddy’s fridge in fancy art for the win!”

“Yay!”

“Sweet boy, why don’t you go find the program you want to watch while Daddy cleans up.”

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