Hiding Growing Up 14

I smile when Daddy picks me up and puts me on his knee. I love it when he reads to me; it makes me feel really warm, and he's a real good reader. He even does all the funny voices that make us laugh!

"This one, Daddy!" I smile big and pick up the book about the three little piggies.

"Tell you what, sweetie. How about you read to me tonight?" He says all nice, smiling big at me.

My eyes get super big! "Wow! Really?"

He nods his head. "Yep. You're a big girl now, aren't you?"

"Yeah!" I'm four and a half, so I'm a super big girl!

"Then go right ahead." He sits back in his chair and I sit back too, puttin' my feet on his knees so I can put the book in front of us.

When I get done with the story, Daddy looks real tired. Daddy always looks like that, and I keep seeing the little circles under his eyeballs getting bigger and more dark. I get worried and ask but he always lies and says he's okay. I don't think he is, though, but now I get to take care of him!

"Okay, Daddy. Bedtime," I tell him like he tells me after he reads to me.

He makes one of his eyebrows go up real high. "It's my bedtime too?"

"Uh huh!" I say it all firm so he has to listen real good! "You sleepy."

I grab his hand and take him to his big bed. I grab his big white shirt and fluffy gray pants, watchin' as he takes off his shirt and puts on the white one. Then I turn around so he can change into his comfy pants, which he thinks is funny somehow. Then, I crawl into the big bed with him and play with his hair.

"Thank you, little one." He says all soft, smiling real gentle.

I grin, then kissy his cheek. "Goodnight, Daddy. Sleep good and don't let the bed bugs eat you up."

He laughs some, and I wait until he's snoring until I get out of the bed and go to put myself in my bed. I don't feel sad, though, because now that means I'm a big girl, and big girls can take care of their daddies all their own.