His mind felt numb, and his eyes glazed over as a group of monkeys kidnapped Mowgli on the television set several feet away. Lindsey had watched The Jungle Book three times in a row, and he could think of a million other things he'd rather do on a Wednesday morning. If he heard The Bare Necessities one more time, the song might end up on an album. Lindsey yawned and shifted his weight on the couch, sinking deeper into the cushions. He pulled a blanket over Skylar and kissed the crown of her head. He peered at her sleeping face and turned the tv off, silently swearing as her eyes fluttered open. He should have known she'd stir as soon as the movie stopped.
"Daddy," she whimpered and coughed, pointing to the television set. "Baloo now," she requested as she wriggled against him and wiped her nose on the sleeve of her pajamas. The child had caught a cold over the weekend. She had wailed and fought every single time her father or mother came near her with saline drops to relieve her stuffy nose. Skylar hadn't wanted to sleep in her bed at all and kept her parents up half the night with her coughing and congestion. She had nearly given her daddy a black eye and a bruised rib from all of her tossing and turning. She'd been wide awake and grouchy before the sun was over the horizon. Lindsey didn't understand how she could be whiny and clingy then suddenly wired and energized. If he was sickly, he was miserable the whole duration.
Lindsey sighed softly and pressed the button to turn the movie back on. "Okay, Sky," he grumbled, unable to figure out what his little girl found so captivating and fascinating about the 1967 Disney film. He assumed he was fond of the film when he was young, but his thirty-one-year old self found it incredibly maddening, especially after the second viewing.
Skylar's brows knitted together as her father sat up and lifted her into his arms then placed her at the end of the sofa. She held onto the blanket and grabbed at his flannel covered leg. "Daddy," she whined and tugged on his pants. Skylar rubbed at her ear and held her arms out for him.
"Baby, I'll be back. Let me make breakfast. You need to eat and drink some juice," he told her as he bent down to her level and kissed her head. "After breakfast, can we watch The Rescuers?" he hopefully asked.
The girl shook her head quickly and made her unruly curls bounce. Lindsey brushed her cocoa-colored ringlets away from her eyes. "Think it over, Skybear. Watch Baloo. Okay?" Lindsey smirked as her bottom lip poked out in a pout. He watched her dramatically flop onto the cushion and cross her arms. He shook his head but let out a sigh of relief when she became engrossed in the movie. Lindsey went into the kitchen, filled a sippy cup with orange juice, and returned to the living room to give Sky her drink.
Skylar took the sippy cup decorated with owls and hearts, knocking it back. Her nose scrunched as her lips twisted in revulsion. She shook her head as she swallowed down the big gulp of juice. "Yucky. I want apple."
"Sky, drink the orange juice."
"No, daddy."
Lindsey tugged on his curls and felt like he was at his wit's end. He wished he hadn't let Stevie stay in bed, but he couldn't let her have another night of staying up with Skylar. He chewed the inside of his cheek and settled his hands on his hips, racking his brain to think of a way to get the two-year-old to drink. The stubborn toddler needed the vitamin C to fight the nasty cold. Lindsey turned his head, glancing back at the cartoon and grinning like he'd won the lottery. "Sky, you know who loves orange juice..." he trailed off and prayed his trick would actually work.
"Who?" she asked, holding the cup and staring at her daddy expectantly.
"Baloo."
Her blue eyes lit up as her mouth fell open. "Really?" Skylar gasped in astonishment and gaped at the lovable bear on the screen.
