Tiger Moths Read Free Page B

JAC’s hand and jerked him away. Young JAC stumbled as he tried to keep up, but the older boy showed no intention of slowing down.
    Dale watched as they hurried away and JAC half-turned his head to look back at her. She saw the tears streaking down his face and took a step toward him, but stopped short. Feeling the stern hand of her father, she looked up. Her rage and compassion commingled to form a strange expression on her face. She could hardly stand by and watch this kid be treated so badly.
    “Dad…” she started.
    “Dale, let it go.”
    “But dad, JAC can have dreams too, can’t he? Like I have dreams of flying? Didn’t you see how excited he was? Why don’t you let me take care of that big bully?”
    Her body trembled as a wave of fury darkened her eyes. She looked full into her father’s weathered face trying to understand why he was holding her back, why he was not stopping this big bully from hurting her new little friend. He could pound this brat into the ground with his little finger if he wanted to. Instead, he stood still and held her by the shoulders so she could not run after them. She looked up into his bright blue eyes and knew he loved her more than anything, and that he would never let anyone ever treat her the way JAC was being treated. And yet, even though she did not understand his restraint, she trusted him, and believed in him enough to stop her protest. There must be a very good reason for why her dad was letting this happen, and maybe one day she would understand too. But for now, she just surrendered to her father’s will.
    Finally her father broke the silence between them. “C’mon, Dale, let’s finish our walk; we’ve only just started. Maybe we’ll see JAC again tomorrow at the beach. It will be all right, you’ll see.” His voice was stern but full of hope.
    Her trembling subsided, but only a little. Dale reached up and pulled her father’s large calloused hand down to her. She put hers inside of his and instantly felt better. He made her feel so safe. If only everyone had a daddy like hers. She smiled up at him and together, they began to walk through the camp community once again.
    They travelled only a short distance before Dale slowed to a stop. She looked up once again at father. Her smile was more contemplative now. The moonlight caught the slight tremor of her lips. Her furrowed brow belied the thoughts coursing through her mind. They were serious thoughts that demanded answers, answers that could not wait.
    Her father pulled up short with her. His knowing look nudged at the reluctant voice within. Yet still she remained mute.
    “Dale, we are not in any hurry. Do you want to sit down and talk a little bit? You and I may need to just take a break from our walk. And look, there is a perfect sittin’ stump right over there.”
    Relieved, Dale nodded an enthusiastic agreement to the proposal. They sat down simultaneously, like two seasoned campers who deeply appreciated nature’s offerings. David picked up a pebble and began drawing in the dirt. Dale smoothed a patch of earth in front of her and followed suit. They sat in silence for a moment, drawing and thinking and drawing some more.
    “Daddy, can I, uh…can I ask you something?”
    His dirt scrawling continued as he answered softly, “Of course you can, honey. What’s on your mind?”
    “Well, it’s about JAC.” She hesitated for a second to gauge her father’s response. Seeing that this was not a forbidden topic, she continued. “I really like him and I’m, I’m kinda scared for him.”
    He stopped the meandering trail of his pebble and tossed it aside with a new focus. He intertwined his fingers and rested his elbows on both knees. A gentle smile crossed his face, but Dale could see the hint of sadness in his eyes. “Why are you scared for him, honey?”
    “Because that big kid was really mean to him and he’s got nobody to look out for him.”
    “Dale, my sweet girl, you have such a tender heart.