Dad Next Door: Volume 1 (Under Editing Soon)

Seven

I decided to keep Robin home from daycare today so that he can recover from his sickness more peacefully. So that means me having another day off work. Again.

To say my boss was annoyed is an understatement, he shouted down the phone that I'm 'unreliable' and hung up.

It stung the tiniest bit but hey, my kids are more important here.

So with that being said, Robin is laying on the sofa in his yellow duckling onesie, the hood propped up over his damp hair from this morning's bath. He has his squash drink in both hands, staring up at the TV whilst Barbie plays.

He sighs like his life is the hardest thing and it makes me smile a little, I cover it with my finger though.

He turns to look at me. "Daddy go park?" He asks, looking over to the door.

I sit down beside him once I've finished organising the shelf with some of their toys and books, wrapping an arm around him and bringing him to my chest.

"You might still be a little poorly though, are you sure you want to go park?" I answer, putting my palm against his forehead.

He had Calpol yesterday and today to help his fever and it has gone down.

He nods his head. "No poorwy, park!" He stands up, running over to the door and reaching up on his tippy toes to try and grab the handle.

"Alright, munchkin! But first, we get changed, it's too hot for onesies outside." I point with my thumb to the stairs.

"Too hot!" He echoes, going over to the stairs and crawling up them on his hands and knees.

"Good boy, come on then, let's see what clothes we've got to wear today. And we need sunscreen too."

He growls at the mention of sunscreen but darts to his wardrobe, laughing, nonetheless. He picks out an outfit that is identical to mine. An aqua coloured shirt and some black shorts.

"You being a copy cat today, munchkin?" I chuckle, helping him into the shorts and shoving some trainers on his feet.

"After park, should we make some bread?" I hold his hand as we descend the stairs, back into the kitchen.

I fix up a bottle of water and one with squash, bringing some light snacks and popping them in a bag. Robin insists on bringing his favourite black and white dog teddy and then we set off out into the breezy sunny day, once sunscreen has been applied, of course.

The park is dead. Only a lean man with a collie dog running beside him, jogs along through the trimmed bright grass.

Robin is pulling me towards the large slides, pointing up the few metal steps flaking with yellow paint. I support him up by placing my hands on his tiny waist, him wrapping his hands around the handles and stepping up wobbly to the platform.

I climb up with him, looking over to the puffy clouds rolling through below the sun, casting the world in shadows.

"Come with." He hugs my legs and I crouch down and sit with my legs outstretched.

He throws himself onto my lap, giggling and pointing down the slide. When we set off, we go down with both of us squealing "wee," as we go.

Robin jumps up from my lap once we're at the end of the slide, running over to the fish spring rider, climbing onto it and holding onto the orange handles, trying to rock himself but it barely does anything.

"Daddy!" He whimpers, giving me blue puppy eyes.

"Shouting like that won't get you what you want, Robin. You need to use your words and ask me, remember?" I reply, raising an eyebrow and crouching beside him, hand over his.