Red House: Part Eight

Read Part One
Read Part Two
Read Part Three
Read Part Four
Read Part Five
Read Part Six
Read Part Seven

Getting The Princess out of the water and onto the dock is proving to be a bit more difficult than I had anticipated. Did I mention the fact that the lake is over fifty feet deep out by the swimming dock?

Thank goodness we’re the only family down here right now. Grunting, holding a squirmy Princess in one arm and grabbing onto the ladder with the other, I heave us out of the lake. The Princess is not happy, to say the least.

Huffing and puffing like hippo with a hernia, I flop myself into the small shaded portion of the swimming dock. The Princess, who is still unwillingly attached to me (whoever invented the little handle on children’s life jackets, I love you), is pulling with all her might to get back to the water.

Whirling around to stare me in the eyes, she gives me the look: the one that tells me I have mere seconds to rectify the situation before I lose her. Unwilling to let autism win this one, so soon after we’ve arrived, I spring into action.

I call out across the dock to Gumma and Umpa to let them know we’re coming, then crouch next to The Princess and tell her we’re going to go on the boat. I ask her to walk with Momma over by Gumma and Umpa, and I promise the holy grail: fruit snacks.

Holding hands, we make our way to the stall that shall be our boat’s home for the rest of the trip. The whole way, I’m giving her a play-by-play, trying my damnedest to let her know what’s coming so she’s not caught off guard. Sometimes I feel as though I’m talking to myself, but the mild embarrassment is worth it if she understands even a fraction of what I’m saying, so I keep going despite the heat in my cheeks.

We’ve arrived on the finger pier next to the boat, and I’m crouched down again, looking her in the eye. I explain that I’m going to hand her to Gumma, and that we will all ride in the boat together.

The look she gives me in return is priceless. Grinning, she turns to Gumma and raises her arms.

Stay tuned for Part Nine.