Complicated Miracle

Memory Lane Chapter 42

My eyes droop a little as the day slowly fades into night. The air conditioner makes me shiver a bit. Dad notices and hugs me tightly. " Did you bring a coat? " 

" No. " I shake my head. 

Dad sighs. " Why not? You know it is cold here. You must bring a coat when you know it is going to be cold. I do not want you to catch a cold. It will make you feel horrible. " 

" I'll bring one next time. " 

Dad nods and runs his thumb on my arm. " Do you go to school? " 

I nod. " Yeah. I hate it though. I'm kind of the outcast because I'm weird. " 

Dad scoffs. " You are not weird. They are all weird. You are unique. Different from the rest in a good way. It means you have your own mind. You do not follow what the others want you to follow. Keep being that way. Do not let others set your standards. You know what you are and are not capable of doing. Not them. " 

" Thanks. " I mumble as I lean into my dad. " You are the best dad in the entire world. " 

Dad chuckle. " I am hardly that. You, on the other hand, are the best daughter. I could not ask for anyone better. " 

" I am not the best. I couldn't get you out. " I whisper. 

" I did not want you to get me out. It would ruin your reputation. " Dad shakes his head. 

" I worry about you. " 

" Do not worry about me, darling. I am capable of doing many things. I can take care of myself. You worry about you. I will be alright. " Dad rocks us back and forth gently. " You know, when you were a baby, you loved to throw toys at me. " He chuckles. 

I gasp. " What? Did I throw toys at you? " 

" Yes. Yes, you did. It was some game to you. You threw them at me and then threw them to the other side of the room. You would cry for the toy after you threw them and I would go and get them for you. You would throw them again. It was an ongoing game of catch and return. But I did not mind it. It made you giggle and have fun. " 

" You had to have gotten tired! " 

" I did. But I continued to play. I wanted you to be happy. I still want you to be happy. " Dad says softly. 

" I remember you spoiling me rotten. You did anything for me. You even went as far as to wear a tiara and scarf just to make me happy while we played tea party to make me happy. " I giggle at the thought. " You made one pretty princess. " 

Dad groans. " Oh gosh. Now everyone knows. Well, you wanted me to dress up. I do not know what came over me at the moment. " Dad shrugs and shakes his head. 

" You made the best tea in the entire universe though. " I nod. 

" I did, didn't I? " Dad chuckles in agreement.

" Too bad we can't go back to the past. "