Waiting For Daddy

It was mid July but the day was every bit as long as Christmas Eve.
“Mama”, said Manda, “When’s Daddy coming home?”
“Today, Manda, today.”
Mama twinkled like a star as she spoke.
They were both so happy.
“Mama”, said Manda, “Where has Daddy been?”
“Baby, lets don’t think about that.”
Manda lost a bit of her butterfly-like luster
but only a little.
She had known there would be no answer.
But like any child, her hope sprang eternal.
Six o’clock in the morning;
“Manda, you know he’s never arrived this early”.
Noon; he had never been able to get there that soon.
Four o’clock.
The doorbell rang.
Only the mailman.
Manda almost said, “Crap”.
Almost.
‘Mama, it’s six thirty”, Manda said.
“I know, honey”.
Mama smiled.
It couldn’t be long now.
In the silence, they heard a car door slam.
Their eyes got big as cantaloupes
and they held their breaths.
Footsteps.
“It’s Daddy”, squealed Manda.
She was in his arms before he had the door all the way open.
Mama stood back and smiled.
Her turn was coming.
With her face buried deep in the collar of his shirt
they both heard Manda say very clearly,
“What did you bring me, Daddy?”