Page 27 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Chapter Five

Pickled Pieces

I have so many incredibly happy memories of Daddy. And I
have so many incredibly sad ones too.
I know how much he loves me. It’s a great big kind of love.
It doesn’t matter how big I grow, I still want to crawl up on
his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. Then I shower him
with lots of fat hugs and kisses.
Whenever Daddy gets sad, I feel sad too. Then I love him
even more.
Like when Grandma died, Daddy was hunched over at our
kitchen table. I know he was trying to hide it but I could see
him crying into his hands. I heard him crying in his bedroom
too. Daddy was sad for a very long time when Grandma died.
That’s when my heart really hurt.
Sometimes, he has to go to the hospital. Mommy says he’s
sick and needs to go away for awhile. But Daddy doesn’t look
sick. He doesn’t lie in bed when we see him. He doesn’t have to
wear a hospital gown. I don’t understand.
When we get to the hospital, Mommy meets him at the
elevator. Then we sit in a small room and have a visit. When
we’re finished, he goes up the elevator all by himself. I hate the
long drive back home. I am always sad when Daddy isn’t with
us. I don’t like when he has to stay in the hospital.
My Auntie Frances is in the hospital sometimes too. She
has cancer. When Mommy goes to see her, she has to drive all
the way up to Edmonton. That’s a really long drive. While she’s
away, Daddy looks after us. There are times he gets really sad
and then he cries again.

13