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Since I was already nakey (Daddy loved when I said that), he suggested that I take a bath, and I jumped at the chance. My parents' house only had a shower stall, so I couldn't remember the last time I had a bath.
And Daddy's tub was amazing! It was big and deep, and even had jets in the side. When he turned them on, the bubble bath churned and grew until I was surrounded by bubble mountains.
But luckily, Daddy had several rubber trucks for me to play with. They worked together to clear the snow piles away so there wouldn't be an avalanche. The rubber duck mayor of the city was so grateful, the trucks got to be in a parade along the side of the tub.
Once the fluffy suds were cleared away, Daddy said it was time to wash before my water got cold. I had to put my toys away in a bucket, but I didn’t mind. Especially when he used a soft washcloth to scrub my body. He was so gentle as he cleaned every spot; even between my toes, which made me giggle. I wasn't sure I'd ever actually washed that spot, but I didn't tell him that.
Once I was all clean, Daddy lifted me out of the tub and wrapped me in a fuzzy towel. It was printed like a panda bear, and even had a hood with little ears on it. It was so cute, I didn't want to take it off…until Daddy bribed me with a lotion massage.
I laid on the bed and his big, warm hands rubbed lotion all over me. My muscles loosened and I became so relaxed by his rhythmic touch, I couldn't stop yawning. I usually wasn't tired so early; especially after sleeping in and taking a nap, but Daddy said my body had been through a lot, and it needed extra rest. He was very smart.
He wrapped my bottom in a fresh diaper before showing me the jammies he picked out for me. They were even cuter than the panda towel; a navy blue sleeper that had feet sewn in, and a zipper from my ankle to my chest. Printed all over the material were firetrucks and police cars.
Daddy only pulled on a pair of boxers to sleep in, which was even better. I figured it was so he wouldn't get too hot, especially when he built a fire to keep me warm. Whatever the reason, I was thankful, because whenever he climbed into bed with me, I snuggled up to him, resting my head on his hairy chest.
I thought about asking for another story to help me fall asleep, but I found something better; Daddy's soft and steady heartbeat. My eyes grew heavy as I listened to its quiet thump, and the last thing I heard before drifting off to sleep was Daddy Bear telling me he loved me.
Chapter Eight
Tatum
“This is a very important one to remember,” Daddy told me as he crouched down and pointed at a green plant.
We were taking a hike together through the woods. After we woke up and Daddy made me a yummy pancake breakfast, he told me that he had to do some work outside, and wanted me to join him. Excited to see what his job entailed, I jumped at the chance. I played in my nursery while he got some things gathered up, and then we headed outside.
Along our path, he was pointing out plants and trees, showing me which ones were poisonous and should be avoided. He said he never wanted me in the woods alone, but it was still good information to know.
“See these three leaves?” Daddy asked, motioning to each pointed blade. “That’s how you can tell it’s poison ivy. If you touch it, it will make you very itchy. Remember this rhyme; if it has leaves of three, let it be.”
I repeated the saying with a nod. I liked having something to help me remember. He’d taught me about so many plants, I didn’t know how he kept them all straight in his head. “You’re so smart. How did you learn about all of this stuff?”
“My dad taught me a lot about the land, and the rest, I’ve picked up over the years. I’ve been around for a very long time.” I knew Daddy was an old bear, but I didn’t see him that way. I only saw him as perfect. I didn’t care how old he was. “Come over here, Taterbug; I’ll show you something I think you’ll like.”
He took my hand and led me to a tall pile of twisted vines, pointing out roots covering my path so I didn’t trip. “This is a wild blackberry bush. The fruit is gone for the fall, but during the summer, the berries grow as big as the tip of my thumb. I harvest many of them every year.”
My mouth watered at the thought. “I can’t wait to try some next summer.”
“You won’t have to wait that long; I’ve got a couple of bags of them in the freezer. We can thaw some out to eat. If you want, we can even make a pie together.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun! I love pie! I-” my words trailed off when I noticed movement within the bush. I leaned in to get a closer look, and shrieked when I saw a snake winding around a branch. I leapt at Daddy, who easily caught me in his arms. “Watch out, Daddy! A snake! Run!”
But he didn’t run; he stayed still and caressed his hand up and down my back. “It’s okay; this little guy won’t hurt you.”
I lifted my head, unburying my face from his chest, to look back at the slithering critter. “Is it a shifter?” I would now wonder about any animal I came in contact with.
Daddy chuckled and eased me down onto my own feet. “No, he’s a regular snake; a garter snake, to be exact. They aren’t venomous, and harmless to humans. Actually, people like having these little guys in their gardens because they eat the pests that destroy plants.”
“I didn’t know there were helpful snakes.” I thought they were all bitey and gross.
“There sure are. There are also snakes that can be harmful, so it’s always smart to be respectful of the creatures. But even if a snake is venomous, they typically won’t bother you unless you bother them.”
I leaned in a little closer - but not too close - to the critter. “I’m sorry I was scared of you, Mr. Snake. Thanks for helping the blackberries.”
Daddy chuckled again and kissed the side of my head before removing the backpack he carried. He placed it on the ground and took out a camera, which he pointed at the snake.
“You’re taking its picture? I guess it is…kind of cute.”
“Keeping track of animals and their behavior patterns is part of my job,” he explained as he snapped a few photos. “It’s a little late in the year for this breed of snake to be active; around this time, they typically go into brumation, which means they get sluggish and hide away from the cold. Since he’s still slithering around, it could signal a temperature change in the climate. I’ll document it, and compare it to photos from years past and then in the future.” My jaw dropped. I was in total awe of Daddy’s big brain.
