You're a Good Dad, Mr. Grinch

Today, Grinch was fulfilling his promise to Melanie and Jenny.

After breakfast, he buckled Jenny in her carrier in the backseat of his and Pam's car and then drove off to pick up Melanie.

"Good morning, Mel", Grinch greeted her.

"Good morning!", she said back, coming out the door. In her right hand was a carrier and in that carrier was Baby Mikaela. "It's okay if I bring Mikaela with me, right?"

"Of course!"

"Just I gotta keep her with me for the first several weeks."

"I understand."

Melanie smiles down at Mikaela, then looks at Grinch again. "I wanted to ask...is it okay if I call you Dad?"

This time, Grinch smiled. "Yes. In fact, I was hoping you would."

"Well, Dad. Can we have the best day ever?"

"That we can, Mel."

As she placed Mikaela's carrier in the back seat, Melanie noticed Jenny in the next spot over. "Hi, little sis!"

Jenny excitedly pumped her arms and legs as her way of waving.

"Ready to have a good day with Dad?"

——

First they stopped at the Glurfsburg Zoo. Grinch pushed Jenny and Mikaela in a stroller. Melanie carried a stick of nylon candy as she pointed at the various animals they passed like a child.

"Look, Dad! Moostriches!"

"Wanna go see them?"

"Yeah!"

Even though the moostriches were simply grazing their food, Melanie was still happy to see them nonetheless. Grinch held the baby's in each arm to help them see. Little Jenny was plain-faced, which contrasted her niece's giddiness (she got that from her mother).

"Ooh! How about the slapping turtles?"

"Mel, we just got to the moostriches", Grinch chuckled.

"I know. I'm just so excited! I never-..." Her excitement died. Her smile dropped.

"What's wrong, Mel?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing." Then she walks over to a bench and sits down. "Darn it! I thought I was over this!" She begins to sniffle.

Grinch walks over to her. Again, he asks, "What's wrong, Mel?"

"I knew I couldn't keep my spirits up for long. What I was trying to say was that I never got to go to the zoo with my dad."

"Oh, but you did! Just today!"

"But...my first time was at thirty-two. Isn't that embarrassing?"

"No. There's no rush when it comes to life. Some things can happen later than expected."

Jenny holds her little hands out in Melanie's direction.

"Mel? I think your sister wants to see you." He smiled.

The young woman scoops Jenny up and hugs her. "I wanna hug you too, Dad."

He didn't say anything. Just embraced her too, Mikaela also making herself known.

——

After the zoo visit, they stopped for a bit to eat at Donna's Diner. They sat at a booth, eating impossible burgers.

"Hmm. Tastes just like the real thing", Grinch notes as he takes his first bite.

"And far more ethical too. After I learned how burgers were made, I gave up on meat. The vegan life was better for me."

"Maybe Pam would like it too. Only if she wants to, that is."

Jenny sat in a high-chair at the end of the table, a small tray holding an empty jar of baby food. A lot of said food was splattered on her bib. Mikaela, having guzzled down a bottle, silently rested in her carrier.

"I'm sorry", Melanie said.

"What are you sorry for?"

"Breaking down at the zoo."

"Oh, Mel. That's nothing to apologize for."

"But I was comparing you to my real dad." She caught herself. "I mean, like you're my dad now. I was referring to my biological dad."

"I understand. Really, it's no big deal. I get it."

Melanie pinched her nose. "Have you been alone for most of your life?"

"Yes. I stayed in an orphanage by myself for a good chunk of my childhood, then I moved to Mt. Crumpit for the next five and half decades. Trust me, Mel, you and I are not so different. But, hey! We're doing a lot better now! You and I, we're family now!" He reaches across the table and takes her free hand. "I'm proud to have you as a daughter."

Melanie smiles, her eyes bloodshot from tears.