See the World (An Easy English Story): Part 6
After the surgery, Neil picks up his daughter Leila from school. When he opens a box of macaroni and cheese for dinner, Leila shouts, “No!”
Neil jumps. “What happened?”
“Mama said I can’t have macaroni noodles,” Leila shouts and grabs the box.
“Mom just said that you need to eat healthier food.” Neil takes the box from Leila and dumps the noodles into the boiling water. “So I’ll cut up an apple or something, too.”
Leila stands on her toes and tries to look in the pot. Before her nose gets too close to the stove, Neil picks her up and lifts her above his head. “Super-Leila!” he sings and flies her around the room.
When the macaroni and cheese is ready, Leila and Neil sit down at Neil’s long oak dining table. Neil got to keep the table after the divorce, and Amanda got the TV. The table was more expensive, so two years ago Neil thought that it was better. But for two years, no one else sat at the table except Leila and Sam. Neil wishes he had the TV.
“Daddy.” Leila puts her spoon on her Mickey Mouse-shaped plate. “I heard Mama talking to Grandma yesterday. Mama said that you can’t spend Christmas with us because you… because… your work.”
Neil frowns. When Amanda was angry, she used to tell Neil, “You’re married to your work.” That’s probably it. “Leila,” Neil says. “Daddy is helping people. Sometimes doctors need to help people on Christmas.”
“Why?” Leila asks. Her usual question.
“Well, there are a lot of little bugs called germs. These bugs can make someone sick, but usually you can’t see them. Daddy has special contacts–like X-ray superhero glasses–to help him see the bugs. These might help me get rid of the bugs and make the people better.”
“Oh. Okay!” Leila picks up an apple slice and bites off half of it. Juice spills down from her cheek. “Daddy…”
Oh, great. Another question about Christmas. “Please don’t listen to what your mom says about my work, Leila. We can open presents the next day.”
“Daddy, in school we read a story today about a frog and a fox who were best friends, and they went to play in the park, but the fox fell in a pond, and the frog helped him, and…”
The corners of Neil’s mouth lift as Leila talks about her day at school. Five-year-olds are like a video game character. If something bad happens, they can restart. They feel sad about Christmas? Restart. They dropped their apple slice? Cry about it a little bit, and then restart. Add five character life points. Neil wishes Leila could be happy forever.
Fun for Fluency! 