Page 134 of Daddy's Pride

“Yes, please.” Then I could google each stop and pre-shop, err, pre-plan the animals I absolutely had to see, though I wanted to try and see them all.

“Disneyland!”

“Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!” I grabbed his face and kissed him loud and hard. “Best. Daddy. EVER!”

“Thank you, sweet boy, but I wanted to do something special or you. I know it’s been a tough month for you, and I just want you to relax and not worry about anything except for having fun. Can you do that for Daddy?”

“Yes, Daddy, for you I can do anything.”

We stayed in until I yawned and got pruney then went inside. One good thing about living in the desert was you could swim just about any time and during the summer that meant day or night.

“Thank you. I have a gift for you.” Daddy went into the garage and returned with a big box. “Open it.”

“It’s almost bigger than me.”

“Here, I’ll help you.” He used his handy dandy pocketknife to cut the tape away. “Can you see inside?”

I shook my head, so he pulled out the prezzie out for me.

“My own luggage, and it has animals all over it!”

There was absolutely no possible way I’d sleep tonight. Not even after Daddy made me come. Twice.

* * *

“Okay, sweet boy… sweet boy?” I came running around the corner and into our room when I heard Daddy call for me.

“Hurry up, Daddy. Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy. Our bed is so bouncy. Breakfast is ready. We need to leave soon.” I hopped off the bed and grabbed Daddy’s hand, but he was too strong for me.

“Um, what? Have you even slept, Jamie?”

“No, Daddy. I packed, and repacked, and made sure I had everything in the pretty new luggage you bought me. Come on, Daddy!” I yanked again but he pulled me down with him and started kissing my neck and tickling me. “Daddy, we don’t have time to be naughty. You said it’s gonna take us six hours to get there and I have breakfast ready for us.”

“I created a monster. My sweet boy is now a bossy boy.”

How had he missed that before?

But Daddy finally got up and followed me. “The sun isn’t even up. This is our first day of vacation and we should be sleeping in.” Daddy looked at the kitchen table I’d set then back at me. “Cereal is your breakfast of champions?”

“Yes, Daddy. Oh, and I made bacon, too.” I pulled it from the oven where it was warming and put a few pieces on a shared plate.

“Thank you, my sweet boy.”

“You’re welcome, Daddy.”

Breakfast cleaned up ?

Bags packed ?

Teeth brushed and dressed ??

Car loaded ?

Daddy ready?

“Daddy, where are you?”

“I’m coming, slow your roll, boy. I’m making sure the house is locked and everything is turned off.”