I lay in my bed, somber. The room is dark and corresponds with my mood. One of my daughters on the other side of existence senses my distress and makes telepathic contact with me.
“What’s wrong, daddy,” she asks me.
“Hei, hun. It isn’t anything that you need to worry about. I’m having some issues with my mother at the moment. That’s all.”
“What kind of issues?”
“She’s broken my trust numerous times and I’ve reached a tipping point with her.”
My daughter crawls into bed with me and lays beside me.
“Do you want to talk about it with me?” she says, while looking into my eyes.
I shake my head at her. “Not so much, hun. I’ve been dwelling on it for over a day now.”
“What would make you feel better?”
“Let’s talk about you, baby. How are things going at school?”
She gives me a bright smile. “I asked a girl I like if she wanted to come over to our house the other day.”
“Oh, já?”
She nods at me, continuing to smile. “She’s super nice & sooooooo cute.”
I snicker at my daughter’s enthusiasm.
“I think you’d like her,” she says to me.
I smile at my little girl. “I’m sure I would, baby.”
“We have so much in common. She loves to swim as much as I do.”
“Oh, já?”
She nods at me, again. “I invited her over to swim in our lake. Mom said that we can each invite a girl over for an outdoor slumber party. Their moms were invited to join us as well. It’s gonna be a big camping get-together.”
“That sounds fun,” I say.
She beams even more at me. “I’m gonna ask her on a date when she comes over.”
I raise my eyebrows at her. “A date? Already?”
She gives me a stern look. “I’m old enough to date, dad. Mom said so.”
I snicker at my girl. “I wasn’t implying anything, hun.”
“Can I ask you for some advice?”
“Of course, baby.”
“How do you think I should ask her out?”
“Well, that depends, hun.”
“Depends on what?”
“Her mood. The ambience of the moment. Your surroundings. Do you have anything special in mind regarding how you want to ask her?”
She nods at me. “I want to take her skinny dipping, alone at night, when we’re camping.”
“Skinny dipping?” I say with a raised brow.
She gives me another serious look. “Don’t act like you didn’t think about stuff like that at my age, dad. I’ve seen the recordings of you.”
I laugh heartily at my daughter. She continues.
“Then I want to tell her how much I like her and ask if she feels the same way.”
“And if she does?”
“Then I’m going to kiss her on her lips.”
“And what if she just wants to remain friends?”
“I’ll respect her decision, but I’m not about to give up on trying to date her. Not yet, anyway.”
“That sounds practical.”
“So, what do you think?”
“I think you have a solid plan, hun.”
My daughter beams at me. “Já?!”
I nod at her. “However, I’ll say this. If she’s uncertain about skinny dipping don’t push it too much on her. Let her warm up to the idea. That’ll improve your chances with her.”
She smiles at me. “I think she’s going to want to do it with me.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because of what I’ve learned about body language.”
“Oh, já? How so?”
“She does little things to me all the time. Like brushing my hair behind my ear or running her index finger along my cheek while telling me how cute I look. I’ve caught her checking me out a few times now.”
I laugh at my girl’s last statement. “Have you now?”
She nods & giggles at me. “Mom’s teaching me The Art of Seduction.”
I run my palm across my forehead and to the back of my skull. “Oh, Goddess…I know what that means…”
My daughter giggles even more. “She showed me one of the ways she does that with you. Like when she tilts over to adjust her shoes or pick something up from the floor.”
I laugh even louder at my girl. “And…?”
“And I tried it on her when we were horsing around the other day.”
“And…?”
My baby giggles at me and begins to blush bright. “And she spanked me on my butt!”
I smile at my daughter. “It sounds like you have good chemistry with her.”
She beams at me. “I think so too! My heart races whenever I’m with her.”
“That’s a sign, alright.”
“I’m a little nervous though.”
I shake my head at her. “Don’t be, hun. Be confident in yourself. It’ll make her more confident about things, too.”
She flashes me a soft, warm smile. “Thanks, dad.”
“You’re welcome, baby.”
“Let’s talk about you. How are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling better after our little chitchat.”
“Would it be okay if I had some fresh milk? You’re super hot right now and I’m getting kinda thirsty.”
“I don’t have a problem with that. What about your mother?”
“She said I can if you say I can.”
I smile at my little girl. “Okay, hun.”
My daughter squeals at me with delight and hugs me tight then smooches me on my lips. “I love you, daddy.”
I smile at my darling daughter. "I love you back, baby."