Daddy's Little Girl

"This is all your fault." Fred buttoned his waistcoat over his paunch.

"What are you on about?" Ellen zipped little Verona into her dress.

"I told you she was too young." Fred took his jacket from its hanger and put his arms into the sleeves with some difficulty.

"Don't be daft, Fred, she's a grown woman." Ellen chased a nappied toddler and attempted to put a dress over the child's head.

"She's my little girl." Fred bumped down onto the end of the bed.

"She hasn't been your little girl for ten years, love." Ellen struggled to get trousers onto the kicking legs of Romeo.

"But she's too young ..." Fred's head was in his hands. Ellen sat down beside him and put an arm round his shoulder.

"It had to happen one day, love."

Fred pulled himself together, put the buttonhole on his jacket, and the top hat on his head. "Okay, let's do this."

"Who gives this woman to this man?"

"I do."

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