Me/Father:
On that fateful unforgiving day when my child screams, "Daddy"
or simply just screams following that crack of thunder. When they feel as if they just might be crushed. When the walls around their bedroom shake from the residual echoes of lighting. And they spring from their dreams so full of certainty. Tearing down the hallway their feet having memorized every toy, cord, lamp, remote, and countless other hazard they may (definitely) have left out. Reaching the other end without more than an episode of mere tachycardia. When that day arrives I'll be there.
Daughter:
She tentatively opens her parent's door and stands there all certainty gone lacking an ounce of faith. Arms outstretched. Wondering was that long journey worth it? Should I have pulled the sheet over my head? Ignoring the rumblings going on about her room. Rolling away from that jaggedly drawn finger next to her room. No! Those aren't the proper responses at all. I'm right were I'm supposed to be. A deep breath an even more shallow step. That's if you could even call it a step a shuffle really. Enough of these movements and I'm close enough that I don't have to yell or even raise my voice. All I need is a whisper. I've done reconnaissance throughout the day. I know which side my father sleeps on. No matter how much of that "strong grape juice" he drinks. His head always finds its way to the same pillow. On any stormy night he's my guy. It's not that I don't love or trust my mother. It's just that I seem to have daddy wrapped around my heart. I don't even have to give him a look. All I need is my face. Oh sure the big doe eyes help. But at the end of the day he's my daddy and I'm his baby girl. Yet somehow I always find myself at the edge of the bed wondering. Wondering as I look up at him. Thinking maybe this is the time he rolls over and pretends to sleep. Or worse he picks me up and carries me to my room telling me to,"Grow up". These are the things a little girl ponders over. I can't stand it anymore. It's been minutes since I first woke. And by god's grace I didn't trip over the things I left out. I feel as if the storm is getting louder and my whisper is fading with my initial bravado, "Daddy?" "It's me K**** I'm scared". I cast my eyes down twiddling my toes realizing that some things do end. Maybe it's time to grow up and cry myself to sleep. I begin to shuffle away. I hear an unintelligible grunt. It's not until I've almost reached their door that I realized that grunt was a grunt only a partially awake father could make. It was my daddy's grunt. The moment I heard the squeak of the bed I was certain there was a lighting strike in their room. And then I gathered myself knowing that it was just me beaming with relief at the sight of his outstretched arms. Words were not needed. All was well with the world. Doubt? What doubt? I never doubted him for a second. As I crawled into his arms I was comforted with one thought my daddy was still my thunder buddy. My heart begins to slow as my vision fades to black. The next morning I awake to find myself back in my own bed. A few moments pass before I realize that there's someone laying next to me. As I turn my head I see that it's my daddy.I poke hime with a finger, gently at first. And that I shove his shoulder. He rolls over. I tell him, "You promised to take me swimming today". He smiles and reaches over to grab my hand. He whispers, "Of course, how could I forget".
Explanation: This is a slight revision as well as an extension of an earlier piece of the same name. If you haven't guessed by now I want a daughter someday. Her name is not a curse word. I merely used the asterisks to keep curious minds from stealing her name. The strong grape juice is wine. Obviously I won't be a drunk or alcoholic. I was just trying to explain it from a child's view. The title and idea was taken from the movie "Ted". I took it from the scene when the main character and the bear were scared of thunder storms. After working on this piece I feel like god owes me a baby girl now. It would be cruel to be given a boy. And it would line up perfectly with this short story. Anything else that didn't make sense just ask.