Page 49 of A Little Campfire Blues

Fuzzy-brained and tripping on the edge of little space, I tried to get dressed for the day, only to find myself half-stuck in dungaree shorts with both legs through the same hole. Hopping, I tried to reach the edge of the bed only to topple over and land on my ass on the hard wooden floor.

Tears welled up in my eyes moments before I let out an ear-piercing wail that brought Ro, Daddy Mack, and Axis running. Daddy Mack immediately scooped me up and sat on the bed with me in his arms while Axis scampered up beside us, rocking the bed as he bounced around trying to hug us both.

“It’s okay, Sparkle Butt, you’re okay,” Daddy cooed.

“Owie, Daddy!” I cried, burrowing my head against his chest. “I hurt my bottom!”

Wailing, I launched into another round of sobs as my bottom throbbed from where it was pressed against Daddy’s leg.

Leather paws stroked the back of my neck as Ro started trying to comfort me too. Even after passing out on the floor and taking a long, bliss-induced nap, I was still a little tired, and now a bit cranky too.

“Daddy will check to see if there’s any damage and get you untangled from your clothes,” Daddy Mack cooed. “Then we’ll go down to the water ball pit so you can play and have your picnic by the lake.”

Thoughts of colorful balls and yummy things to nibble on settled me some, as did the scent of Daddy Mack’s bodywash and the way he so tenderly held me. Ro and Axis were helping too. Axis rubbed circles on my back; the soft slurp, slurp, slurp of him sucking on his pacy at a rapid rate told me he was worried and just wanted me to smile at him.

He’d woken fully in little space, raring to play, and when Daddy Mack had mentioned the ball pit that had been created in the lake, we were both excited to see what they’d made for us. My tushy didn’t hurt so much anymore, so I sat up a littleand swiped at my tears, sniffling as Daddy pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“There you go, little Sparkle Butt, let’s dry those tears now,” he said, as Axis started trying to help by brushing at them, and my entire face, with a tissue from my bedside stand. The edge dragged over my nose, tickling and making me sneeze.

“Okay, okay,” I squealed, batting at the tissue until Axis got the hint and threw it away.

“Let’s see about getting you sorted out,” Daddy Mack said.

Axis decided to help and tugged my shorts off my legs, finally freeing me of them. I had my swimsuit on underneath, just a pair of yellow and green briefs with a sparkly frog on the rear.

Daddy chuckled upon seeing it.

“One of many reasons I call you Sparkle Butt,” he said as he peeled them down.

His hand stroked the last of the soreness away and helped me settle back into my little headspace again.

“No damage done, not even a bruise,” Daddy said before leaning over me to kiss both cheeks. “There, does that make it all better now?”

“Much, much better, Daddy,” I declared as he pulled my briefs back into place.

I held on to Daddy while Axis held my shorts for me to step into. Ro pulled them up and helped fasten the one strap I always clipped. I hadn’t bothered with a shirt, since we were just gonna strip off our clothes when we reached the lake.

“I’m ready for the ball pit now!” I declared, slipping off Daddy’s lap and holding my arms open for a hug.

He squeezed me gently, pressed a kiss to the top of my head, then took my hand and led us all out into the sunshiny day. Having Daddy with us chased the grumpiness away. I was excited to see the ball pit and insisted upon sitting up front with Daddy in his big pickup truck, while Ro and Axis cuddled in theback. In the rearview, I watched Axis pet Ro’s hair as he leaned against him in his Dalmatian-spotted swim shorts. I loved how he was a pup even in swim gear. He was so much fun when he was playing with us.

As soon as we got near the lake, bright colors made me squeal and clap my hands. They had big balls. Beach balls! And a huge area roped off for us to play in.

“Don’t you touch that door until the truck is parked and the locks disengaged,” Daddy said in his super stern, growly voice. “Or your little Sparkle Butt is gonna be sore all over again.”

“No more sore!” I declared, sitting on my hands so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch the door handle as he was parking.

He chuckled, maneuvered into a space, and finally parked the truck while I waited impatiently for the little noise the locks made when they opened. As soon as they did, I scrambled out and nearly fell over when I tried to yank off my shoe as I hopped around, struggling to pull it off so I could get in.

Clothes were for the picnic anyway, and that was hours and hours away. I had big, bright, beautiful balls to get to.

“Rufffffff!” Ro declared as he came tumbling out beside me, flinging his T-shirt over his head.

“You will pick that up along with any other clothes you discard, fold them, and carry them to where we're going to set up our picnic blankets, is that understood!” Daddy declared as he stepped out and saw the chaos. “That goes for all of you.”

“Yes, Daddy,” we chorused.

Like Ro, Axis was in board shorts and a T-shirt, his binky still in his mouth. He better not take it in, or it might get lost in all the balls. Then he’d be sad, and I hated when our Firefly was sad. If Daddy didn’t remember, I’d take it out of his mouth for him once our blanket was spread out. Then it would all be okay when we got in the water.

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