“Daddy, your eyes look better. I’m glad you’re not sick anymore.”
“I was never sick, sweetie.”
“But Momma said you were in an accident at work.”
Thanks a fucking lot, Jana.
“I was in an accident with someone, but the other man got hurt badly.”
“Did you say sorry to the man, Daddy? If I bump into someone when I’m on the swings, I always say sorry even if it’s not my fault. Teacher Kendra says sorry is a healing word.”
Definitely five going on fifteen.
“That’s a great point, Meatball. I’ll be sure to tell him I’m sorry.”
“Will you come next time to help me and Carson fight monsters?”
Because of my schedule, I rarely get a chance to visit Bella at school during the fall, but now that I’ve got some time off, I should make the effort.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Bella. I’ll make an arrangement with Teacher Kendra. And when I come I’ll be... uh... what about Super-Daddy?”
“That’s silly, Daddy!” My happy girl erupts into peals of laughter. “You can’t be a superhero. You’re already a football hero.”
“Of course, my mistake.” I smile, my heart full.
“Daddy, I have a serious question,” she whispers.
“What is it?” I mirror her whisper.
“When can we go to Disney World?”
“Soon, Meatball,” I tell her, although it feels like an empty promise because I cannot guarantee what her mother will agree to. I’m not playing football for six weeks and it would be a great time to see Bella more, but because my time off is due to the incident with McCall, Jana’s been even more skittish than usual about visitation. “I’ll talk to your mom about it.”
“Okay, Daddy.” She smiles. “Let me show you my room, okay?”
She starts walking with the cell phone towards her bedroom.
“I’ve seen your room before, Meatball.”
“Yes, but Uncle Cliff bought me a new pink shelf for all my books! I want to show you.”
I count silently to five and remember to feign excitement.
“Oh, yeah? Let me see it.”
Bella walks through the living room to her room as her mother watches silently. Bella shows me her new pink shelving unit, which stores all her books and puzzles neatly, as well as a few of her favorite stuffed animals.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I tell her.
“I love it too.”
She bounces joyfully on her bed as we chat for a few more moments of more of her adventures at recess and the latest book that she’s reading.
“Teacher Kendra said I’m the best reader in the class.”
“I bet you are,” I say proudly. “You’re my kiddo.”
