Go Daddy, Go

GO DADDY, GO

 

Colin shouted “DADDY!” as his father drove slowly into their driveway. His Daddy was tired and Colin helped him up the front stairs.

 

Daddy was too flooped to eat. Or play catch-ball. So he went to bed early. Then Colin and ‘teddy bear’ played by themselves in the backyard.

 

Colin missed daddy’s laughter. And being tickled under his chin, or lifted into the sky like an astronaut.

 

Before sleepy-time, Colin tiptoed into daddy’s room. Then he kissed him on the cheek.

 

Next morning the sun dressed up like a giant egg yolk, and peeked over the forest. Later, Colin’s favorite breakfast, one scrambled egg and juice were on the table. 

 

Oh-Oh, daddy slept in. His car sputtered and boomed like July fireworks, before roaring away.

 

Colin jumped on his tricycle. He zoomed around the back yard like a tiger. He had on his special blue rubber boots that gave him lots of power.

 

Tonight daddy walked home from work. “The car will have to stay in the garage for a few days,” he said. 

 

Mommy brought out her pumpkin pie. Yummy. Now daddy felt much better.

 

Colin knew daddy was too sad to wrestle. So the little boy went for a ride on his tricycle, wearing his magical, blue rain boots.

 

Oh…Oh, daddy’s friend forgot to come and get him next morning. Mommy had to drive him to work. Colin went too. He wondered why grownups drove cars. Tricycles were more fun. Besides, they worked all the time.

 

But, you had to wear a pair of rubber boots. Then you could go faster, and do neat tricks.

 

"Daddy?" Colin asked after supper. He climbed under the page and sat on daddy's lap.

 

"What is it son?" Daddy’s hug was like a warm blanket.

 

Colin's smile turned into a Pumpkin face. "You can use my tricycle, tomorrow, when you go to work. But, you have to wear your rubber boots."

 

His father laughed. "I'm much too large, son. I might break it."

 

"No, you won't," Colin said firmly. "You have to try."

 

Father and son raced to the backyard. They jumped over a Tonka toy truck, hopped over a baseball bat, and finally a cat dish.

 

Oh…Oh. Daddy tripped over the rake.

 

Colin’s red tricycle with white handlebars was waiting. He made sure it was clean and shiny. Just for daddy.

 

"You expect me to ride that?" daddy asked with a chuckle.

 

After pulling on his rubber boots, Colin showed him how. 

 

"Very funny. You mean I must wear rubber boots too?" daddy asked. 

 

"The tricycle is like magic daddy," said Colin. It made him happy when daddy finally put on his rubber boots.

 

After sitting on the tiny tricycle seat, daddy’s legs were like long branches. And he could barely turn the pedals.

 

"OMIGOSH! IT WORKS!" daddy shouted as the tricycle began to move. Faster and faster it circled around the yard.

 

“Daddy, you look funny,” said Colin laughing at his daddy’s long legs and yellow rubber boots.

 

After mommy and daddy were fast asleep, Colin tiptoed into their room. He bent over and kissed each on the cheek.

 

The little boy knew his kisses were full of magic. And he was happy daddy believed him about his tricycle.

 

Next morning, Colin and mommy waved goodbye to daddy. He roared off down the driveway heading for work.

 

Except, this time he was riding Colin's tricycle!

 

Truck drivers stared. People on the street pointed. Jaws opened wide as sea clams. Barking dogs chased the speedy tricycle.

 

Daddy got to work on time.

 

At the end of the day, a crowd of neighbors waited for Colin’s daddy to come home. He made it in time for supper. Later, Colin showed his daddy some new tricycle tricks.

 

Colin had to be very patient.

 

Imagine teaching his daddy to stand on the seat of a tricycle, while hanging onto his briefcase? Or doing a handstand as he raced through traffic?

 

That’s exactly what happened next morning.

 

Everyone heard about Colin’s lessons. Cars and trucks parked on each side of the road. Colin’s daddy had the whole road to himself, as people whistled and shouted. 

 

A pack of dogs soon became part of the scene. But their chasing was too slow, the speeding tricycle too quick.

 

Once more Colin kissed his sleeping daddy’s cheek. Tonight Colin left "Teddy" curled up with his father.

 

Colin's daddy practiced doing his own tricks. Like skip-rope on the tricycle seat as it sped around the back yard. And back flips.

 

“Please don’t try these until you get much older,” daddy said to his son, Colin.

 

Next day, those same howling dogs chased a cat around the corner. And they ended up crashing into daddy on Colin’s tricky tricycle.

 

A ‘Mish-Mash’ of animal tails and human legs suddenly took place. There was much yowling and howling. Then silence.

 

The crowd held its breath as they looked at a tangle of man, dogs and cat.

 

And everyone “OOOHED” and “AAAHED” as daddy’s briefcase shot into the air like a rocket. Then returned like an eagle, landing with a KLUNK on top of daddy’s head!

 

Tonight Colin kissed daddy's lumpy forehead. Teddy kissed it too. Daddy’s eyes opened slowly as he said, “Thanks son.”

 

Finally daddy’s car was repaired. Next morning Colin watched from his tricycle, as daddy roared down the street.

 

"GO DADDY, GO!" Colin shouted.

 

 

© 2014-19 Esther and Richard L. Provencher