Kassandra

The Scooter

"It's  almost your 3rd birthday, Kass! You're getting so big!" Said Peter picking his toddler up and holding her in his arms. "What do you want for your birthday?"
"I want a puppy!" Said the little honey blonde haired girl with her favorite pink footsie pajamas on.
"How about I get you a stuffed animal puppy? You can pretend it's real!" He responded. "You can even sleep with a  stuffed animal. You can't sleep with a real puppy." Kassandra had allergies to cats and dogs so she couldn't have one.
"Yeah!" Said Kassandra cheerfully with wide eyes and a wide smile "I like puppies!"
"Okay, but I have to go to work now, sweetheart."
Kassandra's smile was instantly wiped away as she busted into tears
"Daddy no! Don't leave me!" She screeched knowing that her mommy would hit her as soon as he left.
"Kass, please, I love you but I really have to go. I'm gonna be late for work." He said as he kissed the child on the forehead, put her down, then walked to the door. He looked back and blew her a kiss like he did every morning and then left.
Just then, Kassandras baby brother, Travis, woke up. He was an eight month old red head with the same eyes as Kassandra. Jennifer came in the room that Kassandra and Travis shared and stepped on Kassandras Fisher Price scooter nearly falling "Son of a bitch, Kassandra, how can you be so stupid! I told you a hundred times to put that thing in your fucking  closet!" Travis started crying because of all the yelling. She struck Kassandra in the stomach twice then took her belt off. Kassandra could barely catch her breath before she saw the belt "I'm  sorry, mommy! Nooo!"
Jennifer bent her over her toddler bed and struck her on the back seven times with the belt. Kassandra was screaming and crying. "Maybe you should learn to clean up your fucking mess instead of being a little slob!" She picked up the screaming baby Travis and left the room leaving Kassandra to cry on the bed by herself. Jennifer loved Travis. She never once yelled directly at him although she would yell at and hit Kassandra around him.
-----------*Later that evening*--------------
Peter walked into the house and Kassandra ran up to him with glee in her eyes. "Daddy! Daddy! You're home!"
He picked the little girl up and spun her around in his arms. She giggled cheerfully. He saw his son crawl down the hallway and his face glowed. "Come here you little slugger!" he said as he picked up the baby and held both of his children in his arms.
"I love you kids." He says.
"I love you, daddy." Replies the toddler.
Jennifer then comes down the hallway ready to throw another punch at her daughter for not picking up her toys. Kassandra saw the all too familiar look in her eyes and started to shake in terror.
"What's  the matter, Kass, baby?" Asked Peter
Jennifer stopped as soon as she saw that her husband was home. "Hi, honey! How was work?" She said.
"Nothing, Daddy." Kassandra replied knowing she was safe in her father's arms. She put her face into his neck lovingly and closed her eyes, wishing she could just be with her daddy all the time.