"Of course not, Daddy," Allie said with an impish smile that showed every one of her dimples (she had three). "Why would I want to do that?" She tossed the book aside and held out her arms for a hug, sitting up and leaning forward as best as she could. Despite the brilliance of her smile, the shine in her eyes, her skin was pale and sickly, and there were heavy rings around her eyes. She was a sick girl.
A sick girl with a glowing soul.
Dad guffawed, deep and delighted. "'Course you don't. Where'd be the fun?" He grinned hugely at her over her father's shoulder, touching the brim of His hat. "Howdy, l'il lady. What's your handle?"
For a moment Allie watched Him, her face half-buried shyly in the crook of Barney's neck, but then her smile came out slowly, as if the sun was peering out from behind a cloud. "Howdy," she said, mimicking His accent. "I'm Allie. What's yours, tall stranger?"
"Usually I'd say t'call Me Dad," Dad said, and then winked conspiratorially, "but you've already gotta a great one've those. Call Me Grandad instead. This is Ghastly, a great friend of mine."
The smile brightened even more, and Allie waved a few fingers. "Howdy, Ghastly. Are you bear-rustlin'? Should I call the sheriff?"
Dad's laughter rang so loudly throughout the ward that everyone in it turned to look--even the children who pretended not to, just because the teddy-bears probably weren't for them and there was no point in getting their hopes up.
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A sick girl with a glowing soul.
Dad guffawed, deep and delighted. "'Course you don't. Where'd be the fun?" He grinned hugely at her over her father's shoulder, touching the brim of His hat. "Howdy, l'il lady. What's your handle?"
For a moment Allie watched Him, her face half-buried shyly in the crook of Barney's neck, but then her smile came out slowly, as if the sun was peering out from behind a cloud. "Howdy," she said, mimicking His accent. "I'm Allie. What's yours, tall stranger?"
"Usually I'd say t'call Me Dad," Dad said, and then winked conspiratorially, "but you've already gotta a great one've those. Call Me Grandad instead. This is Ghastly, a great friend of mine."
The smile brightened even more, and Allie waved a few fingers. "Howdy, Ghastly. Are you bear-rustlin'? Should I call the sheriff?"
Dad's laughter rang so loudly throughout the ward that everyone in it turned to look--even the children who pretended not to, just because the teddy-bears probably weren't for them and there was no point in getting their hopes up.