RAISING SUMMER

THE COOL UNCLE

I sat on the floor with Summer in my lap. The Christmas carols played on the radio as the fireplace warmed the house in the living room. It had nearly been a month since Luke left. Summer and I were spending her first Christmas morning alone. A thread of me hoped that Luke would make a spontaneous visit. I couldn't believe that he was going to miss it. I helped Summer rip her presents open. She giggled every time we successfully opened a present.

"Look Summer... keys." I gave each present a name in hopes that she would repeat it. But still no luck with her first word but she was almost there. Summer's head turned to a knock on the door as I sprung up with Summer to go answer the door. I swung the door open but looked around only to find nobody there. I sighed and glanced down to a Enormous shoe box package with no wrapping paper. I realized that it had to be delivered by Luke considering the spontaneity and that the post office was closed on holidays. I picked it up examining the tags on the huge shoe box.

To: My little Summer
From: Your only cool uncle

I stepped out from the porch looking for any trace of Luke only to be left with nothing. I shut the door with the package in hand.

"Ma!" Summer shouted as I stopped in my place in front of a picture of Rachel and I.

"Ma?" I mimicked pointing to Rachel.

"Ma, ma." She pointed excitedly to me in the picture.

"Mama." I pointed to Rachel again. "This is mama." I explained.

"Ma." She whispered, placing her cold chubby finger on top of my arm.

A wave of grief overcame me as I realized the gravity of what was going on. The moment had finally come, Summer had said her first word, even better it was mama. I felt a gnawing guilt that it wasn't Rachel she was calling mama, it was me. I sat on the couch with Summer setting the package in front of her. I noticed there were poked holes in the lid. I lifted the lid as an object scurried inside. I closed the lid alarmed by the mystery creature in the box. I sat up while holding Summer away from the box. With my slippers on I raised my foot to open the box only to find the scurrying was the result of a playful little golden lab puppy. My body relaxed. Summer flailed around excitedly as I knelt down with Summer by the puppy examining its collar. The silver tag read Poppet. A note was stuck to its paw as it jumped around. I opened it frantically.

"I remember your dad calling you poppet, I hope you like him, a special little someone to protect you and Summer."

I sighed, folding the paper up.

"Poppet huh?" I sighed. I reached out my hand to pet him as he instantly rolled over belly up.

"So much for protecting." Summer giggled as I rubbed Poppet's belly.