Princesses and Tiaras -- May 1987

My baby girl wanted to play princesses and I was her victim.  She was nearly six years old and her mum and sister were out so... here I was in a tiara.  I would not want it any other way, though.  We sat there having a little tea party as we pretended to be beautiful princesses.  "Did you want a nother cookie?" I asked her with a smile.

I grinned at my daddy.  I nodded and took a chocolate chip cookie and started to nibble on it.  "Daddy, will you tell me about your drawing on your arm?" I asked him.  I thought it was a really neat drawing.  He did not like telling me stories of when he was little,, though.  I loved hearing his stories.  I was not sure if he was trying to be funny or if his stories were real sometimes wiht the way he said them!

I smiled and ruffled Maddie's hair a little bit.  "I got this drawing when I was young and stupid.  I really wish I didn't do it..." I said, shaking my hea das I ate a cookie with her.  Aimee was an excellent baker -- at least when it came to cookies.

I furrowed my brow slightly.  "Why can't you just erase it then?" I asked him.  It was what I did when I drew something wrong.  Why could Dad not do that?

I laughed and shook my head.  "Honey, I wish it were that easy," I said.  "Why don't we just focus on the tea party?"  My daughter was constantly curious.  She was too smart for her own good.  I knew she would still have a lot of questions... she always did during tea parties.

I stood u pand started to clean up a little bit.  "I'm done with tea," I told my daddy.  "Why don't we see anyone from your side of the family?  I wish that we met some of your family... don't we have cousins or aunties and uncles?"  We got to see Mum's side all the time... why not my daddy's?

My little girl would put me on the spot like this.  "You have aunties and uncles on your mum's side," I said, helping to pick u pthe tea set and accessories.

"But no one really talks the way you do," I said, giggling.  Daddy always sounded so different compared to anyone else.  I really thought that made him really special and I hated when my friends at school made fun of him, I got really angry with them.

I put away the tiaras and shook my head.  Despite my years of being in the United States, I never lost my accent.  "Well, silly, that's because I'm not from around here," I told my daughter with a smile.

"I know that Daddy," I replied, giggling.  "I wanna meet with your family to hear their voices, too."  I always wondered why we never saw them.  He had to have his own mum and dad... siblings even!

Oh my daughter was stubborn.  "They all passed away a long time ago or we just don't talk anymore," I said.  I didn't want to be depressing with my daughter who was so young, but she asked.

Well they shouldn't do that.  "You should talk to them!  They're family!" I said, crossing my arms and shaking my head.  As much as my sister drivesme nuts sometime... I woul dalways talk to her.

She was so much like her mother.  "Maybe you'll meet them one day," I told her, wanting to get off of the topic of my family.  I really did not want her to know too much.  She didn't know any better yet to not say anything.  She was only five or so after all.

I grinned.  "I'd really like that Daddy," I said, giving my daddy a hug.  I really wanted to meet his family.  I wanted to hear their funny voices that I was sure they'd have.

"Why don't we just focus on making more tea for now?" I suggested, showing her my 'empty' cup.  "I happen to be all out."  I knew that owuld distract her off of the topic of the familiy.  I felt bad that she never got to meet her cousins or aunt and uncle.  But it was for the best... I was doing my best to protect this family.