When Three Good Reasons Become One

I remember when I was really small. Whenever my dad would come home, I would run and hide. I had several tiny hiding places, because I was a tiny girl. Even then, I think I knew that my daddy didn’t really try to find me. He walked in took off his hat, put it on the dining room table, and began to call my name as if he were looking for me.

Eventually I’d get tired of waiting and run out to find him.

Then he would catch me. My dad would hold me tightly in a bear hug and he wouldn’t let me go. I would be so totally stuck.

“Daddy, please let go now.” I would lament.

He would laugh and tickle me.

“Give me three good reasons why I should.”

I would call for my mother’s help. She would say, “This is between you two.”

“But Dad, I don’t know three reasons.”

“Then I guess you’re stuck.” He would laugh and tickle me more.

“Okay, okay, Daddy, I’ve got them. Three reasons.”

“I’m ready. What are they?"

“I love you; I love you; and I love you very much.”

It worked every time.

−me strauss Letting me be