I Want My Daddy

My father was a creature of habit. He liked his schedule and he liked being at home and sleeping in his own bed.

When I was grown with a family of my own I was often at my parents' house when Daddy came home from work. He always arrived at the same time. When the door opened we knew it was him and we were ready to greet him.

For a long time after he died if someone came through the door at that time we would look up expecting to see him. It was a let down when it was not my father.

When I was a little girl of about 4 and 5 years old my father came home every day at the same time too. He worked at a munitions factory.

His work uniform was different. It was white. All the pockets were strips of cloth instead of a big patch enclosing the pocket. He told me that was so no one would take a lighter or matches into the factory.

I thought that was funny. When I was much older and Daddy no longer worked there I realized that it was to lessen the threat of an accidental explosion.

Every day when it was almost time for Daddy to come home from work I would run into the kitchen and hide behind the door. When he came in from work I would jump out from behind the door and scare him. Of course he was always surprised.

After he was properly "shocked" he would pick me up for a big hug as he walked over to give my mother a hello kiss.. He would ask what was for supper then go change into normal clothes. It was my favorite time of the day.

One day Mom started supper so I went into my hiding place to wait anxiously for my daddy. I crouched with a smile on my face in expectation of scaring Daddy. Mom just kept fixing supper with a wry grin on her face.

Finally she said, "Daddy's not coming home tonight."

I shrieked. I began to cry. Finally I went to Mom and whined, "But I want a Daddy just like everybody else!"

She began to chuckle as she gave me a hug. She tried to explain to me about overtime. She told me my father would be home the next night when it was time. I was inconsolable. I wanted my Daddy.

Of course he came home the next day. I waited behind the door and scared him. All was right with the world.