Dad

Written for https://christinebialczak.com/2024/12/17/simply-6-minutes-welcome-to-the-challenge12-17-2024/

The first roller coaster I went on, was with my dad. I remember not being scared because he was with me. This was back in the day when the only thing stopping you falling out was a single bar across your legs. Yet I always felt safe.

‘It looks rather high,’ Sarah said.

The roller coaster, with so many twists and turns, it was difficult to stop her stomach from lurching from one negative thought to another bigger problem. A sound plan presented itself until the metal bar clamped down.

‘I’ll be here, and if this scares you, we can go on the waltzer.’

‘Okay Daddy …’

Her words barely left her lips before the insignificant cart trundled across the wooden tracks. Hot dogs, with their sweet aroma, mingled with her strawberry milkshake. She swallowed, and the contents of her last meal held firm.

He reached out, his study hands holding hers.

Slowly moving toward the summit, she held her breath; Like Gods were fighting, the creak of the wheels made the carriage tremble. Metal fighting for attention. Their tussle got carried away, making their barrier between them and the ground shake.

Time hovered as she caught his reassuring smile; everything would be okay.

‘Look at the sky,’ he said. ‘It won’t be as scary.’

She focused on the soft clouds, where the stealthy sun shone through as they crashed down to earth, before somersaulting to the left, before quickly jolting to the right. She screamed, and her daddy squeezed her hand tighter.

He didn’t let go.

Not once.

Her protector, he would always keep her safe.