So Far, so good

You drive carefully in the direction of the Amusement park. A little nervous that you have a child in your rear seat without a car seat for her.

"So, Mr. John how was your day?" Courtney asks from the back seat brightly.

"Oh, saw an old friend, had lunch."

"Did you see my momma?" Courtney asks.

"No, not today, she has to work remember?"

"Oh...okay. Who is your other friend?"

"Tommy Lang, Jeremy's father." You answer as you make the right onto the road to the park, Tommy's pickup right behind you.

"Jermemy? You know Uncle Tommy??"

"Yes I do. He and Jeremy are going to be at the park too."

"Uncle Tommy's sister works at the park. She's really nice. But sad, I think." Courtney says, and you think you detect a little sadness in her voice as well.

"Oh, why is that?"

"I don't know...momma said something about her not being able to see in the dark."

You nod at that, "Yeah, she has night blindness. It can't be easy for her, and if kids are anything like I remember them they tease her badly about it."

"But...why? That's so mean." Courtney replies, and you smile at her innocence.

"It's hard to explain. It's just a way of reacting to what's different."

"Oh." Courtney says thoughtfully.

The rest of the drive is in silence and you have to take a gander at the girl to see if she was alright every now and then. She wore a thoughtful look the whole trip, only perking up when the park's ferris wheel came into view.

You quickly park the car and walk around to the back door, as Courtney struggled to unclip the seatbelt. "Here, Courtney, let me." You say, and quickly pick the girl up.

On a whim you carry the little girl to the entrance, the entire time marveling at how natural it felt. How comforting. Courtney seemed to appreciate it as well as she just snuggled into the hug, resting her head on your shoulder, and wrapping her little arms around your neck. You swear you hear her sigh as well. You figure that outside of your father she wasn't held by too many men. You remember back to your childhood, and how a mother's hug and a father's hug were different.

Tommy walks up, Jeremy jogging along beside him, "Hey, John...hope you get used to that. No other feeling in the world, my man. Seriously. No other feeling."

Jeremy looks up at Courtney, "H-hi Courtney."

Courtney, turning to Jeremy, "Oh, hi Jermemy." You watch as Jeremy's face flushes a bit and he turns away. Courtney turns back to you, and whispers, "He always does that. I don't know why though."

You look the girl in her eyes, "I have an idea, but it's a secret."

Courtney's eyes brighten and she leans her head in, "I can keep secrets. I'm keeping a big secret for mommy."

"What's that."

She smiles and slaps your shoulder, "It's a secret, Mr. John. I can't tell you until mommy tells you."

"The secret is for me is it?" You ask as you move to the ticket booth.

"uh...You didn't hear that...it's a secret. I promiseded I would keep it."

You wink at the girl as you step up behind Tommy in the line for the amusement park. "Okay, what do you want to go on first?" You ask as you drop the subject of the secret.