Meeting Daddy

                                                 Meeting Daddy
She waited for this day as long as she could remember. After eleven years he was coming to get her. As she waited on the concrete steps in front of the old house where she lived with her Mummy. She tapped her black patent leather shoes on the steps, trying to release some of her pent up excitement. “ this is better than Christmas eve,” she thought as she looked up and down the road for the sign of his car. A great many years she would fantasize about this very moment . All of her dreams were different but with the same happy ending. She would have a Daddy to love and play with . He would teach her about tools and  listen to her sing. Maybe he would read her story books to her that she had piled in her room but could’nt read the words to ,so she would just look at the pictures and make up her own story. “yep, he will tell me what they say ,” she whispered  to no one this late afternoon. As she waited as patiently as a  ten year old little girl could  , she could hear Mummy in the house banging things around in the kitchen. For a moment her excitement and utter joy left her because she knew Mum was pissed. Her young mind thought it was because Mummy was jealous and a little afraid when Daddy came she would love him more. But that could never be true because she loved Mummy so much her stomach would hurt when she thought of her leaving. She wished Mummy would understand she could love them both . She wished Mummy knew that she needed her Daddy because with her Daddy she would be so scared all the time anymore. Once Daddy came today, she would be able to throw away her nightlight and play outside without sissy having to be with her. She didn’t realize afternoon had turned into evening until  the oncoming car headlights pulled her from her thoughts. She jumped up and fixed her dress and made sure her hair was still  tidy and  in its braid. Her heart was racing and she had inadvertently began to bounce up and down in her excitement of the approaching car that she could now see was occupied by a lone man. “ he’s here ,he’s here “,she exclaimed to the world that wasn’t even listening. The man in the car smiled at her . He smiled as he drove past. Her heart fell when she realized she was mistaken. With a long sigh , she went back to the steps and clumsily plopped down. The concrete steps scraped the back of her thigh and really stung. The street lights were on , usually she would have to be inside by now. Her tummy growled from hunger almost louder than the crickets that had come out to sing their night songs.  she considered popping inside to grab a snack  but quickly dismissed the idea because Daddy was bringing her out to dinner and she didn’t want to spoil it. A few more cars came and went  but none were him. She tightly wrapped her arms around herself  to try to keep warm. The night air had become chilly and her bum had fallen asleep waiting on those stupid hard cold stairs. She stared up at the stars and tried to find the little dipper her teacher just taught them about in school, but the night sky looked random pinholes of light to her. Suddenly the sound of a ringing phone put an end to cold silence she was immersed in. Mummy was yelling now. She covered her ears because she didn’t want to know why, but  already did. It was quiet again . She sat still and listened hard . After what felt like forever she heard the screen door slam and footsteps walking toward her. Mummy appeared around the corner. “time to go in Do Do” she said softly. “but im waiting “ she protested. Mummy looked at her for sometime , not saying a word. When she finally spoke she asked,” you hungry?” “yeah”, the defeated little girl responded.  “ you go inside with sissy , I will walk to town and get a pizza. Your in luck cuz you get to pick what kind we get. “ through her tears the little girl said ,”pepperoni”. Mummy said “ okay, I’m on it. Get in your jamma’s and I’ll be back soon. “  As Mummy walked down the hill out of her sight the little girl thought, “I bet Daddy would have come if I wore my pink dress instead.”