I was six when he bought me the bridal Barbie. Too busy admiring it, I never noticed how he fidgeted in his wallet twice before reaching the cash counter. ⠀
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I played with the doll for exactly four minutes before I broke its hand. As I cried, Dad held me close. In my grief, I never noticed he needed some assurance too. ⠀
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Today, as I take him to an ice-cream parlor for my first salary treat, he's still fidgeting. I look at my ice-cream. It's going to melt before he's done deciding what to order.⠀
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"Isn't it...?" ⠀
"Expensive?" I ask. He smiles sheepishly. ⠀
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"Not more than the bridal Barbie you'd got me as a kid, Dad. Even the ice-cream will last longer than that doll did." I giggle. He takes a moment to recall, and suddenly bursts out laughing.⠀
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My heart melts before my ice-cream does.