“Daddy, Daddy!
What time will you be home?”

“8 o’clock sweetie, just like last night
And the night before
And the night before that.”

“Okay, okay. I get it…
But you’ll hurry right?”

“I always do.”

He kisses my forehead
And waves goodbye.
The screen porch door closes shut.

All day I wait—
Counting down the hours:
3 o’clock
4 o’clock
5 o’clock
Three more hours!
6 o’clock
7 o’clock
Daddy’s almost home!

I’m brushing my teeth at 8:01
When I hear the screen porch door
Creak open.

“Daddy, daddy, daddy!
You’re home! I thought I’d never see you again.”

“Pumpkin, I was only gone 8 hours.
The same as every day.”

“I know! But those were the longest
8 hours of my life!”

He laughs.
“Alright, let’s get you to bed young lady.”

He picks me up and carries me to my room.
He counts to 3 before he plops me on the bed.
I let out a giggle and he pulls the covers
Up to my chin.

“Sweet dreams, baby girl.”
A kiss to the forehead.

“Sweet dreams, daddy!”
He turns the light out and starts to leave.

“WAIT!”

“What?”

“You’ll hurry, right?”

“Hurry what?”

“You’ll hurry to morning
So I can see you again?”

“I always do.”

11/15/2013