Frerard's Daughter

The Word

Age: 5 years

I was laid on my belly on the living room floor with SpongeBob SquarePants on the TV and I was coloring while Frank was sitting behind me on the couch on the phone talking to someone. In my coloring book, I was coloring a picture of a cat with a superhero cape and a mask for Gerard while he was out.

I had already colored the cat red like Gerard's hair and I was about to color the cape black like his clothes. By the time I realized what I had done, there was a grey line on the cape. I threw the crayon across the room, angrily.
"Fuck!" I shouted.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Frank gasped behind me.

He sat up and turned off the TV. I looked at him, pouting as he sat me on his lap.
"Where did you learn that word?" He asked.
"You and Daddy say it when you're mad. And I was mad."
"Little boys and girls like you aren't supposed to say that word."
"Why not daddy? "
"Because bad things happen to little girls and boys when they say bad words like that."
"L-like what, Daddy?"
"They don't get dessert, they go to bed early, they don't get to color. And worst of all, the monster that lives in their closet comes and takes their toys away!"

I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him, afraid. He chuckled quietly.
"Don't take my toys!" I whimpered.
"It's okay baby girl. I'll tell the monster that you said it by accident. But don't say it again or you'll be in big trouble."
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you Daddy! I'm sorry."
"Now tell me what you were so upset about."
"I was coloring a picture for Daddy and I used gray instead of black on accident."
"Oh baby that's no reason to be upset and say bad luck words. Lemme see it."

I got off his lap and went to get my coloring book and I showed him the grey line. He took the book and I handed him the black crayon. He colored it and showed the finished product, causing me to gasp.

"How's that?" Frank asked giving back my stuff.
"Daddy you fixed it! You're superhero!"
"Yup I'm Superman."
"Daddy's gonna love it now!"
Suddenly the door opened and Gerard stepped in with a smile. I ran to him holding up the book.
"Daddy daddy daddy! Look what I made for you!"
"That's great, sugar! It looks amazing! It's really for me? " Gerard asked.
"Yeah!"
"Thank you so much sugar. Let's go put it on the fridge."

I ran into the kitchen waiting for them as Frank stood up and kissed Gerard.
"Hey Frankie. How was she?" Gerard asked kissing his jawline.
"Well, she messed up on her picture and kinda cursed. But she won't do it anymore."
"My baby cursed? What did she say? Damn?"
"Worse. She said fuck."
"Jesus, where'd she learn--"
Frank raised his eyebrow and gave him a look as if to say 'really?'
"Oh. Us." Gerard finished.