chest to my stomach where he tickled me and made
me laugh,
"Daddy never did that to me before. I know he
did it to you, but never to me.
"Then he said. 'I bet you're catching up to
Megan, aren't you? You're twelve. Girls catch up
when they're twelve. Let's see.' he said and lifted my
nightie to see below, 'Yes, you are.' he said. 'I've got
two big girls now.'
"He made me feel good and kissed me on the
cheek and his face was so red and hot that it almost
burned mine when mine touched his.
"So he loves me." she concluded and did
another little turn. "Daddy loves me too."
She stopped and looked at me. I had no idea
what she was going to do next, but she lifted her hand
slowly toward me and touched my face.
"Cool," she said. "but not cool enough even
though your skin looks better today. Why, you almost look half alive, although you've lost weight, haven't
you? All your boyfriends will be upset, won't they?" She wiped her fingers on the bed as if she had
touched something slimy.
"I'm very sick." I whispered. "very sick." "I know, You feel terrible. It makes you feel
terrible, but you'll get better," she said, her eyes small.
''And then you'll be the pretty one again and Daddy
won't look at me as much."
She knelt beside my bed. Her smile became
vacuous, her eyes losing their light, flickering and
going pale and distant.
"I watch him when he's with you. I heard him
say you were so lovely you could bring love to