Rhonda headed
out the door, anxious to get into the car and head into town. "Jack,"
she yelled, " Grab MaKayla and let's get
going."
"Okay"
replied Jack, " we're on our way out the door now." "come on MaKayla" he spoke softly to their two-year-old
daughter, "Let's go for a ride to town."
MaKayla looked at
him from the top of the steps, those round brown eyes showing anxiety and
hesitation. Not wanting to go down the steps on her own, she held out her arms
and pleaded "DaDa."
Jack looked
at her and motioned for her to walk down the step. "You can do it."
he said, "It's only one step. show Daddy the big girl you are today."
MaKayla looking
bewildered, turned back towards the house door, unsure of what to do. Jack
walked away from the steps, moving closer to the car. "Come on MaKayla, we're ready to go. You'll have to stay by
yourself." he fibbed as he turned towards the car.
MaKayla, tears
forming in her eyes, reached towards him again.
"Be a
big girl" coaxed her dad, hoping that she would come down the step and
build her self-confidence.
But she
turned back towards the house and then towards the railing. sitting down, she
let her feet dangle over the side of the deck. Then she slipped off. Scarcely
one foot from the ground, MaKayla landed softly,
stood up unharmed and looked mournfully at Dad.
"You did
it" exclaimed Jack, proud that his daughter had taken the first step.
But MaKayla didn't see it that way, she knelt, reaching up with
those little hands, imploring Dad to come and pick her up.
At that, Jack
turned towards the car once again, "You'll be here all alone. Come on,
we're heading to town." as he took another step closer to the car.
Standing once
again, reaching for Dad to pick her up, MaKayla let
the tears roll, playing her best sympathy card.
Jack was
moved but felt the need for her to assert her independence, staring at her,
waiting for that first step towards adulthood.
The two
looked at each other for an interminable time, neither willing to give in.
At
that moment, Rhonda swooped MaKayla up, carried her
to the car, glanced at Jack and said, "Let's go, she can grow up next
week"
© 2018 Steven A. Yockim