day by day

Monday night, 10:02pm
Chip (sighs as he hangs up the phone): It looks like I'm going to have to go to Eastern Washington tomorrow.
Whimsy: Really? That's a bummer. How long?
Chip: I'll leave tomorrow morning, back on Thursday.
Whimsy: I had thought you'd be staying in town this week.
Chip: Me too.
(silence)
(Whimsy keeps typing on her laptop)
Chip: So, uh... what would it take for you to be ready to go to Eastern Washington tomorrow?
Whimsy: A tranquilizer.



Tuesday night, 5:55pm
Whimsy (to Alice, who is crying and carrying on because she doesn't like the way Whimsy wipes her face): He's at work. Daddy's at work, honey.
Alice: (through the tears) Daaaa-Dee! Daaaa-Dee!
Whimsy: I know. I miss him too.



Wednesday, 6:47pm
Whimsy (as she's giving Alice a bath): Hello sudsy girl!
Alice: Daaaa-Dee! Daaaa-Dee!
Whimsy: He's at work, honey.
Alice: Daaaa-Dee! Daaaa-Dee!
Whimsy: I have nothing funny to say to you. I miss him too.



Thursday, 4:10pm
Chip has been home for a few hours. Whimsy is sitting at the kitchen table, Chip on the couch. Alice walks over to bring Whimsy a book.
Whimsy (to Alice): So Alice, do you want to really welcome daddy home?
Chip: What's that?
Whimsy: Chip? Do you want us to really welcome you home?
Chip: Absolutely!
Whimsy (to Alice): Honey, go walk on over there to daddy.
Chip (gets a whiff of Alice): Oh.

A few minutes later, Chip is changing Alice's diaper.
Whimsy: It's so good to have you home.
Chip: (continues wiping poop, looks at Whimsy with raised eyebrows)
Whimsy: Not just for the diaper changes, either.