Daddy's Affection

RemembeRED prompt this week:

Choose a time when either the abundance or lack of affection (either by you or someone else) stands out, and show us. Bring us to that time. Help us feel what you felt.

Daddy could be a little strict, especially with the boys. But he had a way of smoothing it over. Bear hugging. Whisker rubbing. Hand holding.  Cheek kissing.  Affection.

I can’t remember anyone he wasn’t affectionate with. My brothers knew to give him a hug and kiss before bed. And mom, always greeted with warm touches and sweet kisses.  

This affection always calmed my fears, eased my hurts and took away the tears. It was never truer on that one day when everything changed for a little girl….

It was mid February and the chill in the air made me walk a little faster up the steep hill, once the bus spilled me into the driveway. Entering into the warmth of home I was taken back. Mom would always be waiting there, but today stood my sister who lived across the street. My look of question was answered with a guarded answer, “they would be home soon…appointment…they will explain”. The chill in the air from outside seemed to have drifted in with me.

It wasn’t long before mom…and dad came in. What was Daddy doing home? 

Something was different, a space between them I had never seen. Until that day. Somehow hidden, from a little girl’s view.  Mom’s face seemed twisted, her mind distant.

It was Daddy who took me by the hand. Brought me with him into that corner reclining chair. He sank in and brought me with him. The arms wrapped around, and his cheek touched mine. Fingers ran through his little girl’s hair. And with a shaky voice he told me what had happened today.

A divorce. An end.

And then he sobbed and I sobbed with him. He held me closer and kissed my forehead. Assured me of his love and how I would see him lots.

I couldn’t tell you what happened next. Or even my words with mom. I remember that moment, his tears, mixed with mine and the affection. It helped with the pieces of the puzzle trying to fit into the wrong spaces. The shattered reflection I had always seen.

Daddy had a way of smoothing it over. Bear hugging. Whisker rubbing. Hand holding.  Cheek kissing.  Affection.

A Jar Full of Wishes

Linking up for the first time with Lightning Bug . I am looking forward to reading others response to a photo of marbles!


Two people emerged from the car, two of opposite sizes, carrying opposite emotions. One was bubbling over effervescently with excitement, the other tense and preoccupied.

Allison was ready to charge the school festival, ready to show off her mommy. This being the first time she could get her here. It took pleading. Begging. Promises.

Her mom,  lost in thought of things she needed to get done. Scheduled appointments. Work related messages. Stuff. 

Her mother looked down at her, remembering when she agreed to come. The pleading, begging and promises had won. In that moment all the other stuff was buried.  Her little girl deserved this. She could give up a few hours for her. But it was always this way…she would have these moments of realization.. which would later dissipate with the business of life.

Allison grabbed her mother’s hand and the smile lit up the moment.  They bounced from booth to booth. Knocking over milk jugs, aiming rings to circle around bottles, walking circles to music for a cupcake and then off to the fish pond to win the prized goldfish. Allison floated through the crowds, and she introduced her mom as often as she could. Her eyes would sparkle each time with the word mommy. Each time her mom’s heart would break a little more.  

How blessed she was to have her love her so. 

Allison  finally spotted her teacher. She was sitting at a booth with a jar of marbles. Allison pulled her mother in that direction, anxious for her two favorite ladies to meet.  Allison’s teacher seemed genuinely happy to finally meet her and bragged on Allison’s gifts and talents.  The mother felt the guilt and sting, this woman knew so much of her daughter after a mere three months.

 Could it be she knew more than she did herself?

On that she resisted the urge to check the time, or the message she has heard enter her phone.

Allison was pointing to the glittered sign on the table: “Guess How Many Wishes are in this Jar?”   Allison immediately began doing her figuring.  Mom stood back amazed at her analytical way of attacking this challenge. Her hands were carefully measuring width and height. Followed by attempts to count how many marbles filled the space.

“What are you going to do with a jar full of marbles?” questioned her mother.

“Not marbles momma…wishes.”

“And what would you wish for?”

“Many more days like this one momma!”

With that the cell phone was turned off, and the watch placed deep in the purse. Momma’s emotions now matched Allison’s. They smiled and skipped, hand enclosed in hand, around the festival until the microphone announced they were closing up.  

“And one more announcement..the winner of a jar full of wishes.  Allison, from Mrs. Steiner’s class.”

Allison erupted into giggles and ran to get her prize.  A jar of colors, rainbows, swirls and …wishes.

It now sits on the kitchen counter. Each Saturday she pulls one out and makes a wish….lunch on a blanket under the oak tree in the yard, a swing side by side in the park, an afternoon in the bookstore lost in books, a girlie movie and popcorn or an ice cream sundae on the porch.  Each Saturday a special time with her mom… always another wish come true.