My Little Scootsy

The next morning when I wake up, I look at the calender on the wall.

"Yes", I say, "My Christmas vacation starts today!" My stomach growls. "Good thing too. I'm freaking starving." I start to get up carefully, not trying to wake Scootaloo up. Once I got up, I opened the curtains so the beautiful sunlight could shine through. I walk into the kitchen and open the refrigerator.

"Let's see." I gaze around for a minute. "I guess I'll just have some eggs, toast, and hashbrowns" I would've gotten some bacon, but out of respect for Scootaloo, I resisted. I start to cook the eggs and the hashbrowns. After they finish, I put the toast in the toaster and wait for a few minutes. While the toast cooks, I go into the living room to wake Scootaloo up.

"Scoots?" I lightly shake her, causing her to yawn and wake.

"Elijah?", she says, her voice sounding very weak, "Is it morning yet?"

I chuckle. "Yes. I'm making us some breakfast. If you wanna eat now, wake up, OK?"

"OK. I have to go potty first."

"Take your time, Scoots. I'm not rushing you" She gets off the couch, stretches, and goes into the bathroom to do her business. I hear the toast pop out and go into the kitchen to take it out. I didn't know what she liked on everything, so I just got some salt, pepper, jam and butter out of the pantry and put it on the table. I fix the plates for me and Scootaloo and get some orange juice from the refrigerator. After pouring two glasses for me and Scootaloo, I put the glasses on the table and sit down in my chair.The toilet flushes and Scootaloo comes into the kitchen and sits in the chair next to me.

"Dig in, Scoots"

"Thanks" She starts to eat, very slow. I start to eat also, trying not to look at Scootaloo. Like me, she seems to not like being stared at while eating. I can tell she is still feeling awkward about this whole guardian thing. After I finish my breakfast, I put the plate in the sink and sit back down next to Scootaloo. I start to rub her back lightly to make her feel a little better. This seems to work and she soon finishes her breakfast.

"Thanks, Da- Elijah"

"No problem, Scoots" I put her plate in the sink and she walks into the living room and lays back down on the couch.

"Do you wanna play Ms. Pac-Man?" She nods and I put the game on and give her the controller. She starts to play happily. "You play for as long as you want. I'll be in the computer room."

"OK"

After about an hour, Scootaloo stops playing.

"That was fun" She walks into the computer room. "Elijah?"

"I'm over here, Scoots." I was reading one of my favorite books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck. "What's up?"

"Can I sit with you?"

"Sure" She smiles and sits in my lap.

"Whatcha reading?"

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck. Good book. Want me to read to you?"

"Sure"

I read the book to Scootaloo. A few parts make her laugh, like the part when Greg Heffley's great-grandfather's dentures fell out when he tried to blow out the candles on the cake he had. While I read the book, I feel really great. Really, if this is what it feels like to have, raise and love a child, then it is one of the best feelings of my life. No amount of cash and gold could tear me away from Scootaloo. She is like an angel. She's the only kid I've ever had. But how does she feel about me? She called me "Daddy" last light, but she was half asleep. I shake it out of my head and focus on the book. After I finish the book, I put it back and pet Scootaloo. It was time for the moment of truth.

"Scoots, I wanna talk."

"Sure"

"Scootaloo, do you find me weird?"

"No, Elijah. You're cool!"

"Well, how do you feel about me?" She looked down.

"Well, you are very kind. You fed me, let me sleep here, and let me play your video game. Ya know, I think of you as..." She took a deep breath. "a daddy" I start to tear up a little.

"You do?"

"Yes." She hugs me. "I love you, Daddy" She snuggles into my chest.

"I love you too, sweetie" She smiles and licks my cheek. "So, wanna go to the park? It's my vacation."

"Sure" I go into the living room, grab my black leather jacket and put it on.

"You wanna walk, or do you want me to carry you?"

"Carry me, please?"

"Sure" I pick her up and put her inside my jacket. I leave my house and start to walk to the park. I smile and begin to pet Scootaloo.

"This is going to be fun"