Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“I loved my presents,” I say.
The party was earlier. We went go-karting. Dad sped around the track with us. When I joked that Dad was so big he probably wouldn’t fit in the cart, he laughed and ruffled my hair. I love when he does that and gives me that smile. It makes me feel like he’s proud of me.
Mom’s in the kitchen, chopping some vegetables. She was away for two days recently and felt bad about it. She was at some big conference for graphic designers, giving a talk, since she has her own company and it’s super successful. I get why she had to be away. She’s the best Mom ever. I’m proud of her.
“What are you two up to?” she says.
“Got a gift for someone,” I reply, holding up the tennis ball.
“Ten points for the American speak. I’m making Daddy vegetable soup with curry powder as a snack. Any takers?”
“Ew, gross. Why does he want that?” Freya says.
“Hey, it’s tasty. I might even throw some frog’s legs in.”
“Ew,” Freya says, giggling.
“Love you, Mom,” I say, tugging Freya’s arm.
I can’t wait to see Loki’s reaction, but first, I walk over to Tamara, in her closed-off area in the corner, playing with her blocks. “Love you, sis.”
“Love, love, love!” she sings, banging her blocks together.
On our way to Loki’s playroom/the computer room, we walk past Luke’s bedroom. Dad’s in there, holding baby Luke. He’s sleeping quietly, and it’s weird when I see how Dad looks at him. This kid in school’s jealous of his little brother, but when I see Dad like that, I get so emotional. It makes me want to cry sometimes. It’s just knowing there’s so much love in the family, all of us one big team.
“You all right, kids?” Dad says, smiling at me and Freya with that same love.
“Looking for Loki,” I say, shaking the ball.
“The old man will be happy to see that,” Dad says. “Let me put this one down, and I’ll join you.”
“C-can I do it?” Freya says.
“Can you do it, Freya?” Dad asks, looking at us with that grownup face.
“Yes,” Freya says, and Dad nods.
Freya carries little Luke to the cot—crib, as Mom would say—and puts him down. Dad gets him all settled in, and then we walk into the next room, where Loki sleeps in the corner. He likes to curl up in the sun, the light shining on his fur, which has turned almost completely white with age.
“Loki,” I whisper.
He turns, peels his eyes open, and sighs like he’s ready to go back to sleep, but then I show him the ball, and he stands up and walks over, his old tail waggling.
“That’s it, boy,” I say, sitting and helping him to gnaw on it. “You’re a good boy. The best boy.”
I stroke him, putting the ball back in his mouth every time he drops it. Finally, he climbs into my lap. I bury my face in his fur.
“Daddy,” Freya says. “Why are you crying?”
“Because your big brother is the most loving boy a man could wish for.”
“So true.” Freya wraps her arms around me. “He’s the best. Wait, I’ve got the best song for this.”
Freya plays her flute as Dad sits beside me and Loki and hugs us both.
THE END