Normal
Francine searched through her drawers looking for her favorite pajamas, needing the comfort of their softness and warmth. She stopped suddenly, remembering that she'd thrown them in the hamper this morning, sticky with jam, and pulled on a worn nightgown - a hand-me-down from Junior. She'd had to stay in from recess again today after a night of the awful coughing and wheezing that seemed to worsen with the frigid weather.
"Hey, li'l darlin'." She smiled and turned at the sound of her daddy's deep voice. "Feelin' better tonight?" He stepped into the room and pulled her onto his lap as he sat on the edge of her bed.
The words tumbled out then, how she'd had to stay inside once again, reading a book while the others jumped rope and played hopscotch, how she could feel the looks and hear the whispers when the teacher had reminded her to stay at her desk, how she wondered if there were other girls like her out there somewhere.
"I just want to be normal, Daddy," she whispered. Her daddy had been rocking her gently as she spoke but he started briefly and she heard him clear his throat. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, rubbing his chapped cheek against her delicate one, softly humming. "S'alright, darlin', s'alright."
Her eyes fluttered and closed to the sound of the gentle humming as she leaned back into her daddy's strong arms, their comfort and warmth far, far better than even her favorite flannel pajamas.
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252 words