Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
I lean back, which lets me block out my peripheral vision, and I focus only on what’s directly in front of us. The path mostly. I watch with wide eyes, not reacting until Daddy stops the stroller.
I sit forward and clap my hands. “There they are, Daddy. Teacups! They’re real!”
He chuckles as he releases me from the stroller. “Did you think they only existed on TV?”
“Yes. I guess. Sort of,” I admit.
Daddy squats in front of me and takes my arms. “I want to keep your anxiety to a minimum. It’s my job. So, I’d rather not use a harness if we can avoid it in the lines. But that means you have to stay right by my side at all times, holding my hand. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl. Let’s go try the teacups.”
Chapter Nine
The teacups make me dizzy, and I love it. We ride them three times before Daddy leads me to a rollercoaster. It’s a small one. I can see the entire track. It doesn’t have any deep dips or loops or drops.
When we get close to the front of the line, I get anxious. “Is a stranger going to touch me?” I ask softly.
Daddy pulls me close to his side. “This one has a bar that will pull down in front of us to keep us safe. There are other rides with elaborate harnesses though. You’ll have to look at them to decide if you think you can ride them.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think I can do that, Daddy.”
“Then we’ll stick with the ones that don’t require as much restraint. It will still be so much fun.”
I tip my head back to look at him. I wonder if he’s serious or humoring me.
Daddy chuckles and leans down to whisper in my ear. “Can I tell you a secret?”
My eyes go wide. “What, Daddy?”
“I tend to get motion sickness on the wild rides. I’ve been hoping you wouldn’t want to ride them. I’d have to turn in my man card and my Daddy card if I threw up on a ride.”
I giggle and twist in his arms to hug him tight. “We better not go on any super scary rides then. I don’t want you to get sick.” Relief floods me, even if he was exaggerating.
We ride the easy roller coaster three times also. That’s Daddy’s limit. He cuts me off and insists we go to another one. And another. And another. After five rides, I’m giddy, and my stomach is growling.
“Time for a bottle, Baby girl.” Daddy stops at a park bench. Instead of taking me out of the stroller though, he leans the seat back so I’m partially reclining and holds the bottle to my lips from my side.
It’s comforting. I can’t see other people. I’ve done so well all morning. I’m proud of myself. Even though the lines get crowded, Daddy always distracts me. Having the ability to rest and regroup in the stroller in between alleviates my anxiety.
I grow groggy while I’m eating, and Daddy has to jiggle the bottle several times to encourage me to finish it. I’ve learned this part is mandatory. Little girls are expected to empty every bottle.
When I’m done, Daddy kisses my forehead. “Nap for a while, Baby girl.”
I’m smiling as I drift off.
It seems like only minutes before I open my eyes, startled by my surroundings. Daddy notices I’m awake immediately and sets down the book he was reading. “Hey there, princess. Feel better?”
I nod and stretch out my arms while he sets my stroller back up.
“I have a surprise for you.”
I shift my attention to him as he pulls something out of the diaper bag and holds it up.
It’s a lollipop. Not an ordinary lollipop. It’s one of those giant swirly ones. Green and white. “For me?” I shout.
He chuckles. “Of course it’s for you, princess. I don’t have any other Little girls.” He removes the plastic wrapper and hands it to me. “How about if I push you around the park so we can see everything else while you lick.”
The first taste makes me moan. It’s so yummy. Green apple. I love it. I know from Dr. Pedersen telling us yesterday that it’s made from all healthy ingredients like fruit juice, but it’s so delicious.
Daddy finds a few more rides that won’t make me panic, and then he decides I’ve had enough for the day, and we head for the exit.
“But I want to stay longer,” I whine, shocked by my reaction. I’m not a whiner. Ever. I’m not the sort of Little who’s a brat. I’ve heard other Littles talk about brats at the Dungeon. I’m not like that.
But I suddenly find myself pushing Daddy’s buttons. It’s like a challenge to see what he will do. I’m starting to worry that I’m too much work for him. I wonder what his limit is. I’ve never seen it. Will he get angry? Frustrated? I want to find out. It’s important.