Jackson watched with despair as his new Rolex sank beneath the waters of the rapidly flowing river while the cruise ship moved inexorably in the other direction.
“Why?”
Six-year-old Mika looked up at her father with tears pooling in her big, brown eyes. “Because, Daddy, you love that watch more than you love me.”
Jackson’s heart shattered. Mika must have heard him arguing with Nancy when they’d thought she was sleeping last night. This river cruise had been Mika’s idea, inspired by a documentary the family had watched together. They had spent months planning it together.
Instead of chastising his daughter, Jackson bent down on his knees and wrapped his arms around her. “Never, sweetheart. Daddy could never love a watch more than you. I didn’t really mean it when I complained that our trip cost more than my watch.” He took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then made himself tell the truth.
“Mommy made me mad when she said my watch was a waste of money and that it was selfish of me to buy it. She was right and I was wrong.”
“Then why did you get mad and say those things?”
“Because, sweetheart, sometimes adults just need to grow up.”
I grew this story from the words river, despair, and watch.
How nice it would be to turn back time and unsay a few things I didn't think about until after the words were spoken. As my mother said, keep your words sweet because they're nicer to eat that way 😁
Go Mika! Great story, Dascha. 😁