Page 24 of Raelynn's Little Repeat Day
Les
Les waitedin the row of chairs that the attached Bigs were sitting in. He abhorred public speaking. When he’d been in law enforcement, testifying had been the worst part of his job. Les had no problems reading a story for his Little girl. As long as it was just them. But the crowd of Littles grew by the second andwith each new Little to walk through the doors of the library, Les’ stomach tightened more, sweat broke out on his brow, a queasy feeling began to take over, and Les considered bolting. Then he looked at his girl, sitting there excitedly and waiting for him to read. Les determined that he was going to do this, he was going to read for his girl, and he was going to make her proud.
The determination didn’t take away the nerves, but that didn’t matter. It would make Rae-Rae happy, and he wasn’t going to waste a single opportunity to bring more joy to her life. So, Les relaxed in his seat and took steady, calming breaths. He knew he could do this. He’d beaten the nerves to speak in front of pure evil in the past in order to put them away. He could easily do the same to speak in front of pure innocence to brighten their day.
The steady stream of arrivals slowed to a sporadic trickle and Master Derek began the proceedings, asking Sadie what she’d most like to hear.
“Green Eggs and Ham, please, Daddy.”
Sadie’s sly smile made Les wonder, until Master Derek groaned aloud.
“Really?” He did not sound pleased with her choice.
“Yes, really. You said I could pick anything.” Sadie smiled sweetly and batted her lashes, the laughter in her eyes clearly indicating how much she was enjoying this.
“That I did, angel,” Master Derek said with a sigh. “That I did.”
Master Derek searched the shelves until he found the book of his Little girl’s choice and settled in to read. Les became lost in his thoughts as the story about Sam went on. When it was time for the next reading, Chef Connor traded places with Master Derek and asked his Little one what story she’d like most.
“Green Eggs and Ham.”
Les groaned inwardly. He could already see where this was headed.
CHAPTER 20
Les
“How many timesare we gonna hear this book?”
Les chuckled as the Bigs around him continued grousing about the book selections. Four Daddies had read and four Littles had chosen the same exact book. Les knew what was going on, but he was too busy laughing at the Littles’ adorable antics to tell the other Bigs yet.
Finally his silent laughter slowed enough to voice his thoughts, “The Littles are celebrating Repeat Day.”
“Repeat...” Master Derek looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.
“Today is an obscure holiday known as Repeat Day. I learned about it this morning when Rae-Rae told me she was excited about it. They’re celebrating by repeating the same book over and over.”
The Bigs looked at each other with the same looks on their faces. Ones that declared how adorable and apt this stunt was. Les had to agree, it was pretty damn cute.
Les’ turn finally arrived and, knowing what would be requested, he took the book from Travis and settled into the seat. It was good they’d all requested the same book since it had given him time to memorize his lines. Being the last to read was working in his favor. Having heard the book twelve times already today, he should be able to breeze through it.
Keeping up the pretense of requiring a request he asked, “Rae-Rae, what book would you like to hear?”
Rae-Rae put her finger on her chin, tapped it a few times while she hummed as if thinking long and hard about her selection. She glanced around as each Little began to laugh and nod their heads. Finally, Rae-Rae opened her mouth to answer and Les opened the book getting ready to read. He’d taken a deep breath, prepared to begin as soon as the words left her mouth and had even said two of the first words before her answer registered, along with the hysterical laughter of all the Littles present and even most of the Bigs.
“I’d like to hearSam the Speedy Sloth, Daddy.”
Well, fuck him. She’d gotten him. And he didn’t even know what the book was about. This reading was not going to be nearly as easy as he’d begun to believe.
Raelynn
Raelynn figuredher eyes must be shining in merriment. They’d gotten them good! Poor Daddy. It hadn’t been easy for Sadie to arrange it to where Daddy was last. They’d even all had a book picked out in case it wasn’t possible for him to read last. It couldn’t have gone more perfectly, though. As Daddy stumbled his way through the story of a sloth challenging other animals toraces, she held in her chuckles and filed the moment away in her memory. It was one she’d hold forever. A new favorite.
“Rae-Rae!”Sadie called out.
They were just leaving the library and Daddy was leading her to lunch.
“Hi, Sadie!”
