Never Gonna Give You Up

Marissa’s crying. Uh-oh. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t ever want to leave my purpilicious room, Daddy.”

“Oh, honey, you don’t have to leave your purpilicious room until you’re much, much older.”

The tears start to flow. “But I don’t ever want to leave my purpilicious room!” Shoulders are heaving, nose is running.

“You’re gonna have to leave your room to go to kindergarten next year. You can’t stay in your room all day.”

“I know that Daddy. But I always want to play with my ponies in my purpilicious room. I want to take my clothes out of my dresser. And I always want to go to bed in my purpilicious room.

I hear what sounds like a puma clambering up the stairs, something lithe and swift and ready to pounce. It’s Stephanie. “What’s wrong up here?”

“Nothing’s wrong, Mommy. Marissa doesn’t want to leave her room.”

“She needs a bath. Marissa, you need a bath.”

“I know I need a bath.”

“What’s the matter with you, then?”

“I don’t want to leave my purpilicious room, Mommy!” Tears are gushing now.

“What is she talking about.”

“She doesn’t want to leave her room.”

Frown. “I got that part. What does it mean?”

“I think it means she doesn’t ever want to move out of the house.”

“Where did that come from? What did you say to her?”

“I didn’t say anything to her. I brought her upstairs, told her to put her clothes in the hamper, and she started on this.”

“Marissa, you don’t have to leave your room for a long, long, long time. You don’t have to leave until you’re in college.”

“But I don’t ever want to leave!”

“Daddy, she’s tired. She got up early, went to preschool, and then she was playing with Gianna all day.”

“I don’t ever want to leave!”

“Sweetie, you don’t ever have to leave, ever. You can stay in Daddy’s house forever. You can watch our TV, you can eat at our dining room table, and you can sleep in your purpilicious room. And when you have a baby, we’ll put the cradle in your room, and you and your baby can sleep together in here. All right?”

Sniff sniff. “Awright.”

“Go read her a book, Daddy.”

“How ‘bout Oh, the Places You’ll Go?”

“Funny, Daddy.”