Page 13 of Dare You to See Me

“Let’s go get candy and popcorn. I plan to have a tummy ache by the time the movie is over.”

She throws her fists up in the air and cheers, “Yes! Me too! I just hope I don’t throw up this time. That was no fun.”

Just as predicted, both Dahlia and I went to bed with a pretty significant belly ache from the candy and popcorn we gorged on. I don’t allow that often and every time we splurge on sugar, we always regret it in the morning.

And this morning is no different except for the fact that I’m out of her favorite Pedialyte and soda crackers. With no other option than to take her with me, I slip on her sandals and carry her out to the car.

“I’m sorry. I hate that I have to take you with me to the store, but if you want to feel better, we’ve got to.”

She groans and holds her stomach. “I never wanna eat Skittles again, Mommy.”

With a small laugh I remind her, “That’s what you said last time.”

Her eyes pop open and she looks at me with all seriousness. “Well this time I’m not fibbin’.”

“Okay sweetheart. We’ll be back home in no time.”

We drive to the store with a video playing on the screen for Dahlia to watch and the windows down just slightly. She said the fresh air was good for her, and I assume she heard that from my Mom a time or two.

She makes me carry her through the store and I juggle her and the cart as I add her favorite flavor drink, crackers, and some soup. The girl acts like she’s been diagnosed with the plague when it’s a simple upset stomach.

I snag a book off a discount shelf as we pass by and hustle back out to the car once everything is paid for.

Her head lolls to the side and she reminds me, “The window, Mommy.”

I give her a few inches then make our way back home. We pull up to a stoplight when the turr of an engine pulls our attention.

“Mom! Look!” Dahlia seems to suddenly feel better as she points out the window. “Roll my window down. Please.”

A man on a motorcycle sits next to us, moving his arms and body as if he’s dancing to music playing in his head. A car full of young women pulls up on the other side of him and they begin waving and shouting for his attention. But he doesn’t even flinch in their direction. Instead, he focuses all of his attention on Dahlia.

She waves frantically at him and he begins waving back. She shouts “hi” at him and he brings his hand to his helmeted mouth then makes as if he’s blowing her a kiss. He looks down at his bike and quickly engages the kickstand before jumping up from his seat. I tense as he comes close but he stops arms length and holds out a rose to Dahlia.

She takes it, her face lightening up, and tells me, “Mommy. I got a rose! Like my middle name.”

He directs his gaze to where I sit and motions for me to roll down my window. I do so reluctantly and he carefully drops something on my seat. When I look closer, I see that it’s a business card.

Picking it up, I read what it says.

Dancing King

Your favorite dancing biker

Follow @D_King

I look up to see him hustling back to his bike and he waves.

“Bye mister biker.” Dahlia says goodbye as the light turns green and he speeds off.

I sit staring at him for a moment until the loud honk startles me. I lift a hand to apologize to the car behind me and pull away.

“Did you see that, Mommy? He blew me a kiss.” Her upset belly seems to suddenly be pushed to the back as the excitement from mister biker shadows it.

“I did. How cool was that?”

She begins to snake her arms and wiggle her body as best as she can buckled into her seat and laughs. “I want to ride a motorcycle and dance like that when I’m big.”

“Those are pretty dangerous, Dahlia. I think it’s best if you stick to four wheels.”