30. Swear Words

       On a Sunday afternoon, I was reading in the living room while Dad read the newspaper on the couch with me. I was lying on my back with my head on Dad's thigh. My book was very interesting, and I enjoyed it so much that I didn't even get up to use the bathroom until I really needed to. I put my Kobo down and sat up.

"I'm going to use the washroom," I told Dad as I walked around his legs.

"Ok, Pumpkin," he replied, not looking up from the paper. As I was walking, I didn't think to look at where my feet were stepping and ended up stubbing my toe on the coffee table. Why is it that stubbing one's toe is a very painful thing? It had really hurt, especially considering that I was trying to walk quickly and hit the coffee table really hard. I stopped walking and swore under my breath,

"Shit."

As soon as it came out, I gasped and covered my mouth after realizing I had just said a bad word in front of my father. I turned to look at Dad with my hand still over my mouth and my eyes wide. Dad was staring at me with a stern expression. He had laid the newspaper on his lap and leaned forward with one hand on his knee. I loosened my hand around my mouth and whispered, "I'm sorry."

As I was dropping my hands and putting them behind my back, Dad spoke,

"I'm currently deciding whether or not I should pretend I didn't hear you say that. If I don't, I think some soap in someone's mouth would suffice as a punishment."

I gulped and cringed at the thought. Dad had never had to severely punish me before, and I didn't want soap in my mouth.

"Am I allowed to use the washroom while you decide?" I asked with a nervous smile, trying to act innocent.

"I suppose that would be the best plan. Go on."

I ran into the bathroom, being careful of where I was walking that time. After I used the bathroom, I slowly opened the door to see Dad standing in the hall, waiting for me. Opening the door wide, I stepped out of the bathroom and cleared my throat,

"Have you made a decision, Daddy?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and turned to me with the same stern expression. After Dad continued to intimidate me with his slight glare, he sighed and dropped his arms.

"I have decided to let this one occurrence slide."

I let out a breath of relief as Dad continued, "But if I hear it again, then there will be soap in your mouth. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Dad," I replied, guiltily looking down.

"Good, now shall we resume our reading?" Dad grinned at me, and I returned it with a small smile of my own. We both sat back down and did our reading for the rest of the afternoon.

Everything's going to change soon...