The Plan

The Plan

“Dad, why don’t we ever go on a cruise ship for our vacation?” Eight-year-old Sandy asked.

A bit perplexed, Dad said, “Well, first of all, where would we go?”

“There’s a whole world of places.”

“Any one you wanted to see? I know you’re a second grader now, but I never heard you wanting to go on a cruise ship before.”

“Angela Harrison is…”

“Oh yeah? To where?”

“I think a bunch of countries, they’ll be gone all summer… Will we ever go on a cruise ship?”

“Probably not.”

“Why not?”

“Number 1, we can’t afford it.”

“It’s very expensive?”

“Yes, plus Mom and I already have plans for our vacation this year, so we couldn’t afford to go on a cruise too. And, we wouldn’t have the time…”

“What do you mean we don’t have time? Don’t we get summer off from school?”

“Yes, you do, but I don’t get summer off from work. Just get two weeks.”

“And you can’t go on a cruise in two weeks?”

“You probably can… but Mom and I had a better idea that we really hoped you’d want to do…”

“No cruise ship huh… well, what’s the other plan?” Sandy asked, sounding a bit sad.

“Mom is taking the same weeks off as I am, and you will be out of school because it’s in July… We made plans to go to Disneyland. I hope that’s OK with you… Is it?”

Sandy sat there looking at Dad for a long moment, she didn’t say anything.

Dad got a little nervous, “Sandy? Are you OK? I’m sorry about the cruise ship…”

“Disneyland? Really! Promise me it’s true! Disneyland!” she practically jumped out of her chair with excitement!

“So, I guess that’s OK?” Dad asked, smiling.

And then, life was good again.