Daddy's Boy

Jalen wasn't too disturbed that the kids had left for school the other day, but when we went to brush our teeth, and he didn't see his Dad's toothbrush, he knew that things were wrong, very wrong . . . "Where's Dad's toothbrush?" "He took it with him." "To work? Why Dad take his toothbrush to work?" ________________________________________________ I guess it's okay for Dad to go to work, go to church, go to meetings, or go to the doctor, but when Jalen Andrew talked to his Dad on the phone, and in their closing Dad said, "I'll see you tomorrow," instead of his usual, "I'll see you when I come home for dinner," Jalen immediately pouted out his lower lip, and buried his sad self on my chest.

The kids come and go. They leave for school - they come back home - still no Dad. Suddenly "Dad" is all that Jalen Andrew can talk about. "Dad my helper boy!" (I think it's actually the other way around) "Daddy sleep in the dirt." (James, being helpful, explained that Dad was camping) "Daddy home safe?" (wishful hoping) "Where have you been Dad?" (the dialogue he used over and over again while playing with his Little People) _______________________________________________ All is well that ends well. Dad came home, and it took Jalen Andrew a long time before he let go of his Dad's neck. What a lucky Dad!