Plot: A quiet morning in the Buckley-Diaz household takes an unexpected turn when their twelve-year-old daughter, Maya, gets her period for the first time.
The morning started like any other in the Buckley-Diaz household. Buck was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, while Eddie was busy ensuring their daughter, Maya, had everything she needed for school.
Maya, a spirited twelve-year-old, had inherited her fathers' resilience and sense of humour, traits that would serve her well in the unexpected turn her day was about to take.
"Dad, Papa!" Maya's voice echoed from the bathroom, tinged with a mix of surprise and fear. "I need you!"
Buck dropped the spatula he was using to flip pancakes, a look of concern crossing his face. Eddie, halfway through packing Maya's lunch, exchanged a worried glance with Buck before they both hurried toward the bathroom.
"Maya, are you okay?" Buck asked, knocking gently on the door.
"Um, not really," came the hesitant reply. "Can you... can you come in?"
Buck and Eddie exchange a glance before slowly stepping into the bathroom, where they found their daughter standing by the sink, her face pale. She gestured awkwardly towards her pajama bottoms, which were stained with blood.
"Oh," Buck said, his eyes widening in realization. "Oh!"
Eddie's brain seemed to short-circuit, his mouth opening and closing without any sound. This was uncharted territory for both of them. He looked to Buck, who was usually the calm and collected one in emergencies, but even Buck appeared a bit flustered.
"It's okay, sweetheart," Buck finally managed to say, trying to sound reassuring. "This is totally normal. It's just your period starting."
Maya nodded, biting her lip. "I know it's normal, but I... I don't know what to do."
"Right," Buck said, nodding vigorously. "We've got this. Babe, we've got this, right?"
Eddie blinked, still somewhat paralyzed by the situation. "Uh, yeah, of course," he stammered, though he clearly didn't know what to do either.
Buck took a deep breath, channeling his inner problem-solver. "Okay, Maya, first thing's first. We need to get you some supplies. Pads, tampons, maybe some chocolate?"
"Buck, she's twelve," Eddie muttered, finally finding his voice. "Maybe just the pads and tampons."
Maya managed a small smile at both her dads' awkwardness. "Thanks, Dad. I think pads would be good for now."
"Pads it is!" Buck declared, his usual enthusiasm returning. "I'll run to the store and get everything you need. Eddie, you stay here with Maya."
Eddie nodded, feeling relieved to have a task he could manage. "Sure thing. We'll figure out the rest, okay?"
Buck raced out of the house, grabbing his keys and wallet on the way. He drove to the nearest pharmacy, his mind racing as he tried to remember everything he'd read about periods. He wanted to be there, try and be the mom his daughter didn't quite have.
Once inside, he stood in front of the feminine hygiene aisle, overwhelmed by the sheer variety of products. Pads with wings, pads without wings, ultra-thin, maxi, overnight, scented, unscented. He grabbed a little bit of everything, filling his basket to the brim. He also picked up some pain relief medicine and a heating pad, just in case.
Back at home, Eddie was doing his best to comfort Maya, though he felt completely out of his depth. "So, um, how are you feeling?" he asked awkwardly.
"Honestly, a little freaked out," Maya admitted. "But mostly embarrassed."
