Ch. 3: Home Theater

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I wrapped up Ariel in my arms as we sat on the couch and I pressed play.  Ariel stared at the t.v in amazement and confusion as it flashed colors and shapes.  Finding Nemo, one of my favorite childhood movies, was playing.  I didn't want  to show her anything too violent.   

Ariel looked at me in confusion.  "Movie." I said.  She hopped out of my arms and stalked up to the t.v, putting her hand on Dory's face.  "Just,..keep, swimming." She repeated Dory's words.  Good thing I didin't have a flatscreeen.  Ariel looked back at me.  "Just keep swimming."  Even though she hardly knew what she was saying, those were wise words.  

Ariel was worn out from the day.  She actually wanted to go to sleep that night.  I gave her some pajama's to put on.  Though reluctant, she did.  Before climbing into bed, she looked out the window with a hint of sadness, but fought it.  She was tough.  

I got ready to take a place on the floor when Ariel grabbed my arm.  She looked at me uneasily, her hazel eyes sparkled.  "Stay." She demanded in a firm voice.  "I am.  I'm sleeping on the floor." I explained.  She shook her head.  

"Here." She patted the place on the bed next to her and looked at me pleadingly.  I couldn't sleep with a lady!  Well, it was technically sleeping next to a lady, still.  I decided to tough through my emotions to make Ariel happy, and she was.  I guess she had grown use to my arms around her's because when I got into bed, she placed them around her waist and contently drifted to sleep.  

I felt my heart flutter and I slowly fell alseep.  

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Again I awoke to poking at my ribs.  I rubbed my eyes adjusting to the light.  "Yes?"  

"Movie." Ariel said firmly.  I signed, what word did I teach you?  She sighed.  "Please?" 

I nodded.  But before that, I have something more fun planned.  I signed.  Ariel tilted her head.  

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"No." Ariel said as I little pushed her onto the ice.  She wobbled on her ice skates.  The Madison Indoor Ice Skating Rink, the best place for something to do on saturday.  

I gracefully slid onto the ice and grabbed Ariel's hand.  She tugged back.  "No."  I pulled her close to me and we started across the ice.  I had a whole hour preserved just for us so she wouldn't get scared of all the people, or hurt someone.  

I took long graceful strides pulling Ariel along with ease.  "Easy." I said giving her a smile.  She grimaced.  

I slowly let go of Ariel, much to her protest, but after seeing me conquer the ice, she was doing fine in no time.  

I gave her a nod filled with pride.   She smiled back at me.  "Race." She demanded.  I nodded with a grin.  We started at the south end.  "Go!" 

I started thrusting my legs as hard as I could and could feel my muscles burn.  My feet led me straight across in no time.  

Victory!  I panted as I got to the other side, but Ariel sat down there at the finish anxiously wating for me.  Well, I guess it wasn't a surprise, she was faster than me on land.   "You win."  "Yes." She admitted.  

We arrived back home and I put in The Little Mermaid.  We sat down on the couch and I put my arm around Ariel.  She stood up as she heard her name on screen.  "A different Ariel." I explained.  Her face showed confusion, but she let it pass.  

The little mermaid always fascinated me.  I had never got why Ariel always wanted to be a human, being a mermaid would be awesome!  I guess that's the way it is with people, they're never satisfied with what they are.  Blondies want to be redheads, redheads want to be blackies, blackies want to be blondies, so forth and so on.  It was really messed up.  I was content having my brown hair, I guess brownies are normal.  

Ariel was fascinated by the moving pictures.  She said that she likes the part where Ariel #2 got her prince.  She told me that the, "Other Ariel" was Ariel #2, becausde she was was my ariel.     

I looked at my watch, 5:00.  We still had time to go shopping.  Not for anything fancy, just some clothes that will actually fit Ariel.

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