2
Mom had set a password on her phone so I couldn’t watch videos. I couldn’t call Dad.
I held the phone up to Mom’s face, but it didn’t unlock automatically like it usually did.
I said to the phone, “Voice Assistant, I won’t secretly watch cartoons anymore. Please unlock, I need to call Dad.”
But the voice assistant didn’t respond.
I went to knock on Ms. Davis’s door, but no one was home either.
I had no choice but to climb back into bed and lie next to Mom, watching her.
Mom was beautiful. Even sleeping, she was beautiful, more beautiful than any fairy on
- TV.
Dad used to often watch Mom when she was asleep, and then he’d carry Mom from my side into their room.
He’d playfully nip at Mom like a puppy. Mom was most afraid of dogs, but she never pushed Dad away.
The next morning, Mom would always wake up late, rushing to make breakfast for Dad and me.
Adults always say kids don’t remember things, but I remember everything.
I remember that no matter how rushed Mom was back then, her eyes were always full of laughter.
But Dad didn’t smile. He just sat there looking at his phone, then went to work after breakfast, dropping me off at preschool on the way.
The teachers at preschool all loved it when Dad brought me. I heard them say my dad was the most handsome of all the dads, tall and good–looking and rich, like a movie star.
They also said my dad was cold and aloof, and if only he were a little gentler, he’d be perfect.
I thought they were wrong. Leo’s dad was clearly the best–looking.
Leo’s dad always carried him on his shoulders when he brought him to preschool. How
cool was that?
My dad
would just lift me down from the car and tell me to go into preschool by myself.
