The Diary of Joy

Dad's tale

12. Peace, the year of the Phoenix

Dear Angel,

Last night mum was busy preparing a birthday cake for Mischief's birthday so dad was in charge of telling us a bedtime story and it sure was an interesting tale. I am pretty sure mom wouldn't have approved, but she was too busy in the kitchen, trying to make the cake the human way, that she had no idea which story dad chose for us.

Oh, by the way, if you were wondering about Mischief's birthday, this isn't the exact date she was born on. We don't actually know that so mom and dad let her choose one month when she wanted to celebrate it, and she chose today, the 12th of Peace. 

Anyway, back to dad's story. In honor of Mischief's birthday today, dad decided last night to make his tale about her and some of her first adventures that we weren't really aware of. Mom and he didn't really talk much about the early days, they just said they were very happy when they got each one of us.

However, they failed to reveal a few interesting details. I mean they did tell us that they weren't yet ready when Mischief came, and some naughty things she did but that turned out to be just a small morsel of what she used to do to our poor parents. She, of course, claims she doesn't remember that.

Anyway, back to Mischief's first days. Dad let us in on a few secrets that mom would probably never have revealed, but of course, she will never know we know. Or else dad will be in heaps of trouble.

"So as you guys know, when we found Mischief she was as quiet as a mouse?" Dad started. We all nodded our heads vigorously because we all remembered them telling us that part of the story.

"Once upon a time in the land far far away, that is actually here, there lived a beautiful fairy and a dashing elf. They were so happy together, so when one day a chance to make the family even bigger came knocking at their door they jumped at the opportunity to be parents." Dad started saying.

"But I thought you found Mischief in the forest." Chatterbox interrupted.

Talkative as he was it was sometimes a challenge for him not to interrupt story time. However,  he didn't interrupt mom because she was stricter. Anyway, it seems like he and Mischief are in the constant competition who will be the most annoying child during story time.

"Hush!" The rest of us said in unison as dad went on with his story.

"Anyway, the beautiful fairy and the dashing elf were just thinking that the whole parenting thing might not be so difficult when the cute little angel turned into a cute little devil.

She became so energetic that we didn't know what to do. For a human, with limitations being on using only her legs, she sure was impossible to catch. It was like trying to catch a tornado, an impossibility. 

We were so lost and sad, worried that we were the worst parents ever when we couldn't even sit our daughter down properly to have her meals. Also, she would jump on our heads and then run away, and we were pretty sure that other children didn't do that. The person who helped us see the light was your aunt Linky.

She told us that it was normal behavior for small children, human or non-human and that we were doing the best we could. It just so often felt like it wasn't enough.

For example, one day you, Mischief, were playing in the living room, and we thought we had some time to do the chores around the house since they kept piling up. 

Suddenly we heard BOOM BOOM BOOM SMASH SMASH SMASH coming from the leaving room." Dad said making the sounds very loud.

"We ran as fast as we could worry about Mischief's well-being consuming all of our thoughts," Dad said as he ran a few circles around us showing us how fast they ran.

"But when we got there, we saw that she was fine, but your mother's favorite vase was not doing so well. If I am being honest, it was smashed to pieces. As I watched your mother's face in horror waiting for the explosion, a beautiful blue butterfly flew next to us and we realized what had happened.

The magical blue wonder had entered the house by mistake and Mischief was chasing it around to play with it breaking the vase in the heat of the chase. Angry as she was, your mother decided it would be better for me to deal with the mess and one scared little human since she wasn't sure she could stay calm.

Another thing she did to prove that her name truly is Mischief happened once she started feeling like part of the family. She had a friend over, and she and her gnome friend decided to play kitchen without us knowing. It is enough to say that it didn't go well.

When your mother and I entered the kitchen, it was covered in white powder and so were Mischief and the gnome. It was a huge mess and yet she was standing in the middle of all that smiling brightly and offering us what was supposed to be a pancake. 

It's enough to say that we were exhausted. Every day we would fall down on our soft bed and fall asleep in a matter of seconds. And every morning we were waking up to the tiring reality by the ball of energy that is Mischief jumping up and down on our bed.

We loved her to pieces, and we still do love all of you, that is why we worried a lot about some of her, hm not so smart actions." Dad said smiling sheepishly looking at Mischief.

"You see, she kept playing under the table pretending that it's her little tree house. (I have no idea why you thought it was a tree house, Mischief.) Trying to get out, she would always hit her head on the edge of the table and scream and cry like there was no tomorrow. 

We did our best to calm her down, but all our efforts were in vain. She was a sobbing mess and your mother and I were close to crying because we didn't know how to help our precious daughter. Well, your mother did actually start crying, but she would tell you it was just hormones. However, it was just your mom being the sensitive soul she is." He said with a dreamy look in his eyes.

"Dad!" Chatterbox and Peace yelled snapping him back from his daydreams.

"Oh! Yes, so...ahem... we did our best to calm her down. Your mother tried singing. I tried making funny faces, but nothing happened. She kept wailing, on and on... Finally, we gave her some food and the sudden quiet came as such a relief to us." Dad said.

"Anyway, it's getting late. You must be off to sleep now, I'll tell you some more about it soon enough." Dad said as he kissed us goodnight ignoring our protests.

Honestly, I wanted to know more about how difficult it was for them to deal with Mischief, but I was feeling very sleepy so I didn't really protest as much as I would have otherwise. 

Anyways, I just wanted you to hear dad's tale and how honest he was about not so great sides of parenting. 

Your friend, 

Always, 

Joy