IRIS

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“Daddy, a birdie!”, the little girl shouted cheerfully. She squeezed her chubby apple cheeks and small cherry lips against the window.

The little girl stared out at the oak tree.

“Daddy!”, she impatiently called again .
“Daddy?... Daddyyyyy.”
She got used to it, he doesn’t respond unless she does the only one thing that makes him rush the whole world to get to her.
It was time for the daddy song-as she called it.
“Daddy, daddy, daddyyyy, daddy-daddy, DADDY daddy daaaaaddy, dad_”
She stopped when she heard the echo of large footsteps rushing in the hall, getting louder and nearer until it stopped at her room’s doorstep.

The girl quickly stepped away from the window, and looked toward the door.

A big smile was drawn  on her lips.

“ You always win this game, you know?”, a deep but soft voice announced.

She covered her mouth with her small puffy hands hiding her giggles.

“ What game?”, she asked innocently.

Her daddy nodded and entered the room , “ Ohh, playing dump now, huh?” and then raced toward her.

She cuddled her self with the pillow before her father could reach her.

He jumped on the bed with a loud roar, and she flew up going down  into  his hands.
He shook her until he got the pillow from her _  her only weapon, threw it on the ground, and dug into her tummy.

She burst out laughing.

He knows her most sensitive spots: her feet, and her round fat tummy. He knows she can’t handle tickling them.

“Stop! Or I will make you wegwet(regret)!” the girl yelled joyfully.

“ Oh no! She will unleash her monsto*!! “, her father replied  pretending he’s afraid.
”Oh God, somebo_”, that’s when he squeaked; she bit his hand.

He checked his hand.

She scanned his hand, too.

Red teeth marks were tattooed on his palm.

She thought she bit so hard.

She looked up at him with her big eyes waiting for his respond.

... “sowwy,” she said. “ but  it wasn’t me!”.

Her father looked back at her. He was about to say something..

“It was mister teeth!”, she quickly stopped him.

They both stared at each other for seconds.

Then they both bursted out laughing.

They laughed and giggled until their stomach ached.

“So… did I miss the laugh_out_loud party again?!”, a gentle and soft voice interrupted.

They both were startled, and _at the same time_ turned their heads toward the source and stared.

Her mother was standing on the door, crossing arms and laying against the wall… smiling.

Her husband smiled back, “the hero has arrived to save you”, looking back at his daughter.
“Mommy!”, the girl shouted escaping his hands, and ran to hug her mommy’s slim legs over her white gown.
She knelt, grabbed her, then hugged her tightly.
“Sorry we waked you up sweetie_”, yawning, he got off the bed and walked toward her.

She looked back at him.

“_But it was a bloody fight you missed”, he continued, “isn’t that right missy?”, talking to his daughter now.

She giggled.

He giggled.

His wife laughed.

They all were getting out of the room when the father remembered.

“Oh! Pumpkin(that’s what he usually calls his daughter), what was so urgent you called me into your room… and we had a war for? .. In the early morning.?”.

She looked back, surprised, in a way she looked like: how did I forget?!?!?!

“Ahh yesss, you aw smawt daddy! You mind is stwung**.”,she giggled happily that he reminded her, more of embarrassment..

“I saw a birdie, daddy!" she began. "A real one! I_”,

“What?”, her father interrupted.

“ A birdie, daddy! It flied in front of me! I love biwds! Do you love them?”, looking at her parents, waiting impatiently for them to laugh and answer yes. Her happiness couldn’t hide her small teeth behind her smile.

Her smile was wide.

Disappointedly, her parents’ smile disappeared.

Her mother’s expression changed into a something she couldn’t read… anxiety…

Her father frowned...

*monsto: (=monster), this is what she calls her self when she is playing fight with her father.
** =you are smart daddy! Your mind is strong!

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