I slipped my shoes on and ran to the car and sat in the front seat of the truck. I loved christmas shopping, it was always so exciting! I didn’t much care for getting, I always appreciated it, but giving is so much better, and more fufilling. Dad got in the car and started it up, when he did I turned my favorite station on, ‘Detroit’s Hit Music.’

“Oh turn that rap rubbish off, it hurts my ears,” he said as he pulled out of the driveway.

“But I like itt! Please!”

“Fine, just turn it down then.”

We sat in silence as we drove to walmart. Every once in a while I would sing a few lines from the song, but other than that all that was heard was the radio.’

“Oh god we are going to be here forever,” Dad said as we drove around the parking lot, to find every space taken.

“DAD! THERE! THEY’RE LEAVING! GO!” I yelled, pointing to a spot at the very back of the parking lot, where a red suv was pulling out. Dad sped up and we pulled in just as they got out.

“That was my spot Buddy!” Some guy yelled out of the car that was tailing us.

“Merry christmas to you too!” Dad yelled back.

I couldn’t help but giggle, he never swears, and when he does you know he means it.

When we got into the store I ran right for the mens section, hoping to lose my dad. I couldn’t see him anywhere, which was a good thing, because I didn’t want him to see what I get him, or make any embarrasing comments about my diapers, (which he seems to always do.) I saw a rack of ties, dad loves ties. I looked at all of them, some black, green, some cartoon characters, some checkered, then one caught my eye. It was green with red lettering and it said “The Christmas Tie.” I don’t know what was so special about it, I was just drawn to it.

“He’ll love it,” I said to myself. I felt a need to pee, but just ignored it. I didn’t care if I was in a diaper or not, I wasn’t going to wet it. I walked around the store, making sure to dodge my dad if I saw him, so he couldn’t find me. The need to pee kept getting stronger and stronger, maybe I should have went to the bathroom before I left home. I was in the pajama section when I couldn’t hold it anymore and let go. I felt myself tear up a bit, I quickly wiped my eyes and started walking and bumped into someone.

“Sorry,” I said while sniffling, I looked up and saw my dad.

“What’s wrong sweetie?” He asked me, knowing full well what was wrong.

“Nothing, get away from me,” I replied.

“Did you have an accident?” He asked me.

“No! Get away from me!” I yelled.

I turned to run away but he put his arm around me and the tie fell to the ground. We both went to pick it up at the same time, and just as our fingers touched it everything went black.

“Here ya go Paigey-Waigey!” The man said to the little girl handing her a tie.

“Thanks daddy!” She said to him, “lets go now!”

“Okay sweetheart, are you wet?” He asked her.

“Yuppers! Sorry daddy, I had an accident.”

“It’s okay Paige, your only four, and everyone has accidents.” He replied to her.

He took her hand and they walked to the cash register, her red curls bouncing as she walked, her green eyes wandering everywhere, her body twisting, but her hand never leaving her dad’s. After they got out of line, which took a while, he gave her the bag to hold, and lifted her up on his hip.

“Daddy! Can we do airplane? Pleaseeee!” The little girl said.

“Not now Paigey, how about before we get into the car?”

“Yeah!!” She said enthusiastically.

The man walked out of the door carrying his daughter and walked all the way to their truck.

“Okay ready?” he asked her.

“Yeah!!” She screamed.

He took the bag from her and put it on the drivers side seat. He held her above his head and made airplane sounds, while flying her to the other side. She giggled nonstop, her legs kicking the air. When they got to the door he put her on his hip and opened it, buckling her into her booster seat.