(no subject)
“Mommy, tell me a story about Daddy.” Her eyes sparkle and bloom like a four leaf clover and she takes my hand. I used to tell her not to ask those kind of questions. But she’s older now and I can see the curiosity growing inside her; planting itself in her veins and sprouting like exotic, wild flowers from her arms and legs and shoulders. I knew this would come.
“When we lived in Oasis, all the trees looked like flowers. Their petals were huge and as soft as feathers. They were so large we could fit four of you in them. They hung low to the ground and little girls about your age would swing in them. They would dangle their legs over the edge and have the others push from the back and their skirts would fly open in the wind and they‘d giggle. And your father, he would paint the petals. Amazing patterns. Amazing colors. Everyone in Oasis admired him. Your father was like a god. His shoulders were broad and tan,” She looks up at me and I see the sparkle start to fade. I should have stopped sooner.
“No, mommy! Tell me the one about his magical journey! Tell me about how Daddy is out fighting dragons and serpents and saving us and that’s why he’s not here!” She tugs at the bottom of my skirt.
“When we lived in Oasis, all the trees looked like flowers. Their petals were huge and as soft as feathers. They were so large we could fit four of you in them. They hung low to the ground and little girls about your age would swing in them. They would dangle their legs over the edge and have the others push from the back and their skirts would fly open in the wind and they‘d giggle. And your father, he would paint the petals. Amazing patterns. Amazing colors. Everyone in Oasis admired him. Your father was like a god. His shoulders were broad and tan,” She looks up at me and I see the sparkle start to fade. I should have stopped sooner.
“No, mommy! Tell me the one about his magical journey! Tell me about how Daddy is out fighting dragons and serpents and saving us and that’s why he’s not here!” She tugs at the bottom of my skirt.