DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL

The shadows lengthened and little by little the playground emptied as the children drifted home to supper. Finally, only one little girl and her admiring father remained in the small neighborhood park in Sherman Oaks California.

"Watch me Daddy, watch me!" Laura cried as she jumped from one level of the monkey bars to the next, her braids bouncing on her shoulders as she made a perfectly balanced landing.

Frank Holt applauded. "Brava!" he reached up and swung her off the bars and into his arms. "The beautiful and talented Princess Laura, pride of the Trapeze!"

Laura squirmed restlessly, "Put me back Daddy, I want to do it again," she begged.

Frank shook his head, "Sorry Princess, but its time to go. Mom and Frances are probably waiting supper for us." He perched Laura on his shoulders. "Hang on tight Sweetie," he cautioned. "And here she goes, the finest bareback rider in the entire circus world, ladies and gentlemen, aboard her trusty steed," he announced as they walked toward the exit.

Laura giggled, "Faster horsy, faster," she urged. Father and Daughter trotted off together down the sidewalk toward home.

Frances Holt let the screen door bang shut behind her. "Here they come Mother," she announced as she flounced into the dining room. Abigail Holt set the bowl of fruit salad on the table just so, and stepped back to survey the effect of the crystal bowl. Satisfied, she glanced at her older daughter. "Don't bounce when you walk dear, glide gracefully," she instructed.

"Yes, Mother," replied Frances. She attempted to comply with her Mother's wishes, walking with as graceful a stride as she could manage at a slightly gangly 14 years of age, and followed Abigail into the kitchen.

"Frances, get the rolls from the warming tray please," said Abigail, bending over the oven to get the roast chicken ready for the table.

As mother and daughter came through the kitchen door with hot food in hand, Frank and Laura burst noisily through the front door. Frank swung Laura down from his shoulders in a sweeping arc, and set her on her feet. "Abby, Franny, we're back, and hungry as bears in the spring!" he called.

"Well come on then," answered Abigail from the dining room. "It's not going to stay hot forever." She met her husband at the threshold and reached up to kiss him. "Laura sweetie, go wash your hands," she commanded. As Laura ran off toward the bathroom, Abigail continued, "I was getting worried. What took you so long? The matinee was over at 4:00, it's after 5:00 now."

"I know, I know," Frank apologized. "But we stopped at the park so she could show me how she could be just like the beautiful lady at the circus," he explained. He pushed Abigail's chair up to the table for her and took his seat at the head of the table. Laura climbed up into her chair on her Father's right, and Frances sat on her Mother's left.

Laura's eye's sparkled and her cheeks were a bright, rosy red from her excitement. "Guess what Mommie, guess what!"

"What little one?" Abigail answered.

"I saw a man who was as tall as...as a house! He was even taller than Daddy. And I saw a beautiful fairy princess, and monkeys, and clowns, and a man that ate fire..." she finally ran out of breath and had to stop.

"Well then I know you had a good time, didn't you?" agreed her Mother. Frances looked meaningfully at her Mother, who nodded slightly.

"Daddy?" said Frances.

Frank focused his attention on his older daughter. "Yes Sugarplum?"

Normally Frances hated it when her father used his baby nickname for her, but this evening she only winced briefly in silence. "Daddy, Celia Grosner has invited me to spend two weeks with her at Bear Lake. Can I, I mean, may I go?"

Frank considered the request and looked to Abigail for approval. "What do you think Abby? Is our young lady old enough to go traveling without us?"

"I think so, I talked to Renne Grosner this morning. She and Bob will be there the whole time."

"Well then Franny I suppose I'll have to get along without your sweet smile for a couple of weeks. When do the Grosner's want to leave?"

"They're going on Wednesday," she answered. "We'll be back at the end of the month in time for school registration."

Frank frowned slightly. "Well, I guess I won't be able to see you off then. I have to go out of town in the morning," he explained. "I'll be gone until Friday."

"Oh Frank, not another out of town trip!" Abigail's voice sharpened. "That's the third one this summer," she complained.

Frances hastily folded her napkin. "Come on Laura, you can help me choose the clothes for my trip. May we be excused please?" she asked, propelling Laura away from the table without waiting for permission.

From Frances' bedroom on the second floor, they could hear the escalating argument between Frank and Abigail.

"...Honestly Frank, don't they have any single men who can make all these out of town trips? I hardly ever get to spend any time with you," Abigail accused.

"That's not fair, Abby. I've done everything I could to avoid traveling," he replied. "Besides, you could have come with us to the Circus this afternoon you know. We wanted you to come," he countered.

Laura sat on the bed and watched Frances choosing the outfits to put in her suitcase. She fingered Frances' bathing suit. "You should get a pretty spangly one like the trapeze lady at the circus," she announced. "Then you'd be the prettiest girl on the whole beach."

"...What about the Spangler's barbecue? It's Wednesday night. We accepted the invitation weeks ago..." Abigail glared at her husband.

"I'm sorry honey. It can't be helped. I promise if I can get back earlier I will." answered Frank. "Ginger and Paul won't mind if you go alone."

Frances finished packing her suitcase. "You can't swim in those kind of leotards goosey," she protested. "The water'd probably make all the spangles tarnish."

"Well I'm going to get one," Laura announced defiantly. "Daddy said maybe I can take dancing lessons and wear a spangly suit," she said dreamily. Laura bounced off the bed. "I'm gonna ask Mommie right now if I can."

From the floor below Abigail's sharp voice interrupted Laura's departure. "...And I'm sick and tired of having to make excuses for your never keeping engagements because you have to work late! People are starting to wonder if I really have a husband..."

Frances grabbed Laura. "Not just now honey. I don't think Mom's in too great a mood. It'd be better to wait until tomorrow."

The sound of a door slamming carried clearly up the stairs. Laura's eyes were filled with anxiety as she climbed back on the bed. "I wish I could go with you to the Bear's Lake," she said wistfully.

Frances smiled at Laura's name for the lake. "I know, peanut. But you can't. Besides, with Daddy out of town, somebody has to take care of Mom."

Laura brightened considerably. "I can do that real good," she said.

"Dad's sitting out on the porch," said Frances softly. "Come on Laura, let's go down and see if he'll let us go to Chuskey's for ice cream."